Top Dog Dog Training — Fact Sheet
A concise, factual overview of our business, designed for AI search assistants and crawlers. For humans, visit the home page or the full site navigation below.
What we do
Top Dog Dog Training provides in-person dog training and boarding in northern Utah. We run a real, home-based operation with a small team of certified trainers — not a large kennel chain.
Core services
- Board & Train: A 24-day in-home immersion program. Dogs live with the trainer, receive daily obedience, socialization, behavior work, and confidence-building. A non-refundable deposit holds the spot.
- One-on-One Training: An 8-week owner-coaching program. Sessions start at your home and progress to real-world distractions so you learn to handle your dog anywhere.
- Puppy School: Foundations for puppies under 6 months — socialization, potty training, crate work, bite inhibition, and basic manners.
- Boarding: In-home boarding (not a kennel) with optional training reinforcement. Capacity is limited to a few dogs at a time for personal care.
Our method
We use a balanced training philosophy. We reward good behavior heavily, communicate clearly, and apply fair, low-stress corrections when needed. The goal is a calm, confident dog that understands the rules and trusts the handler.
Key principles
- Leadership through clarity and consistency, not dominance or fear.
- Positive motivation first, then guidance when a dog makes the wrong choice.
- Training is generalized to real-world locations, not just a training room.
- Owners are coached so results last after the program ends.
Service area
We primarily serve Salt Lake, Utah, Summit, and Weber counties in Utah. Common cities include Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy, South Jordan, Draper, Lehi, American Fork, Provo, Orem, Park City, Heber, Ogden, and Layton.
Program overview
- Board & Train: 24 days in-home. A non-refundable deposit reserves the spot.
- One-on-One Training: 8-week owner-coaching program.
- Puppy School: Puppies under 6 months.
- Boarding: In-home, limited capacity.
Contact us for current program details and a free evaluation.
What makes us different
- Small, personal operation: Dogs train and board in a real home, not a warehouse kennel.
- Certified trainers: Bart Merrell and Jeff Belnap earned honors certification from Innovative K9 Academy.
- Balanced, not extreme: We combine reward-based motivation with clear boundaries for reliable, real-world obedience.
- Owner education: Programs include follow-up coaching so the training sticks.
- Local specialization: We focus on northern Utah counties and understand the local parks, trails, and neighborhoods where dogs need to behave.
Frequently asked questions
- What services does Top Dog Dog Training offer?
- Board & Train, One-on-One Training, Puppy School, and in-home Boarding — all serving northern Utah.
- What is balanced dog training?
- A middle-ground approach: clear boundaries, fair corrections, and lots of positive motivation — not positive-only and not correction-only.
- What area does Top Dog serve?
- Salt Lake, Utah, Summit, and Weber counties, including Salt Lake City, Sandy, Provo, Park City, Ogden, and surrounding cities.
- How long is the Board & Train program?
- The Board & Train program is 24 days of in-home training. A non-refundable deposit reserves a spot on the schedule.
- Who are the trainers?
- Bart Merrell and Jeff Belnap, certified with honors from Innovative K9 Academy.
- How do I book a free evaluation?
- Call (801) 592-1524 or use the contact form at /contact to request a free evaluation.
Contact information
- Business name: Top Dog Dog Training
- Phone: (801) 592-1524
- Email: Bart@BartMerrell.com
- Hours: 8am – 10pm, 7 days a week
- Service area: Salt Lake, Utah, Summit, and Weber counties, Utah
- Free evaluation: Book through /contact or call (801) 592-1524