Play-based Board & Train · Angier, Raleigh & the Triangle
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Angier · Raleigh · the Triangle
Play-based Board & Train, built around the dog in front of us. Your dog stays and trains with our team on real-life walks, and you learn alongside them in three full owner lessons.
39 family stories, told from the recorded sessions, the owner lessons and the families’ own words →
A member of Astro’s family · Astro’s story“They saved his life, point blank.”
Family stories
Real dogs, real owners and the real work in between. Choose a family to start with.
Astro · Not friends originally.
Muzzled on every outing for years and lunging at dogs, Astro rebuilt trust with his trainer through a kennel door and a game of tug. Then his family learned to carry it home.
Watch and read Astro’s storyThey saved his life, point blank.
Reaper · That’s new.
The last time one visitor sat down near Reaper, he barked in that visitor’s face. At his go-home lesson both friends sit on the sofa with Reaper at their feet.
Watch and read Reaper’s story
Finn · “I could never.”
Finn froze or bolted under pressure. At his go-home lesson his owner walked him past another dog on a loose leash, and he did nothing.
Watch and read Finn’s storyI just… I want him to be happy.
Archie & Lola · “She’s a dog now.”
Lola was a nervous rescue and Archie an excitable little doodle. By their second owner lesson, the family called walking both dogs far more enjoyable.
Watch and read Archie & Lola’s storyIt was like, we have to plan our walks around when there aren’t people around.
Apollo the Sharkie · Called off his ball.
His trainers nicknamed him “the Sharkie” for his mouthy, ball-crazy play, then used that same play to teach Apollo to listen when he was most wound up.
Watch and read Apollo the Sharkie’s storyWe want the same dog, just he listens.
Kali & Kane · Two dogs. One family.
Kali and Kane used to pull toward other dogs, and an excited recall could go unanswered. At their go-home lesson both explored their own yard off leash, and came back when called: “Good job, guys.”
Watch and read Kali & Kane’s storyHe’s just doing so good with that. I’m so happy.
Pepper & Rosa · Nine times out of ten.
Walking Pepper alone is easy; with Rosa along, her owner says, she usually thinks it’s playtime. This lesson walk is about the small signs that come before play.
Watch and read Pepper & Rosa’s storyNo, but that was a nice walk.
Rocko & Kodak · A kiss through the cage.
Rocko used to squeal at every dog he saw; Kodak used to panic. The goal was never best friends. It was two dogs who could share a home, and a family who knew what to do when trouble started.
Watch and read Rocko & Kodak’s storyThank You for helping My Good Boys learn to LOVE being Good Boys!
Penny · She used to growl.
Penny arrived wary of new people, and her family wanted to learn how to talk to her. By the end, strangers could pet and feed her, and her owners knew how to keep it that way.
Watch and read Penny’s storyHonestly, my main thing is just… learning the communication to her properly.
Every family’s story is told from the recorded sessions, the owner lessons and the family’s own words.
Explore all 39 family stories →Board & Train
All local programs are Board & Train. Your dog stays and trains with our team, and every program includes three full owner lessons.
A focused stay. Skills for life.
See the path →
Reactivity, fear & aggressionA thoughtful plan for difficult days.
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Purposeful task trainingSkills with a specific purpose.
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Serious work. Clear standards.
See the path →
How Board & Train works
The handoff begins during the stay. You practice the commands, verbal markers, timing, play and handling that help you keep teaching your own dog in everyday life.
About an hour, typically at your home or a location you choose. We start with the dog in front of us: their needs, personality, history and what motivates them.
Your dog trains with our team through play and on walks through real-life scenarios: parks, busy downtown areas, dog-friendly stores and everyday locations.
Your first full owner lesson introduces the work and gives you hands-on practice.
Build on the first lesson, refine your timing, and practice the next steps with guidance.
Put the pieces together for the routines, expectations and practice your dog will need at home.
When something stops working at home, you call or text, and it’s answered by a trainer. There’s no end date on that.
Owner lessons · family films
Meet Bandit, Beo, Boog, Reaper, Bun, Mazi and Coco through their families’ words and the work they practice together.
Reactive to people
From wary of people to off leash downtown.
Barking at dogs
From howling at dogs to all the parks.
High-energy young dog
From counter-surfer to chilling at his family’s feet.
People and dogs
Friends back at home.
Fear and reactivity
From growling at his trainer to off-leash trails.
Pulling on walks
From pulling “like a ton” to valedictorian.
Leash pulling
From a hard puller to an easy walk home.
An open window into the work
We record the majority of each dog’s training sessions during their stay. Our longer session recordings come from a 360° camera. We choose the viewing angle to keep the dog in view, preserving the session as recorded, and publish them on our YouTube channel.
Bandit arrived with a history of reacting to people. On his go-home day he walked off leash with Kelton through the Hillsborough Street crowds in downtown Raleigh, “totally perfect” in Kelton’s words.
Explore the training library
Watch the off-leash walk
Family owned and operated
Angier K9 is a family-owned and operated business, led by brothers Christian and Kelton. Our shared focus is The Dog In Front Of Us: understanding your individual dog, finding their strongest positive motivators, and teaching through play and real-life walks.
Christian ScharphornFounder · Lead Behaviorist
Kelton Azuara-WalkerCo-owner · Head TrainerChristian evaluates cases and guides the behavior work behind each individual plan. Kelton leads day-to-day training and takes on the harder cases, with Claudia, Jayden, Connor and Gemma beside them.
Meet the teamA practical first step
Your free in-person consultation helps us understand your dog, your household, and your goals. We typically meet at your home or a location you choose.
Share your dog’s needs and the changes you would like to see. Our team will follow up with you.
Keep learning
Owner educationWhat owners learn during Board & TrainRead →
Family storyRocko & Kodak: room for each otherRead →Is your dog training with us now? Open your dog’s training videos →
