Why choose Board and Train for your Dog?

There is a joke I often hear that goes something like this… “The only thing two dog trainers can agree on is what the third dog trainer is doing wrong.” This is an incredibly true statement if you have spent any time researching dog training methods and/or best practices. It is truly the Wild West out there.

Board and Train is often associated with more punishment based methods of training, probably because it was more predominant in the Gun Dog field than it was for pet dogs. But, as we know, times are changing!

Positive Reinforcement Board & Train is still less commonly found when compared to other training methods. Here at Your Pro Dog Trainer, we specialize in positive reinforcement board and train for puppies and dogs! I’m not here today to debate other training methods, however, only to discuss why Board & Train can be a solid option for many pet owners.

Many people say our job is to “train the owner” to train their dog. That is true to a large degree, however many Owners come to us as a last resort when they have truly tried their best at home and are not getting results. This can be for many reasons, but in a nutshell, the average owner is not a professional trainer and they may be trying diligently every day, yet still making rookie mistakes that are not allowing for resolution. Some behaviors we frequently see this happening include:

• Jumping
• Mouthing
• Leash Walking
• Crate Training
• Reactivity
• Manners

It can be difficult for Owners to stick with the positive reinforcement training process and be consistent for the length of time sometimes needed to undo any undesirable behaviors. Many times, these undesirable behaviors sneak up on the most well intentioned owner and they only realize it’s become a problem when its a BIG problem. This often coincides with puppies growing into teenagers, and what the 15lb puppy was doing was not nearly as obnoxious as the now 70lb teenager!

Our experience here at Your Pro Dog Trainer is that Board and Train can be a great way to let the professionals fast track your puppy/dog through the harder bits of training. When patience, timing, rate of reinforcement, value of reinforcement are all of utmost importance, this is often when owners give up up in desperation and says “it didn’t work”… but us pros? No way! We know that a breakthrough and success are around the corner! Not only that, but sometimes giving both the owner and the dog a break, and hitting the “reset” button, can be very helpful!

Once our professional team can fast track the tougher aspects of training with your dog, and your dog has gotten plenty of good repetitions practicing the newfound and desirable behaviors, then the next important stage is to hand the reins back to you!

We are very honest with our clients that behavior is not something we can guarantee long-term success. This is because you are a critical player in the long-term success of board and train. We will teach you how to keep up and maintain the new training with your dog, but you must be prepared to put in the time. You can undo all our hard work very quickly if you go back to old habits with your dog!

But do not despair! We prepare our clients with written “Homework”, in person instruction, and plenty of aftercare and support to help you keep the momentum going! Our system has been successful time and time again, and we have plenty of 5 star reviews to demonstrate our commitment to your dog and to you.

Email us if you are struggling with your dog and wondering if Board and Train is right for you!

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