The BarkitektDog training & boarding · Columbus, GA

Project: a better-behaved dog

Reactivity specialist · Columbus, GAAny age.
Any breed.
Any problem.

Nine years and over a thousand dogs in, I take the dogs most trainers turn away: reactivity, aggression, bite history and resource guarding. Perfect for the dog that's "too much."

  • 9years training
  • 1,000+dogs trained
  • Lifetimefree refreshers
Call or text 706-940-2483 Book a free meet & greet
A Doberman lying on blueprint paper with a rolled-up blueprint in its mouth, under the words The Barkitekt: Any age. Any breed.
ProjectYour dog
Drawn byMatt Gilbert
ScaleAny breed
Sheet1 of 1

Board & train

Send us a dog. Get back a partner.

Your dog lives and trains with me full time, then I teach you everything they learned. Both programs include every leash and piece of equipment used in training, plus free lifetime refreshers as private lessons.

B-1

One-Week Board & Train

$1,300

7 days · off-leash recall

  • A full week living and training in my home
  • Off-leash recall: comes when called, even off leash
  • Sit, place, heel, down, break and off, all on leash
  • Free lifetime refreshers
  • All leashes and equipment included
Most complete
B-2

Two-Week Board & Train

$2,250

14 days · on & off leash

  • Two weeks of full-immersion training, living in my home: a Georgia-licensed, state-inspected kennel
  • Every core command, on and off leash:
    • Come — every time you call
    • Sit — including long sits
    • Place — including long stays
    • Heel — at your side, with or without a leash
    • Loose-leash walking — no more being dragged
    • Down — including long downs
    • Break — holds position until released
    • Off — shuts down jumping, barking and mouthing
  • Proofed around real distractions, in lots of different places
  • Manners at the front door, when greeting people and at mealtime
  • Free lifetime refreshers · all equipment included

Before you book

  • Your dog is at least 5 months old
  • Up to date on DHPP, rabies and Bordetella
  • A negative fecal test within 30 days of drop-off
  • Most behavior issues are welcome. Dogs with human aggression need an evaluation before booking.

Why obedience comes first

Before we can fix a behavior problem, your dog has to understand what's being asked. Correcting a dog that doesn't know the command is like blaming someone for a wrong turn when nobody gave them directions. Clear commands give us a shared language, and that's what makes the problem behavior fixable.

Programs fill up. Call or text and we'll find the earliest opening, or a future date that fits your schedule. Not sure yet? Book a free meet & greet and bring your dog.

Reserve a spot: 706-940-2483

Private lessons

Train together, one‑on‑one

Prefer to be hands-on from day one? Every lesson is private, one hour long, at my facility on Mobley Road in north Columbus. You'll get the address when you book.

A young schnauzer lying in the grass
A-1

Puppy Basics

$100

For puppies under 5 months

  • The foundation everything else is built on
  • Marker and reward training: your puppy learns what "yes" means
  • Communication and engagement between you and your puppy
  • Take-home potty and crate training guide
Matt leash-training a dog outside
A-2

Basic Obedience

$500

4 lessons · 4 commands · on leash

  • Come: an emergency recall, right to arm's reach
  • Place: stay on a bed, cot or bench until released
  • Heel: walk at your left side, sit when you stop
  • Down: lie down and stay until released
  • Plus sit, the release word and an "off switch" for bad habits
  • A written recap after every lesson
Dogs holding a stay on boulders in the woods
A-3

Master Plan

From $675

Built around your goals · 4+ lessons

  • Always includes the 4 core commands: come, place, heel and down
  • Off-leash obedience
  • Detection and tracking
  • Agility and play-based motivation
  • Reactivity, aggression and other behavior cases
  • Advanced concepts for working and sport dogs

Detection work usually takes more than four lessons, so it's priced to fit your goals.

The fine print: between lessons you'll have homework, about 45 minutes a day. The dogs that progress fastest always belong to the owners who put in those reps.

How we build a better dog

The blueprint

  1. Survey

    We meet you and your dog, see where things stand and talk about what you want.

  2. Draft

    You get a plan built for your dog's age, breed, energy and goals.

  3. Build

    We teach one command at a time and put in the reps until it's solid.

  4. Inspect

    We take every command into harder places: parking lots, parks, wherever your real life happens.

"A dog that only listens in the living room hasn't learned the command yet."

