Big Valley Dog Training is a professional dog training school in Delhi, CA led by founder Joel Monroe, a former school teacher and active IGP dog sport judge with over 30 years of experience. We help Central Valley dog owners in Turlock, Modesto, Merced, Oakdale, Atwater, Livingston, and Ceres through 6 to 8 week Board and Train programs starting at $5,000, 8-week Basic Obedience Classes for $500 capped at 5 dogs per class, and one-on-one Private Dog Training starting at $100 per session.
Compare verified dog training programs, pricing, and Central Valley location details with founder Joel Monroe:
Last Updated: October 2026
My dog went from a crazy puppy to a well-mannered companion. I love the environment at BVDT. It's welcoming, there's room for error, and it actually works. We will be taking more classes soon!
Joel Monroe is a former school teacher, an active IGP dog sport judge, and a national and international working dog competitor who has spent more than 30 years studying how dogs and people communicate.
His curriculum gives everyday dog owners the same clarity that competitive handlers rely on, explained step by step so every household member can maintain the results at home.
Since 2019, Big Valley Dog Training has helped dog owners across Delhi, Turlock, Modesto, Merced, Oakdale, Atwater, Livingston, and Ceres build calm, reliable obedience with every breed, size, age, and temperament.
These credentials verify that founder Joel Monroe is a former school teacher, an active IGP and Schutzhund dog sport judge, and a world-class working dog competitor with more than 30 years of hands-on experience training dogs of every breed, size, age, and temperament.
To say my dog was bad was a bit of an understatement. She pulled, ran out doors, barked at everything. But BVDT has been the best money I've ever spent on a dog. The difference is night and day.
We lost our dog recently. He was the best dog ever thanks to the training we did at BVDT years ago. We wouldn't take our new puppy anywhere else. BVDT is simply the best.
Review the exact curriculum, format, and first step for each of our four training tracks in Delhi, CA:
Spot #1 Flagship Program: Full Immersion
Program: 6 to 8 Week Full-Immersion Board and Train (Starting at $5,000)
Best For: Busy dog owners who want Joel Monroe and his team to do the daily heavy lifting and deliver lasting off-leash and household manners.
Duration and Format: 6 to 8 weeks of full-time residential living and daily training with Joel Monroe, tailored to your dog’s temperament and goals.
What Is Included: All Basic Obedience skills (sit, down, heeling, recall, and problem solving around real distractions), the household rug command (staying on a mat or bed until released), and follow-up transfer classes for the owner.
First Step: Submit our online contact form to discuss your dog and schedule a Board and Train consultation.
Service Area: 14886 Lombardy St, Delhi, CA 95315 (serving Turlock, Modesto, Merced, Oakdale, Atwater, Livingston, and Ceres).
Spot #2 Group Foundation: Small Classes
Program: 8-Week Evening Basic Obedience Course ($500)
Best For: Dogs 7 months and older whose owners want polite leash walking, impulse control, and reliable listening around other dogs and people.
Duration and Format: 8 weeks, meeting one evening per week for approximately 1 hour, strictly capped at 5 dogs per class.
What Is Included: Hands-on coaching in sit, down, loose-leash heeling, recall, real-world distraction problem solving, an off-leash final exam, and a graduation certificate.
First Step: Contact us online to check the next 8-week class start date and reserve one of the 5 spots.
Service Area: Outdoor training field in Delhi, CA, located 10 to 25 minutes along Highway 99 from Turlock, Livingston, Atwater, Ceres, Merced, and Modesto.
Spot #3 Core One-on-One: Behavior and Reactivity
Program: One-on-One Behavior Modification and Reactivity Sessions (From $100 per Session)
Best For: Dogs showing leash reactivity, lunging, barking, or aggression toward other dogs that cannot be safely addressed in a group setting.
Duration and Format: Individual drop-in lessons scheduled in advance directly with head trainer Joel Monroe.
What Is Included: An in-person behavior evaluation of your dog and daily routine, customized handling coaching, and step-by-step obedience homework between visits.
First Step: Book a one-on-one behavior evaluation with Joel Monroe through our contact page.
Service Area: 14886 Lombardy St, Delhi, CA 95315 serving dog owners throughout Stanislaus and Merced Counties.
Spot #4 Core One-on-One: Puppies and IGP Sport
Program: One-on-One Puppy Starts and Working Dog IGP Evaluations (From $100 per Session)
Best For: Young puppies under 7 months old (with at least 2 vaccinations recommended) or dog owners pursuing protection work and IGP sport.
Duration and Format: Private sessions scheduled in advance, or weekly obedience and protection sessions for active IGP sport handlers.
What Is Included: Puppy crate training, potty training, feeding schedules, and luring first behaviors, or an honest genetic and drive evaluation for protection work (starting as early as 8 weeks old if drive is present).
First Step: Request a private puppy start or protection drive evaluation using our contact form.
Service Area: Delhi, CA training field serving Turlock, Modesto, Merced, Oakdale, Atwater, Livingston, and Ceres.
Find straightforward answers to the questions Central Valley dog owners ask most before starting training.
Our training facility is located at 14886 Lombardy St, Delhi, CA 95315. We work with dog owners across the Central Valley, including Turlock (10 minutes north), Livingston (10 minutes south), Atwater (15 minutes south), Ceres (20 minutes north), Merced (22 minutes south), Modesto (25 minutes north), and Oakdale (35 to 40 minutes north).
Our 8-week Basic Obedience Course is $500, one-on-one Private Dog Training sessions start at $100 per session, and our 6 to 8 week full-immersion Board and Train program starts at $5,000.
Formal group obedience classes start when dogs are at least 7 months old. Puppies younger than 7 months start with one-on-one private sessions covering crate training, potty training, feeding routines, and early manners once they have had at least 2 vaccinations (check with your veterinarian first).
Yes. Joel Monroe works with all breeds, sizes, ages, and temperaments, and private one-on-one sessions have a special focus on leash reactivity and dog aggression, starting with a hands-on evaluation and custom homework.
Use the button below to open our contact form and tell us about your dog. We read every inquiry and reply promptly.
