Why We are Home Based
One of the most common concerns that people have about a board and train program is the transition. Can a dog really transfer all of their new vocabulary, skills, and manners to a new home and different people?
This is a really valid concern, and is definitely something that board and train programs should address. The lessons on the tail end of training are an important component to training transferring to owners, but there are other components that are important. Dogs are famously bad at generalizing. That means that dogs can learn something in one environment, but maybe not do it so well in a new location.
We choose to do all of our board and trains through home based boarding rather than a kennel facility because we find that this is the best recipe for success. A kennel setting might provide great opportunities for dog distractions, but it doesn’t replicate a home like yours. By training dogs in our homes, we can provide them with all the real world situations they will experience with you. Going to place when the Amazon guy comes to the door, ignoring dinner on the countertop, and not jumping on guests that come over are all examples of where we can make training really realistic.
Training Schedules
Another thing that can cause dogs to struggle is if they are used to “obedience hour” as a framework for training. A lot of dogs listen really well in group class, or when they know it is obedience time, but then will ignore directions outside of those times. By having the dogs in our homes with us 24/7, we can provide an environment where obedience and manners can be reinforced at all times.
Rather than one big hour long session, we break up sessions across the day. We have set training sessions 2-3 times a day for skill building, and outside of that your dog is still immersed in a training setting. Go to your place when I grab this package off the porch, then you can go back to what you were doing. Recall away from play with the other dogs, and then you can go back to playing. An obedience command doesn’t always mean a big session is starting, but it does mean that we want your dog to respond regardless of what is going on.
Generalizing Handlers
If a dog only does obedience with one person, they may struggle with learning to take direction from a different person. Your dog will learn to work with each of our trainers, and that the rules are the same with everybody. Every member of your household should be able to give your dog direction, and this is really clear to the dogs once they have already learned that they can work for different individuals.
We take a limited number of dogs per trainer to make sure that each dog is getting plenty of time and training opportunities. Our goal is always a smooth transition to the dog’s home, and these aspects of our program make sure things are smooth sailing!
