Board and Train Pros and Cons

Trying to decide if Board and Train is right for your dog or puppy?

After working with 30 Board and Train dogs in 4 years, here’s my perspective, on the pros and cons.

Pros

(1) Accelerated Instruction

Working one-on-one with the dog to change behavior myself is generally faster than teaching the owner to do the same thing. I can more thoroughly evaluate the problem and identify the best technique in a much shorter amount of time.

Private sessions are great, and absolutely affective, but nothing beats your dog living with a professional trainer.

This is usually one of the biggest benefits of choosing Board and Train.

(2) Easier Training for the Owner

Because the trainer has already worked with the dog, when it comes time to add the owner, the dog is familiar with his role—this makes it easier for the owner (and dog) to get it right!

Board and Train can also be a superb choice for owners who are capable of maintaining a skill, but struggle to teach it because of a physical disability or other limitation.

(3) Starting With a Blank-ish Slate

Specific environments and people sometimes trigger bad behavior: “this is the behavior I do in this room with this person.

By removing the dog from those environments and people, we remove some of the triggers for the bad behavior and it becomes easier for him to forget about that and learn good habits.

(4) Overall Evaluation

Some dogs need help with just one or two problems. Some dogs have so many problems that just living with them is a struggle.

Board and Train is not just about teaching your dog a bunch of commands/cues, but about discovering what type of and how much stimulation he needs to succeed.

Cons

(1) Finding A Good Program

A program that does not use punishment on the dog, or make unethical guarantees about results is hard to find.

Poor quality Board and Train programs look very attractive and it’s easy to get tricked into believing you can have a highly trained dog in a short period of time without harmful side effects.

Many Board and Train programs achieve seemingly “instant” results because of their use of punishment-based techniques and tools. For more information on why this is not in your dog’s best interest, see my blog post: “Why I Say No to Shock, Prong, and Chain Training Collars.”

When looking for a program near you, use this guide for questions to ask and what answers to look for.

(2) The Adjustment Period

Board and Train does offer accelerated instruction, but only after the dog adjusts to his new living situation.

This usually takes a few days, but may take longer for anxious or fearful dogs. Regardless, we cannot expect dogs to jump right into smooth training on Day 1.

My Board and Train programs took this into account, and I planned for the first five days of the stay to be “less productive.” That time was spent letting them adjust, evaluating and casually training. If the dog wanted to work more, I was ready, but I didn’t expect them to be comfortable enough for it right away.

(3) Lack of Trainer Relationship

Dogs aren’t robots. A trusting relationship between dog and handler is essential for really efficient training.

We certainly don’t have to wait for the relationship before training can begin (reward-based training is a great part of establishing that relationship!), but it’s an intangible training asset that cannot be manufactured overnight.

(4) Cost

Board and Train is a lot of work and that’s reflected in the cost. The trainer isn’t just spending an hour every day training your dog—she’s also caring for him 24/7 and adjusting her schedule to accommodate a visiting dog.

(5) No Supervision

A good Board and Train program will provide updates while your dog is away, but that’s not the same as watching the trainer interact with and handle your dog.

Unfortunately, recent stories have revealed how inhumanely some dogs are treated during bad programs.

Be very cautious of programs that do not include updates. Ideally, the program includes regular video clips of your dog practicing!

Lastly…

As you consider Board and Train for your dog, it’s critical to understand two important realities:

1. The trainer can only train as fast as your dog is able to learn.
   Training is a team sport and the trainer has to match your dog’s pace and needs. Genetics, temperament, breed, and behavior history are only some of the factors that influence your dog’s progress—factors the trainer has no control over.

2. Your dog will leave Board and Train a work in progress.
   Board and Train jumpstarts your dog’s education, but it does not complete it. You can expect on-going maintenance and practice to protect the progress your dog made and continue advancing his skills.