Boarding and Training

[Mesa]

My husband and I are going on vacation for a week and we will be boarding our Rottweiler. Our "soon to be" trainer (classes starting at the end of April) offered to do a Board & Train program with Mesa for the week we will be gone. Normally I am against sending your dog off to training because I believe training should be done between the owner and the dog and most of the time the owner needs more training than the dog. My question is, since we were going to board her anyway would extra training by a trainer really hurt? Especially if we are going to follow it up with regular training classes?

[spidey]

The standard arguments against board & train apply: you are not there, you cannot see or know what is being done with/to your dog and intervene if necessary; training is one of the best and easiest ways to bond with your dog, why let someone else have that benefit? What can possibly be achieved in a week which will in any way make it worth YOU not having done the training? IMO, nothing, even if you completely trust the trainer.

[Gunsey'sMom]

I am with Amanda, why let your trainer have all the fun? I am truly elated when I have communicated and taught a new command to Gunner, it also gives me more knowledge about my dog and how to communicate with him successfully.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Gunsey'sMom

I am with Amanda, why let your trainer have all the fun?

I'm with Amanda, too, and will add....why let your trainer have all the ATTENTION from your dog bestowed on him/her, when that is something so very important to your success in working with your dog?

One week without training won't set you back, and one week with training sight unseen just might.

[spidey]

it also gives me more knowledge about my dog and how to communicate with him successfully.

One week without training won't set you back, and one week with training sight unseen just might.

These two statements in and of themselves are the best reason not to do this (other than the main one, which is that you will not be there to see what is being done, and how). When the light finally goes on when my dog and I have been working at something for a while, when we are suddenly working together as a team, it's the best feeling in the world, and I know my dog shares in that joyful feeling of accomplishment with me (or at least he knows that I'm very pleased with him, and that makes him happy) - to me, those moments are one of the best things about sharing my life with a dog, and they can come often in the first few stages of training, as you start laying down the groundwork for the future, so there is just no way I'd want someone else to have those moments instead of me, especially since the first basic building blocks of training set the stage for the whole rest of the dog's life, no way no how would I give that away to someone else!

[harlychick77]

Mabe I can help you, I have my dog at an obidance school right now. And I havn't seen Ginger in almost three weeks. And I miss her tremendously! The only reason why I allowed my dog to go, is because of my breeder. Her dog is so well mannered, unlike any other rottweiler I've ever seen. I really want Ginger to turn out good like her mother. And I agreed to it. She was only there for two weeks. And for those two weeks that she is in training I cannot see her at all. But because she has major food guarding and food agression pretty bad. The trainer wanted her for another week. I pick her up this Saturday. When I have gone to see the puppies a couple of time. Waiting for the eight week period to come. My the breeder would show me how excited Sela would get when she would hear the trainers name. Her dog enjoys going to the school. My breeder has her dog to attack on command. And so occasionally she would take her rottweiler to the classes for updates. So that the dog does not forget the training of attack on command.

Now, I miss Ginger so much, it hurts. I can't beleave how attached I am with Ginger. If I had it my way, I would not have sent her off. I think the next dog I get, I won't put it in a obidiance class that requires you not to be there. The more I read about training, the more I beleave it was a mistake to put her through that. Now I know. It's true what the people say on this thread. Your not there. You don't know what's going on. There could be abuse with your dog and you wouldn't know it. And really it's about you! You need to be trained. Ya, the dog too as well. But mainly you and the family. You are bonding with the dog when training it. You need to be showed how to train the dog. Not the other way around. I would think twice about boarding and training your dog.


Harlychick77

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by harlychick77

Mabe I can help you, I have my dog at an obidance school right now. And I havn't seen Ginger in almost three weeks.

Now, I miss Ginger so much, it hurts. I can't beleave how attached I am with Ginger. If I had it my way, I would not have sent her off. I think the next dog I get, I won't put it in a obidiance class that requires you not to be there. The more I read about training, the more I beleave it was a mistake to put her through that. Now I know. It's true what the people say on this thread. Your not there. You don't know what's going on. There could be abuse with your dog and you wouldn't know it. And really it's about you! You need to be trained. Ya, the dog too as well. But mainly you and the family. You are bonding with the dog when training it. You need to be showed how to train the dog. Not the other way around. I would think twice about boarding and training your dog.
Harlychick77

This is so sad.
I remember we had another discussion on the forums about sending dogs away for training....and you argued that it was great.
I would stop listening to this so called "breeder" of yours.
Anyone that sends their dog away for "attack" training is not a real dog person. They should not be breeding dogs.

