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!

Kassadi and Koda, our 4-week Board & Train students, had their first training session with their family!These two are he...
08/29/2026

Kassadi and Koda, our 4-week Board & Train students, had their first training session with their family!

These two are here to work on their manners around one another and, most importantly, make it easier and safer for their family to handle them together. During this first session, we worked with them separately so Diane could learn each dog’s individual needs, handling techniques, and what helps each of them be most successful.

She was excited to see just how much progress they’ve made! Neither dog pulled on leash, both followed through with their basic obedience cues easily, and they showed great impulse control even during some of the more exciting moments.

We still have another week together, which means a few more off-property adventures, more distraction work, and some final polishing of their off-leash manners before they head home.

Keep an eye out for more updates from Kassadi and Koda as we finish out their program!

Four weeks went by fast with Miss Lola! 🎓🐾The park, a cookout, shopping trips to a few different stores, practice around...
08/29/2026

Four weeks went by fast with Miss Lola! 🎓🐾

The park, a cookout, shopping trips to a few different stores, practice around our visiting dogs and resident kitties, and multiple lessons with her family… we’ve kept this little girl busy over the last few weeks, and it is showing!

Lola has come such a long way. She is making far better choices, showing more self-control, and has worked hard to build manners that can carry over into everyday life. Now she has officially headed home as a Four-Week Board & Train graduate!

Even better, her family has already reported seeing improvements at the groomer, on walks, and at home. That is exactly what we love to hear, and we can’t wait to see how she continues to progress as everyone settles into their new routine together.

This family is also a special one for me. More than 10 years ago, before CBowden’s Valley Dog School existed, I worked with their previous dog while I was employed at a much larger training facility. I’m so happy they found me again all these years later and trusted me with Lola.

One thing we always emphasize is that training doesn’t stop with the dog. A huge part of our programs is teaching the family, too. We want everyone involved to understand the new skills, know how to maintain them, and feel confident carrying the training into real life.

Lola may be home, but our support doesn’t end at graduation. We’ll be here for her family as they continue putting all of those new manners to work.

Congratulations, Lola! 💜

08/25/2026

A little something different for Lola today!

Treadmill work can be a great addition to a dog’s regular exercise and training routine when introduced properly and used with supervision. It can help with controlled conditioning, endurance, confidence, body awareness, and providing an extra physical outlet, especially on days when weather or other circumstances limit outdoor exercise.

The treadmill should never completely replace walks, playtime, field trips, sniffing, or real-world training, but it can be a useful tool alongside all of those things.

You may notice that we’re using a regular human treadmill here. It’s what we currently have available, and the walking surface is generous enough for a small dog like Lola to comfortably maintain a natural stride. For larger dogs, however, we would want a treadmill specifically designed with a dog’s stride length and movement in mind.

Lola was introduced gradually, kept at a comfortable pace, and supervised closely throughout her session. The goal isn’t simply to “wear her out,” but to teach her how to calmly and confidently work through something new while getting in a little conditioning at the same time.

Hopefully, in the future, we can invest in dog-specific treadmills here at the school and incorporate them with more of our students and alumni.

Would treadmill conditioning be something you’d be interested in seeing offered for your dog? Let us know in the comments!

Surviving the back-to-school shift? 🍎📚Now that the kids are back in school and everyone is settling into a new routine, ...
08/24/2026

Surviving the back-to-school shift? 🍎📚

Now that the kids are back in school and everyone is settling into a new routine, maybe it’s time for your dog’s first day of school too!

We currently have 2 Board & Train openings available for September:

🗓️ 3 Week Board & Train: 9/14/2026–10/4/2026

🗓️ 2 Week Board & Train: 9/20/2026–10/3/2026

Whether you’re looking for better leash manners, stronger obedience, improved reliability, or help with everyday behavior, this is a great opportunity to get started.

All new Board & Train students begin with a consultation and evaluation so we can meet your dog, discuss your goals and concerns, and determine which program is the best fit.

📱 Text (540) 333-2731 to schedule your consultation and evaluation and see if one of our September openings is right for your pup!

Shepherds Koda and Kassadi had a great day venturing out for their first field trip! We spent some time by the pool enjo...
08/23/2026

Shepherds Koda and Kassadi had a great day venturing out for their first field trip!

We spent some time by the pool enjoying a little cookout in a brand-new environment with people neither dog had met before. From there, we made our way over to Sherando Park, walked part of the trail, and passed families, other dogs, plenty of squirrels, and fishermen along the way.

At each stop, we started with Koda and Kassadi working separately, with the goal of eventually bringing them together and working both dogs with one handler. They did great!

At 9 years old, Kassadi is in her second home, while 6-year-old Koda is already in his third. These two are now two weeks into their 4-week Board & Train Program, and experiences like this are such an important part of their progress. New sights, smells, people, animals, environments, and even the car ride all give them opportunities to better understand and apply their new skills outside of the training environment.

So happy with the progress these two have been making, and we still have almost two more weeks to keep building on it!

9-year-old Kassadi and 6-year-old Koda have been getting some much-needed practice around our current boarding crew, giv...
08/19/2026

9-year-old Kassadi and 6-year-old Koda have been getting some much-needed practice around our current boarding crew, giving them opportunities to make better choices around other dogs. Historically, these two have been very reactive to their surroundings, but other dogs have been an especially big trigger for them.

They’re nearly halfway through their 4-Week Board & Train Program, and we’re diving into distractions and giving them plenty of opportunities to practice making better choices. The goal is for them to learn that another dog being nearby, moving around, or simply sharing the same space doesn’t mean they need to react.

Little by little, they’re learning how to stay calmer, remain engaged with us, and work through what’s happening around them. We still have plenty of time ahead of us to continue building these skills around different dogs and in a variety of environments.

Jax sees my phone come out and he’s all smiles.I wish all the pups loved picture time this much! Some are over it after ...
08/19/2026

Jax sees my phone come out and he’s all smiles.

I wish all the pups loved picture time this much! Some are over it after just a few days, but not Jax. He’s always ready for his close-up. 📸

08/18/2026

Koda and Kassadi are getting more and more practice working together!

We spent the beginning of their program building their skills separately, giving each of them the chance to understand what is expected before asking them to work as a team. Now we’re starting to bring those skills together more often.

In this clip, they’re practicing a structured walk together, focusing on leash manners, staying with their handler, and learning how to move calmly and appropriately side by side.

We’re not quite halfway through their 4 week Board and Training Program yet, which means we still have so much time ahead of us to continue building on these skills. As they progress, we’ll be adding all types of distractions and taking their training into different environments during field trips so they can learn to carry these same expectations with them wherever they go.

Keep up the great work, Koda and Kassadi!

Address

1265 Coal Mine Road
Strasburg, VA
22657

Telephone

+15403332731

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