Looking for quiet and peaceful dog boarding kennels in Victoria? At the Alpha Boarding School For Dogs, we’ve spent almost 30 years helping dogs to improve behaviour patterns, build confidence, and increase overall obedience.
Our 20-day boarding course pairs secure, comfortable accommodation with expert behavioural training, giving dogs the skills they need to thrive at home and in public. Our goal is simple: to help your dog become calmer, more responsive, and easier to manage.
Contact us now to learn how!
The trainers here are working boarding school dogs within close proximity to their own dogs who are all in off lead drop stay. These boarding school dogs all began their courses with different behaviours issues & goals. Ranging from fear based aggression, anxiety around new people and dogs, aggressive behaviour towards other dogs on lead, to over excitement and uncontrollable behaviour when there was something more interesting to do than listen to their owners.
A Complete Training Experience – What to Expect at Our Dog Boarding Kennels in Victoria
At the Alpha Boarding School For Dogs, boarding is only part of the process. Every day is structured to encourage learning, confidence, and socialisation. Our professional trainers also use proven methods developed over decades, including Pattern Learning and Canine Good Behaviour Shaping, to create lasting behavioural changes.
During their stay, dogs tackle real-life situations designed to mirror their experiences at home, in the park, or around visitors. Specific areas of focus include:
- Reducing fear and anxiety in new or stimulating environments
- Managing over-excitability around people, children, or other dogs
- Correcting aggression over food, toys, or territory
- Building reliable recall and obedience
Please note that all dogs must be at least 20 weeks old to join the course, a rule in place to ensure that they have the maturity required to retain their new obedience and manners.
In our purpose built manners room – learning to wait for an invitation though a doorway
“Every interaction with your dog is important so the methods used to teach them must be practical, positive and relevant to all real-life scenarios”.
Why Our Victorian Kennels Are Different
Individual Attention and Custom Plans
No two dogs are the same. Each boarding enrolment begins with a detailed assessment of your dog’s behaviour and needs. Trainers then develop a tailored course, targeting your dog’s specific challenges while reinforcing good habits.
Safe and Comfortable Environment
Dogs stay in secure, quiet and peaceful kennels designed to minimise stress while allowing for plenty of exercise and interaction. Group sessions are carefully supervised, and all dogs benefit from consistent guidance and interactions. .
Owner Involvement
The boarding course concludes with a three hour, hands-on session where trainers teach you the techniques used with your dog. You’ll learn exactly how to maintain and build upon new behaviours, ensuring long-term success.
These dogs are waiting to be invited through the gate. Once individually invited they come through on command.
What to Expect During the 20-Day Boarding course
Weeks 1–2: Establishing trust, teaching reliable obedience commands and manners, and addressing immediate behavioural concerns.
Week 3: Advanced training with distractions, reinforcing obedience and impulse control.
Final Days: Preparing for home life with simulated real-world scenarios, ensuring skills are reliable outside the kennel.
Throughout the course, dogs enjoy comfortable accommodation, daily exercise, and opportunities to socialise in a safe, controlled environment. Trainers monitor each dog’s progress closely, making adjustments to the course as needed.
This dog is working on her off lead manners and obedience in our manners room – under the distraction of one of our resident Kitty Cats Jensen.
These dogs live in an apartment so their owner is using boundary training to assist with safely traveling in the elevator.
This dog is learning self control & overall manners around food on a coffee table.
Dogs of all ages can learn not to barge out an open gate – in this picture the Beagle is 3 months old, the Kelpie is 1 year old and the Rottweiler at 10 years old.
The trainers dogs are waiting at the gate for their turn to be invited through. They help the trainers throughout the day teach the other dogs to listen under distraction.
Why Owners Choose Alpha Boarding Kennels in Victoria
Alpha Boarding School has earned the trust of thousands of Victorian dog owners. Our success comes from combining expertise, compassion, and proven training methods. Key advantages include:
- Customised courses: Every dog receives a plan tailored to their personality, age, and behavioural challenges.
- Experienced Trainers: Our team has decades of experience working with all breeds and temperaments.
- Safe and Comfortable: Secure, clean, and quiet kennels make boarding stress-free for dogs.
- Ongoing Support: Trainers guide you through the handover and provide tips to maintain progress at home plus ongoing phone support.
- Proven Track Record: Over 10,000 dogs trained successfully since 1996, with referrals from happy owners and veterinarians.
Our course isn’t just about temporary obedience, but rather creating the right foundation for a lifelong of good behaviour.
Getting Ready for Boarding
Before your dog arrives, owners should ensure:
Vaccinations (C5) are up to date
Sufficient supply of your dog’s regular food for the 20-day stay (if on a special diet)
Dogs under 20 weeks old are not suitable for the course. Trainers will discuss requirements and answer any questions during the pre-enrolment consultation.
Book a Spot at Our Fully Equipped Dog Boarding Kennels in Victoria
Ready to enrol your dog at Alpha Boarding School For Dogs? Before booking, all owners must speak with a trainer to discuss your dog’s individual needs and ensure our course is the right fit. During this consultation, we’ll explain the boarding school process, training methods, homework expectations, pricing, and answer all your questions.
Boarding School Enquiries: Call (03) 8756 8900 (option 2) to speak directly with a trainer.
Boarding Only Bookings: Call (03) 8756 8902.
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm. Calls outside these hours can leave a message, and we will return it during office hours. For urgent weekend enquiries, please call the main line (03) 8756 8900 ext 2.
Email: enquiries@alphaboardingkennels.com.au
Please include your contact number so a trainer can call you to discuss your dog’s needs in detail prior to booking.
This dog is demonstrating calm controlled behaviour and manners under high distraction of both the cat wandering past and the child having a meal nearby.
She is also demonstrating a calm wait for permission to enter the lounge area (internal house boundary) without the need for a commonly used “baby gate” room divider.
This dog is also demonstrating calm controlled behaviour inside the home whilst the baby is playing nearby.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
We have trained well over 10,000 dogs over the last 25 years – we receive so many referrals from those who have already successfully used our methods. Our services are in high demand and we are inundated with enquiries, and we take the time to discuss everything in detail with each and every dog owner needing our help.
To that end, you will probably need to leave us a message when you call as we are on the phone helping owners all day long. We will generally have spaces to get your dogs in relatively quickly once we do talk, and will call you back as soon as we can.
Proudly Serving Dog Owners Across Victoria from Our Macclesfield Location
- Dog Boarding Kennels Victoria
Other Service Available in Victoria
Frequently Asked Questions
Since 1996, we’ve worked with over 10,000 dogs across Melbourne, Geelong, and surrounding areas.
Owners receive a hands-on 3-hour session where trainers teach how to maintain and reinforce all new behaviours. Follow-up support is available if challenges arise at home.
To achieve consistent results, owner visits are not allowed. This helps your dog focus fully on training and form strong bonds with our trainers.
Common issues include aggression, separation anxiety, over-excitability, excessive barking, pulling on lead, and destructive habits. We tackle both minor and complex behavioural problems. The training provided allows owners to properly manage and/or rehabilitate behavioural issues once their dog is home again.