PCS and Deployment Dog Training: Should You Train Before the Move or Before the Deployment?
A guide for Fort Campbell families from Off Leash K9 Training Clarksville, the training team 15 minutes from Gate 4 that has worked with 101st Airborne households since 2018.
Short answer: train before, not after. If a deployment or PCS is on the calendar, finish a board and train or a private-lesson package first. A dog with a reliable recall, a solid "place" command and calm crate and car manners is easier for a spouse to manage alone, easier to move, and far less likely to become a housing complaint while you are gone.
A 2-Week Board & Train fits inside most pre-deployment windows and includes a go-home lesson for the person who will handle the dog while you are away. Private lessons take 4 to 8 weeks and suit families that still have time before orders.
- 4.8 stars, 189 Google reviews
- Facility: 2850 Woodlawn Rd, Woodlawn, TN
- Deployment-aware scheduling
- Military and veteran discount
- Lifetime refresher sessions on board and train programs
Why the order matters
Deployment and PCS both remove the one thing a dog relies on most: routine. The handler changes, the house changes, the schedule changes. Dogs that already respond to clear commands handle that disruption well. Dogs that only respond to one person, or only in one house, do not. Every behavior case we see from Campbell Crossing, Oak Grove and Hopkinsville after a deployment has the same shape: a dog that was "fine" when both adults were home becomes a problem for the adult left behind.
Training before the event also protects the training itself. Our board and train programs include lifetime refresher sessions. If you PCS away and return to Fort Campbell years later, you can book a refresher at no charge. If you deploy, your spouse can bring the dog in for a tune-up while you are gone.
Before a deployment: a 6 to 8 week plan
| When | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks out | Free phone consultation at (615) 905-6559. Pick board and train or private lessons based on how many weeks you have. | Board and train needs 1 to 4 weeks on our calendar; private lessons need 4 to 8 weeks of your calendar. |
| 6 weeks out | Start the program. For board and train, the dog lives at our Woodlawn facility and trains daily. | Commands are proofed around distractions, other dogs and people, not only in your living room. |
| 4 weeks out | Go-home lesson with both adults present, plus any teenager who will walk the dog. | The dog must respond to the person staying, not only to the deploying soldier. |
| 2 weeks out | Hand the daily routine to the spouse now, while you are still home to coach. | Transfers happen while the dog's teacher is still in the house. |
| During deployment | Refresher session if anything slips; video check-ins are fine for small issues. | Problems caught at week 2 do not become housing complaints at month 6. |
Programs are scheduled around block leave and deployment dates. Tell us the dates on the first call and we build the plan backwards from them.
Before a PCS: what to train and what to pack
The four skills that make a move easy
- Reliable recall. New yard, no fence yet, unfamiliar neighborhood: a dog that comes when called is a dog that does not get lost on day one.
- Crate calm. Air travel, hotel nights on the road, movers in the house. A dog that settles in a crate travels well and stays safe while the household is in boxes.
- "Place" and door manners. Temporary lodging and new housing come with new doorways, new neighbors and new delivery drivers.
- Car manners. A cross-country drive with a dog that paces and barks is a different trip from one with a dog that lies down.
Fort Campbell pet paperwork, in order
- Registration. Pets living on post are registered with both the Veterinary Center and the Housing Office under installation regulation CAM-REG 40-7. Current vaccines, a microchip and a negative fecal exam are part of compliance. The packet is on the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital Veterinary Clinic page.
- Veterinary Center. 5289 8th St, Fort Campbell, 270-798-3614, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Health certificates for travel, vaccinations and microchipping are done there.
- Campbell Crossing residents follow the Campbell Crossing pet policy on its Resident Resources page; confirm fees and any restrictions there before signing.
- Barracks. Pets are not allowed in the barracks, including unit mascots.
The pet-move allowance
Since January 1, 2024, the Joint Travel Regulations reimburse part of the cost of moving one household cat or dog on PCS orders: up to $550 for a move within the continental United States and up to $2,000 for an overseas move, covering items such as mandatory microchipping, boarding, pet shipping and licensing at the new duty station. The rules and caps change; confirm the current figures with the Fort Campbell transportation office before you file.
Programs that fit a military calendar
2 Week Board & Train
$2,900. Our most popular pre-deployment option. Your dog lives and trains at our Woodlawn facility, comes home with off-leash obedience, the e-collar and leash, and a go-home lesson for the whole family. Lifetime refresher sessions included. Board & Train details
1 Week "Freedom" Board & Train
$1,500. Core commands and recall in one week when orders came fast. Puppies have their own one-week option, the Puppy Jump Start, at $1,200. Full price list
Private lessons
Basic Obedience $650 (four lessons), Basic & Advanced $1,000 (eight lessons), a single Basic Obedience Starter lesson $375. Best when you have 4 to 8 weeks and want both adults trained alongside the dog. Obedience lessons
Aggression and housing complaints
Barking, fence fighting and reactivity are the complaints that end leases. Private aggression training is $1,200 and the Aggression 3 Week Board & Train is $3,500. Every case starts with an in-person evaluation. Aggressive dog training
The e-collar and leash are included in every board and train and obedience package. Ask about the military and veteran discount when you call. Financing available through Affirm - as low as 0% APR, subject to eligibility. See footer for details.
Frequently asked questions
I am PCSing from Fort Campbell with my dog. Should I do training before the move or deployment?
Before. A trained dog moves better, travels better and is easier for a spouse to handle alone. A 2-Week Board & Train fits most pre-deployment windows; private lessons need 4 to 8 weeks. If you are already past that point, a 1 Week "Freedom" Board & Train still covers recall and the core commands.
How far ahead should I book before a deployment?
Call 6 to 8 weeks before the date if you can. That leaves room for the program, the go-home lesson with both adults, and two weeks of the spouse running the routine while the deploying soldier is still home.
Will my spouse be able to handle the dog while I am deployed?
Yes, if the spouse is at the go-home lesson. We transfer the commands to every adult who will handle the dog, and refresher sessions are available during the deployment if anything slips.
Does the training transfer to a new duty station?
Yes. The dog responds to you, not to a location. Board and train programs include lifetime refresher sessions, so if you return to Fort Campbell later your support continues at no charge.
What paperwork does Fort Campbell require for a dog living on post?
Registration with the Veterinary Center and the Housing Office under CAM-REG 40-7, with current vaccines, a microchip and a negative fecal exam. The Veterinary Center is at 5289 8th St, 270-798-3614. Campbell Crossing has its own pet policy on its Resident Resources page.
Is there a military or veteran discount?
Yes, for active-duty families and for veterans. Mention it on the first call. Financing is also available through Affirm, as low as 0% APR, subject to eligibility; see the footer for details.
Dates on the calendar? Start with a free consultation.
Tell us the deployment or report date and we plan the program backwards from it. Off Leash K9 Training Clarksville, 2850 Woodlawn Rd, Woodlawn, TN 37191.
Call (615) 905-6559Fort Campbell dog training · Psychiatric service dogs for veterans · Prices