Dog Training

Beyond Basic Obedience in Fairfax, VA

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Health Rules

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FAQs

At Mainstay Veterinary Practice Resort (MVP Resort), dog training is about more than obedience—it’s about communication, confidence, and connection. Our training programs are designed to go beyond basic obedience. We focus on real-world skills, owner involvement, and improving your dog’s overall quality of life, while helping you become a confident, effective handler.

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Our Training Philosophy

Our goal is to establish a deeper level of communication and bonding between you and your dog. Training isn’t just about commands, it’s about understanding, trust, and consistency.


Our training programs are intentionally designed to focus on obedience, owner involvement, and handling skills, not short-term improvements in behavior. When owners and dogs learn together, improvement can be more more consistent and longlasting:

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Clearer communication between you and your dog

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Stronger trust and bonding

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Practical skills you can use in everyday life

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Training that fits your dog's personality and your lifestyle

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Who Is Training For?


Short answer: Everyone.  Any dog can benefit from additional training, no matter their age or experience.


For pet owners looking for a little extra help or facing a behavioral challenge, our programs can be especially helpful:

  • You’re starting fresh with a new puppy
  • Your dog struggles with reactivity or focus
  • You’re feeling stuck and unsure of next steps
  • You want to take your training to the next level


Wherever you and your dog currently are, we’re ready to join your training journey to help you move forward.

Meet Our Trainer:

Dominic Eten


Our training program is led by Dominic Eten[link to Staff Page], a trainer our clients—and their dogs—absolutely adore.



Dominic is known for his deep knowledge, calm leadership, and remarkable intuition. He has a gift for understanding what each individual dog needs, as well as coaching owners on exactly how to support and reinforce that training at home. His approach is thoughtful, collaborative, and highly personalized.

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Our Training Programs

At MVP Resort, we offer a variety of programs to meet dogs and owners exactly where they are.

Dog boarding area
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Private Training Lessons

Our private lessons are one-on-one sessions held at our facility. You’ll work directly with a trainer to address your specific goals and challenges. We don’t just train your dog. We teach you how to communicate clearly, handle confidently, and reinforce training at home.


Private lessons are ideal for personalized goals, targeted behavior work, and owners who want hands-on coaching. Sessions are available individually or as part of multi-session packages designed around specific needs:

1-on-1 Private Lesson

Behavior Modification

Puppy Fundamentals

Basic Obedience

Advanced Obedience

Custom Skill Boost

Disclaimer: Classes with fewer than 3 enrolled dogs will be canceled. Enrollees can choose to receive a full refund, transfer their deposit to the next scheduled series of the same class, or receive a 10% discount on private training services using their deposit as credit.

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Two black outline cartoon dogs standing together on a white background

Group Training Lessons

Group classes bring together multiple dogs and trainers to practice skills in more distracting, real-life environments. This setting helps dogs learn focus, impulse control, and social awareness while still receiving guided instruction:

Puppy Kindergarten

Basic Obedience

Advanced Obedience

Agility

Nose Work

Reactivity

Drop-In Skills

Trick Dogs

Disclaimer: Classes with fewer than 3 enrolled dogs will be canceled. Enrollees can choose to receive a full refund, transfer their deposit to the next scheduled series of the same class, or receive a 10% discount on private training services using their deposit as credit.

Two corgis looking at the camera during a group dog training lesson.
Two simple black outlined dogs standing side by side on a white background

Board & Train Programs


$

95

per night*


Think of this as a training boot camp. You drop your dog off with us for 2–3 weeks, where they live and train on-site. During their stay, we work intensively on obedience, manners, and behavior. At the end of the program, we transition the training to you so you know exactly how to maintain and build on their progress at home.

Two corgis looking at the camera during a group dog training lesson.
Two black-outline dogs standing on a white background

Daily Skills Builder


$

20

 20 Minute Session


Training enrichment for dogs already in our care.


Designed for dogs attending daycare or boarding at MVP Resort, Daily Skills Builder sessions provide extra mental enrichment and skill development. Dogs work with a training apprentice in a fun, low-pressure setting, to build confidence, encourage manners, and provide engagement.

Core Manners — Indoor Only

Advanced Manners — Indoor/Outdoor

Agility & Confidence Building

Fetch & Retrieve

Meet Our Trainer:

  Dominick

Our training program is led by Dominick, a trainer our clients—and their dogs—absolutely adore.


Dominick is known for his deep knowledge, calm leadership, and remarkable intuition. He has a gift for understanding what each individual dog needs, as well as coaching owners on exactly how to support and reinforce that training at home. His approach is thoughtful, collaborative, and highly personalized.

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Black dog with red collar licking a person’s hand while reaching a paw up indoors

Training Consultations: What to Expect

We offer flexible training options to meet a variety of goals, schedules, and budgets. If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend beginning with a consultation. We offer free 15-minute consultations, or book a 30-minute in-depth consultation for just $35. These sessions help us understand your dog and your goals and help us work together to find the best path forward.

Start Your Training Journey

at MVP Resort

Whether you’re welcoming a new puppy, navigating behavior challenges, or looking to elevate your dog’s skills, we’re here to join you on your training journey. Call us today at (703) 280-4588 to learn more, or request a consultation online through our easy-to-use portal. 

Dog Training Policies

Frequently Asked Questions
About Dog Training

  • What training does the Dog Training Apprentice Team have?

    Mainstay Resort is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to each of our guests, which begins with our carefully selected team of compassionate Training Apprentices. Before hands-on training can even begin, the Training Apprentices go through a rigorous course of virtual training covering the fundamentals of topics such as canine behavior, body language, and handling. Once virtual training is complete, the Apprentices are then under the supervision of our experienced Dog Training Specialist to ensure that they are not only comfortable with the duties of being a Dog Training Apprentice, but also fully equipped with the tools and knowledge for success every day.