Rigby business provides dog obedience training and boarding

Chris Norman owns Idaho Elite K9 Training and Boarding Suites in Rigby with his wife Rachel. He and his team work with dogs every day. See it in action in the video above. | Rhett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com

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The Rigbys run a dog training and boarding business.

LIBBY – Training K9 dogs for the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office is what Christopher Norman enjoyed most about working in law enforcement.

He recently stepped down after 17 years to focus full-time on his dog training and boarding business. The Idaho Elite K9 Training and Boarding Suite is now open in a new 11,000 square foot building located at 3848 Indian Creek Loop, Suite A, in Rigby.

We provide basic obedience training for all dogs, as well as more advanced training for hunting and competition. We also offer a lodging component that provides the dog with a place to stay while the owner is away.

Norman runs the business with his wife Rachel. The business started as a side hustle about five years ago and is excited about the larger space and new guest capacity.

“We have 56 boarding kennels and two large bays for training,” Chris tells EastIdahoNews.com. “If we get that busy, we’ll be able to accommodate more than 100 dogs.”

For the Normans, boarding was about more than just giving a dog a place to sleep. The idea is to provide enriching activities based on the dog’s individual interests.

“If they like treats, we can put a snort mat or a lick mat. If they like to chase things, we have flavored bubbles. We have them just go to the kennel. “We want them to have a good experience and not be trapped,” he says.

Over the years, Chris has noticed that many people have no control over their dogs. His experience training K9s inspired him to start a dog training business, which quickly took off.

Initially, boarding capabilities were highly sought after, but the Normans at the time did not have the ability to provide it.

“I got phone calls all the time,” Chris says. “We had some boarding houses, but they were more for our boarding training, and we had people dropping off their dogs for training. When we moved into this (new building), So we decided to add boarding to that, and now we can offer it all.”

Law enforcement agencies that work with K9s often receive training in Alabama and other parts of the country, and Chris’ goal is to eventually provide training locally at his own facility. He also wants to host a tournament.

“Being able to provide a high level of training and boarding is (always a top priority),” says Rachel. “Another goal of ours is to increase passenger numbers, as that is now the core of our business.”

When it comes to dog training, Chris says there’s no “magic pill.” It just requires patience and consistency. Norman’s 9-year-old daughter, Savannah, has a Belgian Malinois. Watch her work in the video above.

Please visit our website or Facebook page for pricing and additional information. You can also call Idaho Elite K9 directly at (208) 569-1627.

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