Why Boarding and Training Facilities for Dogs Often Don’t Bring Good Results

Boarding and training facilities for dogs, where dogs stay for a period of time and are trained by professionals, may seem like a convenient solution to behavioral issues or obedience challenges. However, there are several reasons why these facilities may not always bring the desired or long-term results for dogs. While they can be useful in certain cases, they often fail to address the deeper, more complex needs of the dog or the owner.

---

1. Lack of Consistency in the Dog’s Environment

Dogs thrive on routine and consistency. When a dog is sent to a boarding and training facility, they are often removed from their familiar environment, which can cause stress and confusion. Even though training may occur in this new setting, the dog may not fully internalize the lessons because they are not being trained in the environment where the problematic behavior typically occurs.

Example:

• A dog might learn to sit on command at the facility but not when walking in the park or around distractions at home.

---

2. Owner Involvement Is Often Limited

A key element of successful dog training is owner involvement. In boarding and training scenarios, dogs may receive training from the facility’s staff, but owners often don’t have the chance to actively participate. Training is not just about teaching the dog; it’s also about teaching the owner how to communicate effectively and maintain the training at home. Without the owner’s active involvement, any progress made during boarding can quickly regress when the dog returns home to a different environment or routine.

Example:

• If the owner doesn’t practice the learned behaviors with their dog regularly, the dog may forget or fail to generalize the training to different contexts.

---

3. Lack of Relationship Building

Training is not just about commands and behaviors—it’s also about building a trusting relationship between the dog and its owner. In boarding and training facilities, the trainer forms the relationship with the dog, but the bond between the dog and the owner can remain weak. Dogs are social animals that need strong emotional connections with their humans to feel secure and responsive. If the dog doesn’t bond with its owner, any changes in behavior may not be as deeply ingrained or sustained long term.

Example:

• A dog trained to behave well by a trainer might revert to old behaviors when faced with the comfort and security of their owner, who hasn’t participated in the bonding and training process.

---

4. Stress and Anxiety Can Hinder Learning

Being in an unfamiliar environment, away from their family, can cause a dog significant stress and anxiety. This stress can make it harder for the dog to focus on learning and may even make some behavioral problems worse. Dogs often act out in stressful situations, and when they are placed in a new, sometimes crowded environment, it can trigger behaviors that may have been dormant or never fully addressed.

Example:

• A dog with separation anxiety might become more stressed in a boarding facility, making it harder for them to focus on training and learn new behaviors.

---

5. Training May Not Be Tailored to the Individual Dog

Not all dogs respond the same way to training methods. Some facilities use a one-size-fits-all approach to training, which may not be effective for every dog. For example, a dog that is reactive or fearful may require a more gentle, positive reinforcement-based approach, whereas a more dominant or independent dog might need a firmer, more structured training plan. Without tailoring the training to the dog’s unique temperament, personality, and needs, the training may not be effective.

Example:

• A dog with fear-based aggression may not benefit from the same training techniques as a dog with dominance-related aggression, and without a personalized plan, the dog’s fears might not be fully addressed.

---

6. Short-Term Solutions, Not Long-Term Results

Boarding and training facilities typically offer short-term solutions where a dog stays at the facility for a few weeks to undergo training. However, this doesn’t address the long-term needs of the dog. Once the dog returns home, they are reintroduced to the same environment that may have contributed to their behavioral problems in the first place. Without ongoing reinforcement and a sustainable training plan, the dog’s behavior can quickly regress.

Example:

• A dog that has been trained to stop pulling on the leash at the facility might resume pulling when they are walked by their owner without ongoing training.

---

7. Over-Reliance on Trainers

Boarding and training facilities often focus heavily on the dog’s behavior rather than addressing behavioral issues at their root—which may be linked to the dog’s emotional state, past experiences, or lack of socialization. Simply correcting a behavior without understanding the underlying causes may only lead to temporary improvement and can sometimes mask deeper issues that will resurface later.

Example:

• A dog that barks excessively at other dogs may have fear-based reactivity that requires behavior modification and desensitization, which cannot be effectively addressed in a short-term training scenario.

---

8. The Cost of Long-Term Maintenance

Even after a dog undergoes training in a boarding facility, ongoing maintenance is essential for success. Many owners return home and find that they haven’t been taught how to continue the training or maintain their dog’s progress. Some owners might not have the time or understanding to carry on with the necessary reinforcement, leading to the dog reverting to old behaviors.

Example:

• After a few weeks of training at a facility, the dog may return home and regress into previous undesirable behaviors, such as jumping, barking, or pulling on the leash, because the owner wasn’t shown how to sustain the training.

---

Why Boarding and Training Facilities May Not Bring Long-Term Results

While boarding and training facilities may offer quick fixes, the root of a dog’s behavioral issues is often complex and requires more than just a few weeks of external intervention. Success in dog training comes from ongoing communication, consistency, and a strong bond between the dog and the owner. If the owner isn’t involved or prepared to continue reinforcing training at home, the results may not last.

Instead of solely relying on a boarding and training facility, consider combining it with ongoing support, individual attention, and training sessions where you, the owner, actively participate in shaping your dog’s behavior. This approach will result in more sustainable and lasting behavioral change for your dog.