A dog you can trust, in every environment.

Private dog training for owners who want calm behavior, dependable obedience, and results that hold up at home, in public, and around real distractions.

Serving Athens, Oconee County, Jackson County, Gwinnett County, and select Atlanta-area communities.

When Training Works at Home—but Falls Apart in Real Life

Your dog may understand commands in familiar settings but struggle when guests arrive, another dog appears, or the environment becomes more demanding. Monarch builds the communication, structure, and owner handling needed for greater reliability beyond the lesson environment.

A Calmer, More Manageable Life Together

More relaxed walks

Calm guest greetings

Clearer household boundaries

Better responses around distractions

Greater owner confidence

Skills your household can maintain

A Training Path Chosen With Professional Judgment

Every Monarch program begins with a consultation to assess your dog, your lifestyle, and your goals. Programs are recommended, not sold.

Fundamental Excellence

Build the obedience, communication, and structure needed for a calmer, more manageable dog in everyday life. Fundamental Excellence focuses on leash manners, household expectations, reliable responses, and the owner skills needed to maintain progress beyond training.

Best for: Dogs that need a stronger foundation, improved manners, clearer communication, and dependable everyday obedience.

Excellence Unleashed

Develop greater reliability when the environment becomes more demanding. Excellence Unleashed builds on foundational obedience with advanced distraction work, real-world application, greater handler control, and off-leash development when appropriate for the individual dog.

Best for: Owners who want obedience to hold up around meaningful distractions and across more challenging real-world environments.

Board & Train

A focused four-week residential training experience for owners who want substantial professional involvement and a highly structured training environment. Enrollment is intentionally limited so each dog receives individual attention, purposeful training, appropriate rest, and careful preparation for the transition home.

Best for: Owners seeking an intensive residential option with a strong trainer-led foundation and a structured owner handoff.

Behavior Modification

A structured program for selected dogs with more significant behavioral concerns, including reactivity, guarding, anxiety, over-arousal, and aggression-related behavior. Each case begins with a professional in-person evaluation so Monarch can determine suitability, safety considerations, and the appropriate training plan.

Every dog is evaluated individually so Monarch can recommend the program that best fits the dog’s behavior, training history, household, and owner goals.

A Small-Capacity Residential Training Experience

Dogs stay at the trainer’s private residence on a 25-acre property, with a maximum of four client dogs at one time. The limited capacity allows for individualized training, structured care, appropriate rest, and close observation throughout the program.

A Clear Process From First Conversation to Handoff

Every successful outcome starts with understanding the dog, the owner, and the life they want to share.

01

Consultation

Discuss the dog, household, concerns, and goals.

02

Evaluation When Appropriate

Observe the dog and determine fit.

03

Professional Recommendation

Monarch recommends the appropriate program.

04

Training and Owner Coaching

Training is delivered with clear expectations and communication.

05

Handoff & Support

Owners learn how to maintain the work through program-specific support.

Direct Trainer Involvement From Consultation Through Handoff

Monarch is intentionally small. Peter remains directly involved in evaluating client needs, recommending programs, delivering or supervising training, and teaching owners how to continue the work at home.

Results Built Through Dog-and-Owner Participation

Every client story reflects a partnership — between trainer, dog, and owner — sustained over time.

We loved Luna, but we were overwhelmed. Her jumping, barking, and inability to settle had begun to affect nearly every part of life at home. From the beginning, Monarch gave us a clear plan and helped us understand what Luna needed from us. The difference is remarkable. She is calmer, more responsive, and much easier to live with. For the first time, we feel confident that we know how to lead our dog. The results have completely changed the atmosphere in our home.

Lauren Mitchell

Fundamental Excellence

Life with Daisy used to feel chaotic. She jumped on guests, barked at every sound, ignored commands, and struggled to settle down in the house. Since completing training with Monarch, our home feels completely different. Daisy understands expectations, relaxes more easily, and responds when we give her direction. The greatest change is not simply what Daisy can do. It is the peace and confidence we now have as a family

Rebecca Thompson

Fundamental Excellence

Having people over used to be stressful because Cooper would rush the door, jump on guests, bark, and refuse to settle. We were constantly apologizing or putting him in another room. After working with Monarch, Cooper can remain composed, follow direction, and relax while guests are in our home. We can finally enjoy company without worrying about what our dog will do. That change may seem simple, but it has made an enormous difference in our daily lives.

