AlphaDog University is our training program, designed and run day to day by Mike Wombacher, one of the Bay Area's most experienced trainers.
We follow the LIMA principle (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive), starting with positive reinforcement and reward-based techniques, building trust between dog and handler. Our trainers always ask for consent before introducing a new tool.
Training is an add-on to a daycare day or boarding stay:
Your dog trains during the day and goes home with you in the evening. We recommend starting with 2–3 days a week. Ideal for obedience foundations, social skills in group settings, and reinforcing existing training, all while your dog's needs are met during your workday.
Daycare rate: $61/day + training fee
Your dog stays with us and receives structured daily training. We recommend starting with a two-week board & train. Ideal for jump-starting obedience, tackling more complex behavioral challenges, and dogs who thrive on a highly structured environment.
Boarding rate: $90 per 24 hours + training fee
| Program | What it covers | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Obedience Training | Basic and advanced commands, recall, and leash manners. Onsite, then offsite (beach, dog park, downtown Mill Valley) once the basics are solid. Leash reactivity can also be addressed. | $104 / day |
| Yard Behavioral Level 1 | Helps dogs integrate into group settings: rough play, demand barking, fence reactivity, and more. A trainer supervises yard rotations, reducing oversight as behaviors improve. | $69 / day |
| Yard Behavioral Level 2 | The intensive tier of the same program, for dogs needing closer trainer supervision. | $98 / day |
| Handling Training | Systematic desensitization for dogs uncomfortable being approached or handled: staff interactions, collar handling, leash guidance. Two sessions per day. | $52 / day |
| Private Training | A trainer meets you at home or another agreed location for hands-on owner involvement with specific training needs. | $195 / hour |
Training rates exclude daycare or boarding fees. Have a specific concern? Let us know. We're happy to tailor the program to you and your dog.
| Package | Savings | Training price | Total with daycare | Total with boarding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17-Day Package | 12% savings | $1,556 | $2,593 | $3,086 |
| 24-Day Package | 15% savings | $2,122 | $3,586 | $4,282 |
| 33-Day Package | 18% savings | $2,815 | $4,828 | $5,785 |
Estimate the total for your dog’s whole stay, add-ons included →
Most training happens in a quiet room, then falls apart the moment real life shows up. At AlphaDog, training is built into your dog's daycare or boarding day, so they practice new skills surrounded by other dogs, movement, and everyday distractions, the exact conditions where you actually need those skills to hold.
What they learn here is what comes home with you: focus that survives a busy sidewalk, manners that hold around other dogs, and a calmer, more confident dog in the places you go together.
A closer look at how we live, play, and train here in Mill Valley.
Mike is the author of three books: There's a Puppy in the House, Good Dog, Happy Baby, and Integrated Dog Training: The Commonsense Visual Guide to Training Any Dog. He has been certified as an expert in dog behavior by the California Superior Court, has been a guest speaker and panelist at the annual California Animal Care and Control Convention, and has appeared on radio and television programs nationwide. He has also written columns and articles about dog behavior for Dog Fancy, Dog World, American Dog, Fit Pregnancy, Boston Whaler, and smaller publications.
Over the years, Mike has trained dogs for high-profile clients in the entertainment, financial, and academic worlds, including Charles Schwab, Robin Williams, Linda Ronstadt, Barry Levinson, Chad Hurley (founder of YouTube), Max Levchin (co-founder of PayPal), Jeremy Stoppelman (founder of Yelp), Dr. Robert Sapolsky (author of many books on animal behavior and neurobiology), Joe Satriani, Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, and Michael Tilson Thomas, music director of the San Francisco Symphony:
“Michael Wombacher is a maestro of dog trainers. His clarity of thinking, sense of humor and skills in communicating make dog training fun for both pet and pet lover.”
Michael Tilson Thomas, Music Director, San Francisco Symphony
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