I probably get asked five times a week for a referral to a board and train or for my thoughts on board and train experiences for dogs. I'm happy to share my thoughts with clients (and here, of course!), but I want to make one thing perfectly clear. I am not here to argue. What follows is my opinion, based on almost 35 years worth of experience, which is what my clients have asked for anyway, so here goes.
No, I am not going to recommend a board and train for your dog. No, I've never heard of one that actually worked, long term, to improve a dog's life. And, no, I don't do board and train myself. Now that I've gotten all of that out of the way, let me explain why.
Board and trains, by their very nature, are places where people take their dogs and leave them, to be trained by someone else, for varying lengths of time. At some of these places, dog owners must come weekly, for example, to work with their dog and a trainer, or participate in group training, but for many board and trains, dog owners do not participate in their dog's "re-boot." I've never understood how anything a dog learns at boot camp will carry over to their owner's home if the owners themselves don't participate in the process. So, I guess what I'm saying is this: Owners should board and train with their dogs at boot camp. Trainers need to change the owner's behavior as much as they change the dogs. Sending them home with a summary, a book, or outlines isn't going to do the trick. The humans are going to go right back to their old ways making the entire experience a waste of time and money and unncessary stress for the dog who had to go through it.
I've been sent links to several board and trains that guarantee their results. I see in the fine print that those guarantees hinge on owners continuing the use of "training collars." Training collars, correction collars, tap collars, whatever you want to call them, I call them shock collars because that's what they are. Yes, these collars have other settings that vibrate and beep, but the bottom line is that they use punishment to get compliance from your dog. AND they want you to continue to do that at home. If you are okay with this and it works for you, I suppose that's fine. I will never use an electronic collar on one of my dogs, on one of my client's dogs, or recommend them to anyone. Ok, I'm going to have to digress for a moment and share a story with you.
In 1991, I was teaching a puppy class in Del Mar, California, an upscale beach community near San Diego. There were six puppies and owners in the class, one of whom was a German Shepherd puppy with his owner, a retired Marine. All of the puppies were, well, puppies. They jumped up, they mouthed people, they barked, and they chewed on their leashes as they resisted walking nicely. Again, all very normal for a puppy class. Well, the Marine wasn't having it. He brought his puppy to the third class wearing an electronic collar. I observed him shocking that puppy when he tried to greet one of the women in class by jumping up on her for a treat. The puppy yelped, peed, and slunk under the bench. The Marine smiled, the woman was horrified, and I decided then and there to make an example of this man. I asked him if he'd tried the collar on himself, just to make sure it was working properly and he knew what the experience would be like for his dog. He told me that there was no need to do that because he'd spent a fortune on this collar AND he was a retired Marine, a shock would be nothing to him. I'm sure you know where this is going. I asked if he'd be willing to show the class this and of course he said yes! I took the collar off of the dog and took the remote from him. I fitted the collar on his bare neck and glanced at the remote. I asked him if he wanted me to use the same "tap" he'd given his dog (a setting of 5 on this remote), or go a little easier since this was just a demonstration, after all. He replied, whatever works is fine with me. Wrong thing to say. I gave him a quick beep and then dialed it up to just 4 and shocked him. He dropped to one knee and clutched at his neck. His puppy licked his face and the women in class snickered. I very innocently asked if he wanted me turn it up to the level he'd used on his dog and he said no, that was enough, I'd made my point. And indeed I had. Never subject your dog to one of these things if you're not willing to try it on yourself. Dog necks are actually more sensitive than human necks, something this man was surprised to learn. Nonetheless, I thanked him for helping the class to better understand why this training tool was not something I'd recommend. The bottom line: I got much better participation and follow through by the Marine, and by the other people in class, after this demonstration. So, maybe shock collars are good for something after all!
So, why don't I offer my own board and train experience? While it might seem lucrative to do so, again, I don't think there is a lot of value in working with dogs without their owners involved. So, to be successful, I'd have to operate a B & B experience for dog owners where they stay and work with their dogs and with me, in the hopes that the behavioral changes stick. The problem is, I really think dogs are different when they aren't at home. They are a little less sure, a bit uneasy, a bit more compliant. For it to work, I'd have to go live with them in their home (think, the Supernanny TV program!), and I'm just not doing that, though I've had people ask me to!
There just really aren't any quick fixes when it comes to dog training. You have to put in the time yourself, perhaps with a dog trainer you trust to do right by you and your dog. And if you're doing it all yourself, and getting frustrated, then definitely seek the help of a professional! You shouldn't feel so frustrated that you question your relationship with your dog. I had a client tell me just this week that while she loved her dog, she didn't really like him, and that stuck with me. I'm glad she reached out for help from me because I think, together, we can turn that around for both of them.
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
I would rather spend the time with the dog at home
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree!
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