CBowdens Valley Dog School

CBowdens Valley Dog School Carly has had a love for animals since she was a child and as she grew, so did her strong desire to work with dogs. Carly pushed to make her dream a reality.

With over 15 years of experience and 10 years serving the Shenandoah Valley, we help families build calm, confident, well-mannered dogs through our board and training programs and private lessons. Landing a job at a local Boarding / Training facility was just the beginning, she was able to apprentice under two very well known and established dog trainers and learn what was required to become an a

ccomplished trainer. With eight years of experience working with dogs she now undertands that, like humans, dogs have unique personalities and do not all respond to the same type of training enforcement, this realization has lead her to found CBowdens Valley Dog School, a school for training canines and their owners to use many different approaches to training. Her methods have been proven to work very effectively on problem dogs, especially. While two years as head trainer at a boarding/training facility was a start, she currently enrolled in an online class in hopes of getting a certificate and furthering her knowledge. She is also planning to enter her corgi in some classes in hopes of learning the sport, agility. She Looks foward to working with you and your furry four legged friend!

All we do is play with dogs all day… 😏And by “play,” we mean scoop p**p, monitor stool quality, wipe eye boogies, wash b...
06/18/2026

All we do is play with dogs all day… 😏

And by “play,” we mean scoop p**p, monitor stool quality, wipe eye boogies, wash bowls, vacuum dog hair, mop up mud and grime, clip nails, brush dogs, bathe dogs, pull dogs for Place time, take structured walks, clean kennels, rotate dogs safely for potty breaks, manage meals, do doggy laundry, wipe paws, ears, and butts, all while squeezing in training reps throughout the day and making sure your dog is enjoying themselves, too.

It can be messy, exhausting, and definitely not for the weak… but we truly love what we do, and we love that we get to do it for your dogs.

Our students make every bit of it worth it!

Lenny is back with us for Stay, Play & Train!If you remember Lenny, he completed his 3-week Board and Train program less...
06/17/2026

Lenny is back with us for Stay, Play & Train!

If you remember Lenny, he completed his 3-week Board and Train program less than two weeks ago. We love getting the chance to touch base with our graduates soon after they transition back home because it gives us the opportunity to see what’s sticking, what needs more support, and where we can help their families continue building confidence.

We got a report that Lenny has been struggling a bit with Place at home, so of course we made it a big focus during his stay.

We practiced Place inside, outside, on different cots, rocks, benches, and around normal everyday routines. We worked on staying put, settling through distractions, and helping him understand that Place means the same thing even when the picture looks a little different.

Lenny is still very much a baby, and like many young dogs, he needs continued reps, reminders, and exposure to help these skills become true habits. His family reported that everything else has been going well, but this is a great reminder of what training really is.

Board and Train is not meant to be a “one and done” program where a dog becomes perfect under every pressure, in every environment, forever.

We build the foundation.
We give the dog tons of exposure and conditioning.
We teach the family how to continue reinforcing those new skills at home.

But dogs are not machines. They are living, breathing animals with their own thoughts, habits, emotions, and moments of confusion. Just like people, they need consistency and practice for new behaviors to become part of everyday life.

A professional athlete does not train once and stay in top shape forever. They keep going back to their training to stay sharp, strong, and supported.

That is exactly why we love offering Stay, Play & Train for our graduates. It gives us a chance to maintain skills, troubleshoot little bumps in the road, and continue supporting both the dog and their family after the main program is complete.

Good work, Lenny! We’re happy to have you back for a little extra practice.

Rebel had a visitor today!It was his family’s turn to start learning about his new manners and how to reinforce them at ...
06/17/2026

Rebel had a visitor today!

It was his family’s turn to start learning about his new manners and how to reinforce them at home.

This is such an important part of every board and train program. Our goal is not just to teach the dog, but to make sure each family goes home feeling confident, comfortable, and prepared to continue the work.

Dogs do not automatically transfer their new skills back home without a little help. Their families need to understand the commands, the expectations, and how to follow through in a way that makes sense to the dog.

Rebel did a great job, and we’re so proud of the work his family is putting in, too!

LuLu, one of our 3 week Board and Train Students, has been working really hard on all of her intros, and her impulse con...
06/17/2026

LuLu, one of our 3 week Board and Train Students, has been working really hard on all of her intros, and her impulse control is really starting to improve.

Down has been one of her hardest tasks so far, so we’ve been spending extra time helping her understand how to settle into a down, stay there, and work through minor distractions.

She’s putting in the work, and we’re proud of the progress she’s making.

Keep up the great work, sweet girl!

Someone thought it was a good day for a swim 🤣Sugar is out here living her best life and making sure training days still...
06/16/2026

Someone thought it was a good day for a swim 🤣

Sugar is out here living her best life and making sure training days still come with a little fun!

Beasley and Yogi are past graduates back for Stay, Play & Train! They’re enjoying some outside playtime while we keep up...
06/16/2026

Beasley and Yogi are past graduates back for Stay, Play & Train!
They’re enjoying some outside playtime while we keep up with the structure and routine they learned during their programs.

06/16/2026

This is the kind of training that helps dogs work through real-life challenges.

The first few clips show trucks running and moving around the property. Before Rebel’s program, that level of noise and movement would have sent him running. He has been very nervous around large trucks, trailers, and equipment after being badly startled by passing trucks while out on walks. Those incidents were scary enough that his owner struggled to keep hold of him, and Rebel later refused to leave his own driveway for walks.

Today, we used that same type of distraction in a controlled way while practicing structured walking, direction changes, and handler focus. Instead of avoiding the trigger completely, Rebel was given clear guidance, fair expectations, and the opportunity to work through it one step at a time.

Then we added dog distractions while the other dogs were out for their own playtimes and structured walks. This gave Rebel the chance to practice listening around movement, excitement, and other dogs without needing to interact with them.

Training like this builds more than obedience. It builds confidence, impulse control, trust, and better decision-making in everyday situations.

Good boy, Rebel. This is big progress.

❤️Support what we do? Like and follow our page to see how our training students progress throughout their programs.

06/14/2026

There’s a sweet reminder waiting at the end of this one. 🐾❤️

This may look like a simple Down Stay, but there is so much more happening here.

Dolly came to us 4-5 weeks ago with only a simple understanding of “sit,” and now she is learning how to hold her commands while her owner moves around her and the picture starts to change.

That is where real-life obedience begins.

In our private lesson programs, the goal is not just for me to teach your dog. The goal is to coach you through the process so your dog learns from your hands, your timing, your praise, your rewards, and your communication.

Because the best part of training is not just the command.

It is the confidence, trust, and relationship being built along the way.

Good girl, Dolly! 🐾

Evening playtimes are far more enjoyable in this heat! When the temperatures climb, we adjust the dogs’ routines to keep...
06/14/2026

Evening playtimes are far more enjoyable in this heat!

When the temperatures climb, we adjust the dogs’ routines to keep them safe while still making sure they get movement, enrichment, training, and time to just be dogs.

Hot afternoons are better for quick potty breaks, indoor training, rest, frozen treats, and water play. Once the sun starts going down, everyone can enjoy more comfortable playtime without fighting the worst of the heat.

Summer fun is great, but keeping dogs safe, cool, and comfortable always comes first.

Check out some of the happy faces hanging out with us this weekend!

Address

1265 Coal Mine Road
Strasburg, VA
22657

Telephone

+15403332731

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when CBowdens Valley Dog School posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to CBowdens Valley Dog School:

Shortcuts

Share

Category