Planning to Send Your Dog Away for Training?

If you have never heard of the concept, there are dog training facilities that you can send your dog to so that they can be trained. Some people believe that they can just send their dog off to such a facility and it will come back being the completely trained and obedient dog that they have always wanted. Unfortunately, the process is not that simple. You should do careful research before you plan to send your dog away anywhere. Here are some things you should consider:

1. “Dog Training is Owner Training” If you are not closely involved with the process of training your dog, then how are you to reinforce the things your dog has been taught? A quick overview of what your dog has learned will not be enough. You want to know what the facility offers in the way of a transfer of knowledge so that you can be made completely aware of how to handle your dog. You will also need to know how the commands are to be given so that you can be consistent and not confuse your dog.

2. A common thread among dog trainers is that dog owners come to them for help after their dog has spent a few weeks at a board and train facility that can only be referred to as “questionable”. It is important to completely research the reputation of such a facility including checking reviews and experiences of people who are not connected with the facility. Do not just read their marketing materials, find out the information yourself. Word of mouth is your best referral because you will be learning about the experiences of other people that have sent their dog to that facility.

3. No one loves your dog like you do. Do you have complete confidence in the facility you plan to use? Do you have confidence in the fact that they will treat your dog in a humane and respectful way while you are not there? The experience that your dog has, particularly if it is a negative one, can do irreparable harm to your dog.

4. Larger facilities that offer board and train options usually have part time dog trainers that may be new to the business of dog training. Make inquiries to find out which trainers will be used with your dog and what kind of experience and credentials they have. You want a confident and experienced dog trainer to deal with your dog so that it is properly trained.

5. The fastest training methods involve the use of punishment including shock collars to train your dog. This is an effective way to train a dog quickly, but it can result in many long-term behaviour problems that involve your dog being fearful. You should only send your dog to a facility that uses positive reward training in their training methods.

6. Board and train facilities can be very expensive, charging thousands of dollars to train your dog. One on one dog training can cost less, but you will have fewer sessions. If you consider the intensity and value of what you are getting for what you spend, the one-on-one training is a better investment.

7. If your dog has aggression, separation anxiety or fear issues, removing your dog from its comfort zone can increase the intensity of those issues and will work against any progress that has been made in training. Make inquiries to find out how the facility that you choose will identify and deal with your dog’s issues. Significant behaviour problems cannot be treated at a board and train facility because they do not have appropriately trained personnel to deal with these issues.

8. How much time will be spent specifically with your dog at the facility? Will they work with your dog every day or just a few minutes per day? How much time does your dog really need to be away to receive proper training? If the facility has multiple dogs to work with, they might not give your dog the time and attention that it deserves.

9. If you are purchasing a puppy from a breeder, you need to be careful if they tell you that they offer training before you pick up your puppy. This is not the best way for a puppy to be trained because young puppies need to be introduced to other puppies for important social interactions when they are in their early developmental stages. Missing those early weeks with your puppy can be detrimental to forming a bond with them. The other point around this is that these sessions can be extremely expensive.

10. There is a very real possibility that your dog may spend upwards of 22 hours each day in a kennel or a crate at a board and train facility. Make inquiries to find out what your dog will be doing when it is not actively being trained.

11. A dog that is trained to perform a behaviour in a wide range of contexts is referred to as having “generalization training” by dog training professionals. Your dog will perform these commands for anyone who asks; however, there are certain behaviours that may be taught to your dog that it will only perform for the person who taught it that behaviour. Some board and train facilities will video training sessions so that when your dog does not perform the way you want it to, they will refer to those videos to prove that your dog received the training that they stated they provided.

Are there good facilities that board and train dogs? There are some great facilities, but you will need to find the reputable ones that do a great job with dogs. It is incumbent on you to do your due diligence and research to find those facilities. The key factor is to find a facility that does not use practices or techniques that make you feel uncomfortable, such as punishment instead of positive reinforcement.

Read more about Dog Training: https://pawsclawstails.com.au/dog-training-sunshine-coast/

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