I just hope that your dog is not going to come back ruined in temperment?
It seems to me you took the lazy way out. You did not bother with any training (or very little) if your dog was having food aggression problems...and probably other problems.

If you put in the work at the beginning...and keep it up, you should have no problems later on.

As for the OP, just board your dog for the week....and forget about the obedience lessons while it's there. You could ask them to do a few obedience commands with Mesa while he's there...such as sit for his food or, sit to get his leash on, sit for a treat,etc.

But I think you will feel better doing the training yourself.

Gina

[webangel2b]

I just wanted to join in a say, you need to train your dog not a trainer.

AND....

I hate ATTACK training, the thought, the idea, the concept. Why would you do that? Dogs protect naturally, I don't need an attack dog EVER. Ug, more bad press - I can see it coming.

[Sharon Marples]

Originally Posted by harlychick77

Now, I miss Ginger so much, it hurts. I can't beleave how attached I am with Ginger. If I had it my way, I would not have sent her off. I think the next dog I get, I won't put it in a obidiance class that requires you not to be there. The more I read about training, the more I beleave it was a mistake to put her through that.

And just HOW many of us tried to tell you that? I really have concerns about a "breeder" that suggests that a dog be sent away for training. Nothing is better than an owner learning WITH the dog, not away from the dog.

Why don't you jut go and pick her up NOW?

[Gunsey'sMom]

Originally Posted by Sharon Marples

.
Why don't you jut go and pick her up NOW?

I was wondering the same thing.
I think I also remember attempting to give you advice at that time. I was also at one time considering sending my dog off with a trainer. I even went to the vet a got his kennel cough shot. I am thankful to members here that advised me against it, and glad to this day I did not do it.

When the light finally goes on when my dog and I have been working at something for a while, when we are suddenly working together as a team, it's the best feeling in the world, and I know my dog shares in that joyful feeling of accomplishment with me (or at least he knows that I'm very pleased with him, and that makes him happy) - to me, those moments are one of the best things about sharing my life with a dog, and they can come often in the first few stages of training, as you start laying down the groundwork for the future, so there is just no way I'd want someone else to have those moments instead of me, especially since the first basic building blocks of training set the stage for the whole rest of the dog's life, no way no how would I give that away to someone else!

Amanda said everything I was trying to say. It is those light bulb moments I wouldnt trade for anything!

[CanineCoach]

Besides missing out on all the "good stuff" mentioned above, most owners need the training as much as the dog!

[spidey]

I really have concerns about a "breeder" that suggests that a dog be sent away for training

And "attack training"...good grief...like this breed needs more problems.

[Mesa]

Thanks spidey for this comment, you make a great point.

Quote: One week without training won't set you back, and one week with training sight unseen just might

Thanks for all of your comments and your help. I agree, I want to be present when she has those lightbulb moments. I'm going to talk to my husband about it tonight.

[harlychick77]

Well, I still stand on the ground, when I comes to attack on command. I see nothing wrong with it. And in the past of what I have written on attack on command. Everything that I wrote flew over evryones heads. So ya, I agree with my breeder on attack on cammand.
On the other hand, I feel bad about leaving my dog for three weeks of training when it comes to obidiance. Now, like I said, I will be picking up Ginger this Saturday. And I will see how good she turns out to be. I still have plans on putting Ginger as attack on command dog in the future when she gets a little older. I do agree with eveyone on here, that the training should be with owner and dog. Not the other way around. I would suggest to Mesa, that she should get a dog sitter rather than boarding her dog. Dogs do better in there own home rather a kennel. My oppinion.


Harlychick77

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Mesa

Thanks spidey for this comment, you make a great point.

Quote: One week without training won't set you back, and one week with training sight unseen just might

Thanks for all of your comments and your help. I agree, I want to be present when she has those lightbulb moments. I'm going to talk to my husband about it tonight.

That was my comment I'm so glad you can see where we are coming from on this.

Originally Posted by harlychick77

Well, I still stand on the ground, when I comes to attack on command. I see nothing wrong with it. And in the past of what I have written on attack on command. Everything that I wrote flew over evryones heads.

As for you , just because you see nothing wrong with it, doesn't mean there isn't a LOT wrong with it. NOTHING you wrote flew over any of our heads. Teaching a dog to attack on command is foolish and DANGEROUS. A loaded gun on the kitchen table is safer. I don't suppose there's much hope you'll open your eyes.....and just as you fought against the "sending away for training is a very bad idea" advice, I fear you're in for a similar awakening with the "attack on command" stupidity. Too bad it'll be your dog that gets blamed in the end.