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Focus: Basic obedience
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We Talk Dog
We Talk Dog is a dog training business in Birmingham, Alabama offering Group Classes, Board and Train, Virtual Training, and In-Home Training, with published programs from $295.
Birmingham • AL • Training facility • 5.0 ★ (1 Google reviews)
Last verified: Aug 11, 2026
Transparency Score
79 / 100
Moderately transparent
How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
- Price transparency
- 75%
- Method transparency
- 100%
- Program clarity
- 61%
About this program
What they say about themselves
We Talk Dog operates a 9,000-square-foot facility in Birmingham's Crestwood area that combines training, boarding, daycare, and grooming under one roof. According to their site, owner Adam Summerford started the business after working with thousands of dogs across hundreds of home visits, building the facility around his approach to behavior modification. Ellyn Smith, who joined in 2013 as a handler and now leads the training program, is described as having a particular focus on high-energy and challenging dogs—she competes with her own dog in dock diving, scentwork, barn hunt, and other sports.
The facility's approach centers on what they call structured daycare, or "Day School," which replaces free play with place training, leash work, and impulse control exercises throughout the day. They describe their philosophy as emphasizing structure and leadership alongside affection, stating that "you can't love a dog out of bad behavior." Before accepting dogs for boarding or daycare, they require a two-hour temperament assessment.
Training options range from group classes with a leveled progression system (through Canine Good Citizen eligibility) to multi-week board-and-train programs that include follow-up support. They also offer digital training programs combining video coursework with limited in-person sessions. The facility notes 24/7 staffing and features both indoor play areas and outdoor K-9 turf spaces.
Getting started
Consultations and evaluations before you commit to a program.
What does We Talk Dog charge for board and train?
Board and train options at We Talk Dog range from a 7-day Puppy Jumpstart at $1,500 to a three-week program at $3,500, all including handoff sessions. Group classes run through three progressive levels—Foundations, Intermediate, and Advanced—at $295 each for six weeks. In-home training, virtual lessons, and a trick class round out the offerings, though pricing for the remote options isn't published.
Group classes cost $295 per six-week course across all levels. Board and train runs $1,500 for the week-long puppy program, $2,750 for two weeks, and $3,500 for three weeks. The longer residential programs include handoff sessions, follow-up sessions, and lifetime support.
Board and Train
Board and Train — $3,500 per program
Focus: Socialization, Basic obedience, Leash training, Leash reactivity
Duration: 21 days
Includes: Owner handoff sessions
Board and Train — $2,750 per program
Focus: Basic obedience, Advanced obedience, Socialization, Leash training, Leash reactivity
Duration: 14 days
Includes: Owner handoff sessions
Puppy Jumpstart — $1,500 per program
Focus: Puppy training, Basic obedience, Socialization
Duration: 7 days
Includes: Owner handoff sessions
Three Week Board and Train — $3,500 per program
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training, Socialization, Recall & off-leash
Duration: 3 weeks
Includes: Owner handoff sessions, Follow-up sessions, Lifetime support
Two Week Board and Train — $2,750 per program
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training, Socialization
Duration: 2 weeks
Includes: Owner handoff sessions, Follow-up sessions, Lifetime support
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Board and Train | $3,500 per program | 21 days |
| Board and Train | $2,750 per program | 14 days |
| Puppy Jumpstart | $1,500 per program | 7 days |
| Three Week Board and Train | $3,500 per program | 3 weeks |
| Two Week Board and Train | $2,750 per program | 2 weeks |
In-Home Training
House Call
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training
Duration: 8 weeks
Includes: Follow-up sessions, Lifetime support
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| House Call | Not published | 8 weeks |
Group Classes
Foundations — $295 per program
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training
Duration: 6 sessions
Intermediate — $295 per program
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training, Recall & off-leash, Socialization, Leash reactivity
Duration: 6 sessions
Advanced — $295 per program
Focus: Advanced obedience, Leash training, Leash reactivity, Recall & off-leash, Socialization
Duration: 6 sessions
Group Classes — Level 1: Foundations — $295 per program
Best for: 6+ months of age
Focus: Basic obedience, Socialization
Duration: 6 weeks
Group Classes — Level 2: Intermediate — $295 per program
Best for: Must have passed Level 1; 6+ months of age
Focus: Basic obedience, Advanced obedience, Socialization
Duration: 6 weeks
Group Classes — Level 3: Advanced — $295 per program
Best for: Must have passed Level 2; 6+ months of age
Focus: Advanced obedience, Socialization
Duration: 6 weeks
Trick Class — $295 per program
Focus: Basic obedience, Socialization
Duration: 6 weeks
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | $295 per program | 6 sessions |
| Intermediate | $295 per program | 6 sessions |
| Advanced | $295 per program | 6 sessions |
| Group Classes — Level 1: Foundations | $295 per program | 6 weeks |
| Group Classes — Level 2: Intermediate | $295 per program | 6 weeks |
| Group Classes — Level 3: Advanced | $295 per program | 6 weeks |
| Trick Class | $295 per program | 6 weeks |
Virtual Training
Digital Private Lessons
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training, Leash reactivity
Digital Private Lesson Program
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training
Includes: Follow-up sessions
Digital Day Training Fusion Program
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training
Includes: Follow-up sessions
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Private Lessons | Not published | — |
| Digital Private Lesson Program | Not published | — |
| Digital Day Training Fusion Program | Not published | — |
What training methods does We Talk Dog use?
The site explicitly describes their approach as balanced training. They accept dogs with aggression and reactivity histories, which suggests experience with behavioral cases beyond basic obedience.
Method: Balanced
Combines rewards with corrections, which may include tools such as prong collars or e-collars.
How do we verify We Talk Dog?
Certifications: Not specified on their website
Verification still pending or not yet requested. See our methodology for what verification does and does not mean.
Trust & facility details
Dogs stay at a dedicated facility with overnight staffing, and owners receive occasional video updates during board and train. Whether owners can visit during the stay isn't addressed. Insurance, certifications, and guarantee terms don't appear on the site.
Facility: Training facility
Owner visits: not specified on their website.
Video updates: Occasional updates
Overnight staffing: Yes
Insurance: not specified on their website.
Guarantee: not specified on their website.
Waitlist: not specified on their website.
Dogs per trainer: not specified on their website.
Booking: Contact form
How does We Talk Dog compare in Birmingham?
Price: Their board & train is 27% above the Birmingham midpoint based on published prices.
Reviews: We Talk Dog shows 5.0★ from 1 Google reviews among 1 published Birmingham programs.
Transparency: This listing scores 79 out of 100 (price 75%, program clarity 61%). Certification disclosure is still sparse in this city.
What to ask We Talk Dog
- Ask which certifications their trainers hold and who issued them.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance.
- Ask how many dogs each trainer handles at once.
- Ask whether you can visit during the program.
- Ask for a written outline of daily structure, skills covered, and what follow-up support looks like after the program.
Location & hours
Training happens at a dedicated facility on Caldwell Mill Road in Birmingham. The site doesn't mention parking availability or accessibility features.
5196 Caldwell Mill Rd, Birmingham, AL
Friday: 7AM-6PM
Monday: 7AM-6PM
Sunday: 3-6PM
Tuesday: 7AM-6PM
Saturday: 10AM-4PM
Thursday: 7AM-6PM
Wednesday: 7AM-6PM
Contact / request a quote
Reach out directly or send a quote request through We Talk Dog.