YOU CANNOT BUILD YOUR NEXT LEVEL ON AUTOPILOT
A four-day working retreat for dog trainers ready for sharper skill, stronger leadership, and a more intentional way of building their craft and business — set on a private 20-acre property in Truckee, California.
What a board & train
does for a dog —
this retreat does
for the trainer.
You already know the power of removing a dog from its environment to accelerate change. New space. New patterns. Real coaching. That's exactly what this retreat creates for you. Four days away from your routine, your defaults, and the noise of daily business — inside an environment built specifically to challenge, refine, and elevate the way you work.
You've been doing
the work.
But the next level
asks for more.
You're already showing up. Taking clients. Solving problems. Carrying more than most people realize. But working harder inside the same patterns won't get you there.
"The next level of your work will not come from simply working harder inside the same patterns. It comes from stepping back long enough to see what is no longer serving you."
— The Trainer Elevation Retreat
The location isn't
just a backdrop.
It's part of the work.
Truckee, California sits at 7,050 feet in the Sierra Nevada — just minutes from Lake Tahoe — on a private 20-acre training property designed for exactly this kind of work. Privacy creates honesty. Space creates perspective. And the natural exhale that comes from this environment allows you to slow down, think clearly, and actually integrate what needs to change. This is not about getting away for the sake of getting away. It is about creating the right conditions for honest evaluation, sharper decision-making, deeper conversation, and meaningful implementation.
Four days.
Every layer of your work, sharpened.
We bring everything together into a clear implementation plan so you leave with stronger direction, practical next steps, and a framework for applying the work in your business, client interactions, and daily training.
We refine the way you coach, communicate, and guide clients in a way that is tailored to your individual niche, helping you create clearer lessons, stronger handler buy-in, and more effective client interactions.
We refine your niche, offers, pricing, program structure, and client experience so your business communicates its value with more clarity, intention, and alignment.
We start by getting honest about where each attendee’s brand currently stands, identifying strengths, gaps, and the individualized focus points that will shape their retreat goals.
This isn't just a business retreat.
The dog is part of the work.
Each attendee brings one trained dog — their own or a client dog with a solid foundation already in place. This is what makes this retreat unlike anything else available to trainers. The work isn't just theoretical. It's happening in real time, with a real dog, in front of coaches who will see exactly what's going on and coach you through it.
Receive direct coaching on your leash mechanics, timing, communication, and decision-making — with your dog present and working. Not theory. Application.
Work through the cases and behavioral challenges you want support on — with two experienced coaches observing and coaching you in the moment.
The refinement you build with your dog during the retreat directly elevates how you show up in every session after. Sharper timing. Cleaner pressure. Better results.
"The dog component is what makes this different. It allows the work to move beyond conversation and into real-time application, hands-on coaching, and practical refinement."
Not just perspective.
Real tools. Real results.
"This is not about collecting more ideas. It is about building a stronger foundation under the work you are already doing — so that your training, your business, and your leadership all move at the same level."
"Not just a powerful few days — a framework you carry back into your work."
Apply for the Retreat →
Two coaches.
One deeply layered
coaching model.
Skylar and Courtney don't just coach alongside each other — they coach from two distinct but deeply complementary bodies of work. Together they cover every dimension of what it means to be an excellent trainer, a strong leader, and an intentional business owner. What you get is not two perspectives in a room. It is a fully integrated coaching model built from years of lived, practiced experience on both sides.
Between them, Skylar and Courtney bring every dimension of the work — the dog, the client, the business, the craft — into one deeply educated, fully integrated coaching experience.
Skylar's work is rooted in the belief that real transformation begins with seeing more clearly — the dog, the client, the relationship, the patterns shaping behavior over time. She is known for her high standards, exceptional client experience, and ability to create lasting change through both dogs and people.
With years of hands-on experience working with complex behavior cases, Skylar has built an approach that goes far beyond obedience. She is especially skilled at helping people understand what is actually driving behavior, where disconnect is happening, and how to create a path forward that feels clear, sustainable, and integrated into everyday life.
Courtney's work is rooted in the belief that the most meaningful training is built with intention and fully integrated into everyday life. With more than a decade in the dog world, she is especially respected for designing programs that create true integration — not just obedience in a session, but real support that lives in the home, in routine, and in the relationship between dog and owner.
Her background includes raising service dog puppies, professional dog walking, overseeing operations in high-end daycare and boarding environments, and developing under respected trainers before stepping away to build something more personal and aligned. As an avid French Ring competitor, she brings exceptional discipline, consistency, and technical skill into everything she does.
THE WORK?
This retreat was created for trainers who are ready to stop staying busy and start building with greater clarity, stronger standards, and more intention.
Apply for the Trainer Elevation RetreatJuly 20–23, 2026 · Truckee, California · Limited Spots
Built to give you more than
a few good days.
Real refinement, practical deliverables, and continued support you can carry back into your business. Three ways to experience the retreat.
Because this is an intentionally intimate experience, capacity is very limited. Payment plans available for accepted attendees.
Real trainers.
Real results.
“I've been working with Skylar since November 2025 and since then my business has made several improvements. She explains things very easily and leaves you with things to work on in between sessions. Very transparent and is all about helping YOU build YOUR brand based off of YOUR vision. My clients comment on how smooth the process is to be on boarded and I'm grateful to Skylar for helping my team and I streamline my biz!”
“Working with Skylar has completely changed the way I handle and communicate with the training dogs I work. I feel so much more confident now and actually understand what I'm doing instead of second guessing myself. The consistency and structure she's helped me build has made such a difference, and I've seen huge improvements in dog's behavior because of it. It finally feels like we're on the same page and I'm so grateful for her guidance!”
“Working with Courtney and Skylar has truly been life changing. They both bring such a deep level of knowledge backed by real experience, which makes you feel confident in everything you're learning. Courtney has an incredible ability to pinpoint even the smallest handling and communication issues and create real transformation, while Skylar makes complex concepts feel simple and actionable in both training and business. I've grown so much because of them!”
This retreat is curated.
Not everyone is accepted.
We want this experience to feel aligned, intentional, and deeply valuable for every person who attends. The application helps us understand where you are, what you're building, and whether this retreat is the right fit for this season.
"We are less interested in perfection and more interested in honesty, self-awareness, and your willingness to step into the experience fully."
Everything
you need
to know.
Here's what trainers ask most before applying.
If you don't see your question answered here, reach out directly before applying.
Contact Skylar & Courtney Skye@lc.thecaninelearninglab.com→
"The trainers who get the most out of this aren't the ones who know the most — they're the ones ready to see their work clearly and do something about it."
— The Canine Learning Lab · Truckee, California
The learning
doesn't stop
at the gate.
Follow along, tune in, and keep building between sessions. This community extends well beyond four days.
Skye and Courtney dig into the real conversations happening in dog training — handling, client dynamics, business, and the craft. No fluff. Just the work.
