One of the programs that we offer for our clients is something called a Board and Train.\u00a0 This means that we actually take a dog to live with us for a period of time to complete training.\u00a0 Our two programs are a Jumpstart (one week) and Bootcamp (two weeks).<\/p>\n
Typically people have a fairly strong reaction to the idea of someone else training their dog.\u00a0 Reaction #1:\u00a0 “Oh!\u00a0 You’ll take him?”\u00a0 This is followed up with a huge grin.\u00a0 Or, reaction #2:\u00a0 They clutch their dog to their chest and say with a scowl, “No way are you leaving with my dog.”\u00a0 Admittedly, this is a bit of an over exaggeration, but not by much.\u00a0 Dogs are a subject that tend to bring out strong emotions in people.<\/p>\n
So an underlying fear many people have when they consider a board and train is whether or not the bond with their dog will be effected by being trained by someone else.\u00a0 Recently, a post was made on an on-line message list regarding just this concern.\u00a0 Most people who responded had no experience with board and trains but were people who undoubtedly would have had reaction #2 to the idea.\u00a0 And their responses seemed to imply that by not training the dog herself, this woman would be missing a fundamental experience with her dog.\u00a0 There was a lot of guilting going around.<\/p>\n
Here is the reality.\u00a0 We have board and trained dozens and dozens of dogs.\u00a0 Without fail, when they realize that they are back home, they are happy.\u00a0 They are happy to see their owners.\u00a0 They settle back into life at home very well. And no dog we have returned from a board and train has ever forgotten their owner, or crossed their paws and said with disdain, “I can’t believe you sent me away!” And I have also never had an owner say, “Now that Fido is back, I just don’t feel like this is my dog.\u00a0 I don’t feel bonded anymore.”<\/p>\n
Is our bond with our dogs so weak a thing that a week or two away would destroy what we have built with them?\u00a0 Of course not.\u00a0 And since training a dog doesn’t just take a week, but an entire lifetime, the risk of losing the ‘bonding’ experience of not doing all the training yourself is also a rather silly affectation.<\/p>\n
Is living away from home a stressful experience?\u00a0 Sure, but stress isn’t always a bad thing.\u00a0 Stress is what incites change in people, and in dogs.\u00a0 A proper amount of stress on the immune system is what makes it stronger, in fact.\u00a0 Dogs are incredibly adaptable.\u00a0 It is something we see again and again when we do board and trains.<\/p>\n
This is one of the reasons board and trains are so effective, when done properly.\u00a0 And when given the correct tools upon their dog’s return, owners can keep that change and mold it into a new behavior pattern.<\/p>\n
In general, we say that a one week board and train program is about the equivalent to an average owner working with their dog for two to three months.\u00a0 Sound impressive?\u00a0 You should see the faces of the owners when they see what their dog can do!<\/p>\n
Now that I’ve told you all the reasons that a board and train can be a great option, here are a couple of things to keep in mind.<\/p>\n
Lastly, there are a couple of circumstances in which we would actually recommend a board and train, though that is the major exception to the rule. We have done a couple of board and trains because the owners had some physical limitations.\u00a0 Or their schedules were exceedingly erratic.\u00a0 These are situations where a board and train may not only be appropriate, but close to the only option available.<\/p>\n
Training your dog can be a full and rewarding experience.\u00a0 But no matter how you do it, training is a necessity in your dog’s life.\u00a0 If you think you are unable to do it, there are professionals that can give you a major head start with a board and train option.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the programs that we offer for our clients is something called a Board and Train.\u00a0 This means that we actually take a dog to live with us for a period of time to complete training.\u00a0 Our two programs are a Jumpstart (one week) and Bootcamp (two weeks). Typically people have a fairly strong…<\/p>\n