About Coquina Canine Dog Training

Coquina Canine Dog Training is, in its own words, "rooted in Wilmington, NC", and it is built around board and train. The name is the thesis: "Just as coquina rock is formed from many small, fragile pieces united over time, we help dogs and their owners grow through small, intentional steps."

The board and train ladder

Coastal Beginnings is a two-week puppy board and train covering crate conditioning, leash manners, housebreaking routines, foundational obedience, calm engagement and appropriate socialization. The Legacy Program takes the dog back as an adult, typically between six and nine months, to advance the same work into public readiness and off-leash reliability. The Coquina Compass Package is the broad one, covering "crate training, leash manners, and household obedience to off-leash reliability, advanced commands, and public outings". The Driftwood is a fully customized board and train. The Beacon Rehabilitation Board & Train is the specialist tier: "an intensive, highly specialized Board & Train experience designed for dogs exhibiting complex or concerning behavioral challenges, including aggression, fear-based responses, anxiety, and severe reactivity." Beacon enrollment starts with a required in-home behavioral evaluation, is taken on a case-by-case basis, and the site says space is extremely limited.

Not board and train

Private in-home lessons are published as an alternative – one program includes four in-home lessons of 60 to 90 minutes with emailed homework after each – and a ten-lesson package runs from foundations to advanced real-world skills. All programs include complimentary follow-ups, and returning clients are eligible for discounts.

Method and framing

"We combine positive reinforcement and fair, thoughtful corrections tailored to your dog's unique temperament and learning style." A high-quality e-collar is included in the programs that use one, to build recall, impulse control and real-world obedience. The business is explicit that it is faith-based – "Building Balanced Relationships, Rooted in Faith" – and works out of "a calm, structured, coastal home environment". Several packages carry a published note that they are not suited to dogs with significant reactivity, aggression or severe anxiety, which is what the Beacon program exists for.