TRAINING AN energetic puppy can be overwhelming for some older pet owners who may not have the required physical strength and stamina. There’s a solution: Send the pooch away to a training academy.

Programs typically last a month or two and can help resolve issues such as aggression, leash pulling, separation anxiety, and chewing on shoes and furniture. Trainers work daily with your dog, similar to how coaches work with professional athletes, says Erick Innis, who served as a Navy SEAL K9 trainer and owns Coastline K9 in Naples, Florida. “A lot of people don’t realize how detailed and scientific dog training is,” he says.

This training option isn’t cheap, though. A four-week program can run from about $1,000 to $5,000. But the trainers can turn your pet into a good boy or girl.

“When he came back, he was like a different dog,” says Courtnee West, owner of a rambunctious Aussiedoodle in Florida. “It was like somebody had flipped a switch.” —Terry Ward