Sarah Whitmore

Excellence Unleashed

Serving Athens & Northeast Georgia

Monarch Canine Academy serves six core counties from our public training facility in Hull: Clarke, Oconee, Madison, Jackson, Barrow and Gwinnett. Selected Metro Atlanta and other regional clients may also be considered based on program fit and logistics.

Primary Service Area

Athens and Clarke County
Watkinsville and Oconee County
Hull & Madison County
Braselton, Jefferson & Jackson County
Winder & Barrow County
Gwinnett County

Extended Service Area

Select Metro Atlanta Communities — including Alpharetta, Milton, Sandy Springs, Buckhead, East Cobb and similar areas when the program and logistics are a good fit.

Which training program is right for my dog?

The right program depends on your dog’s current behavior, training history, environment, and the level of reliability you want to achieve

Fundamental Excellence is designed for foundational obedience, leash manners, household structure, and dependable everyday behavior. Excellence Unleashed is intended for owners seeking more advanced obedience, stronger performance around distractions, and off-leash development when appropriate. Board & Train provides a more intensive residential format with limited enrollment and substantial trainer involvement. Behavior Modification is reserved for selected dogs with more serious behavioral concerns and requires an in-person evaluation.

You do not need to determine the right program before contacting Monarch. We begin with a consultation and recommend the most appropriate path based on your dog and your goals.

How much does dog training cost?

Monarch’s primary services are priced as complete training programs rather than individual lessons

A comprehensive foundational private-training program focused on everyday obedience, manners, structure, communication, and owner handling.

An advanced private-training program focused on greater reliability around distractions, real-world performance, advanced obedience, and off-leash development when appropriate.

A small-capacity residential training program with substantial professional involvement, structured training, and a detailed transition back to the owner.

An individualized program for selected behavioral concerns.

The appropriate training path is recommended after Monarch learns about your dog, household, concerns, and goals.

What is the difference between a consultation and an evaluation?

The initial consultation is a complimentary phone or virtual conversation, usually lasting approximately 20 to 30 minutes. It allows Monarch to learn about your dog, discuss your goals, answer initial questions, and determine the most appropriate next step

An in-person evaluation is a more detailed professional assessment. It may last up to 90 minutes and may take place at Monarch’s facility or, when appropriate and specifically scheduled, at the client’s home. The evaluation allows Monarch to observe the dog, assess the owner-dog relationship, review relevant history, identify safety or management concerns, and determine whether a particular program is appropriate.

An evaluation is not a training lesson and does not guarantee program acceptance.

How involved will I need to be in the training?

Owner participation is essential. Monarch can teach the dog new skills and improve behavior, but those results must transfer into the household and be maintained through consistent handling

Private training programs require owners to attend lessons, practice between appointments, and apply the training system at home. Board & Train includes a detailed go-home transfer lesson and follow-up appointments so owners can learn how to maintain the dog’s progress.

The strongest long-term results occur when the household follows the training plan consistently.

Where do dogs stay during Board & Train?

Board & Train dogs stay at the trainer’s private residence on a 25-acre property. Enrollment is intentionally limited to a maximum of four client dogs at one time.

The four-week program includes structured training, exercise, enrichment, appropriate rest, and individualized care. Dogs may train at the residence, Monarch’s facility, and approved public environments when appropriate for the dog and the training plan.

The private residential address is not published. Drop-off, pickup, and transfers are arranged by appointment through Monarch.

What is included with Board & Train?

Monarch’s Four-Week Board & Train is designed as a complete residential training experience rather than a collection of individual sessions. The program includes individualized residential training, structured care and appropriate rest, real-world training when appropriate, two structured progress updates each week, a detailed go-home transfer, program-specific post-training support, and standard take-home training equipment selected by Monarch.

Clients provide the dog’s regular food. Routine oral or topical medication may be administered when approved in advance and consistent with Monarch’s program policies.

Questions Before You Begin

Common questions resolved before the first conversation, so your consultation can focus on your dog and your goals.

Start With a Conversation About Your Dog

The initial phone consultation is complimentary and designed to determine whether Monarch may be the right fit for your dog, your household, and your goals.