What I work on

Problems I solve

Behavior

  • Leash reactivity
  • Dog aggression
  • Human aggression
  • Resource guarding
  • Fearful & anxious dogs
  • Separation distress
  • Biting & mouthiness

Manners

  • Leash manners
  • Recall
  • Jumping
  • Barking
  • House manners
  • Chewing
  • Potty training

Sport & work

  • Detection
  • Tracking
  • Agility
  • Off-leash obedience
  • Play-based motivation
  • Bitework
  • Clicker & marker training
A group of boarding dogs relaxing together in a big fenced yard

Boarding

Treated like my own dogs

$30 a night, per dog

  • Your dog stays in my home, not a kennel run
  • Lots of room to run on my property in north Columbus
  • Playtime with my dogs, Domino and Cricket
  • Daily photos and updates on how your dog is doing
  • Crated at night if you prefer, or a dog bed if not
  • Georgia-licensed kennel

Boarding doesn't include training. Want both? See board & train.

Book a stay: 706-940-2483

From happy clients

What people say

"Matt changed the dynamics of our entire household. He was so patient, kind and assuring that our 7 month old Cane Corso 'Rocco' was capable of being trained. Before training Rocco was jumping, pulling and barking at the wind, you name it he was doing it. However thanks to Matt we are equipped with the knowledge to build on the training provided."
Edwin B. · Cane Corso training
"I have been boarding my dogs with Matt for the last 3+ years. He is very responsible, caring, and genuinely loves what he does. … He's also a great trainer, as he trained one of my dogs as a puppy."
Alisha E. · Board & train
"He has trained him so well and taught him to obey and follow commands and has also taught us how to maintain and follow and reinforce the commands. He is a great communicator, care giver and teacher."
Tebeaus T. · Board & train
"I was not confident with having my dog around others, but after the [training] course, she not only listened better but I felt confident in controlling her around other dogs."
Melanie C. · Training
"Not only did he send daily pictures, he provided detailed description of their behavior. His experience as a dog trainer gave new insight and he even provided tips on how I can work with them on my own."
Meli D. · Boarding
"Very professional. Took the time to explain the process. Individually planned training … not a one plan fits all."
Stephanie S. · Training
"Huge help training my puppy as a first time dog owner. I saw a huge improvement in behavior at home."
Trevor · Puppy training
"Very happy with the care my pups received from Matt. Great communication and attention to my dogs. … Highly recommended!"
Mike B. · Boarding
"Training is beyond expectations."
Tee W. · Training

Leave a Google review See us on Google

Matt Gilbert kneeling on the beach with his Doberman

Meet the trainer

Hi, I'm Matt

My background is working dogs and service obedience. As a civilian, I've trained alongside military working dog handlers with the 5th Special Forces Group. I trained under Jacob Robinson and studied under Michael Ellis, and my methods also draw on Stephanie Vachinsky (Method K9), Jay Jack and Training Without Conflict (TWC).

Nine years and more than a thousand dogs later, I still love the hard cases most. If your dog has been called "too much," I want to meet them.

  • Certified decoy (bitework)
  • Detection
  • Puppy classical & operant conditioning
  • Heat-stroke prevention
  • Certified educator
  • Georgia-licensed kennel

Proud member of the Columbus Kennel Club.

Domino the Doberman and a chocolate dog sitting on a bench in the woods A black shepherd mix holding a down An Akita sitting politely in a garden A chocolate lab and a Doberman sitting in the yard

Questions

Good to know

Do you work with aggressive or reactive dogs?

Yes. Reactivity, aggression, bite history and resource guarding are my specialty. Dogs with human aggression need an evaluation before booking a board & train.

What's the difference between boarding and board & train?

Boarding ($30 a night) is care only: your dog stays in my home and gets treated like one of mine. Board & train is a full training program while your dog stays with me, with a guaranteed result at the end.

How old does my dog need to be?

Puppy Basics is for puppies under 5 months. Board & train starts at 5 months old. Private lessons work for any age.

What vaccinations do you require?

DHPP, rabies and Bordetella, all up to date. Board & train also needs a negative fecal test from within 30 days of drop-off.

What happens after the program ends?

You keep the equipment, and you get free refresher lessons for life, so you and your dog stay sharp.

Where are you located?

On Mobley Road in north Columbus. You'll get the exact address when you book. I work with dogs from Columbus, Phenix City, Fort Benning and Midland.

Let's draw up a plan

Get in touch

Serving Columbus, Phenix City, Fort Benning and Midland.

Call or text

706-940-2483The fastest way to reach me.

Book online

Free meet & greetPick a time that works for you.

Instagram

@thebarkitektTraining clips and updates.

Facebook

The BarkitektUpdates, photos and messages.

Prefer email? [email protected]