Boarding training vs night classes

[Christy&Riley]

We have been starting to look at training for our 4 month old goldendoodle, Riley. My husband found a boarding training but it is 4 weeks, nights and weekends. I want her well trained but don't know if we could go that long without her. My husband and I were not raised with dogs and we work so we aren't sure we could do a good job on our own...even if we did some classes with her. I'm curious what your experiences have been with training and which approach you prefer. Thanks!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Beautiful boy! I could not go that long without seeing his face either!  We both work, too but we went to puppy class on Saturdays and reinforced what we learned every evening.  I am no expert, but if you boy is like most doodles, he will respond to training and you will be able to see great progress relatively soon.  If I had a "problem" doodle with big time issues, I would send him to "boot camp" but not just for routine training.  

Let's see what the more experienced folks have to say!  

[Adrienne]

I agree with Lori.  I am looking for a good training class now...

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I've always believed that training works out the best in the long-term if the family themselves do it.  For my first dog I was 9 years old and I was the primary trainer.  It worked out fine and she listened to me very well.

I just don't see how boarding a dog and having someone else do the training is the best way to do it.  The dog won't be used to the way you articulate commands, the environment in which they're trained (since they'll be outside your home)... not to mention you lose your dog for a while, which I would never agree to!

[Christy&Riley]

Having someone else do all the training was something else I wondered about as well. It was amazing how quickly she obeyed the Invisible Fence trainers. I really think it may be more that the humans need the training and not so much the dog. :-)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Christy -- In my opinion you have hit it right on the head here.  I feel very strongly about doing your own training.  The reason is that you are going to learn more in the class than the doodle.  Then you are going to take what you learned home and implement it into your daily lives.  You are going to have to do your homework and practice between classes, but it is a great way to get rid of some of that puppy energy.  I know some people have had some success with sending them off to boarding school, but I just can't imagine the trainer is going to spend enough time when they bring them back that I would learn everything I needed to learn.  You also have to keep training.  It is use it or loose it for a dog.  If you aren't making them sit to be petted or sit for their dinner, they won't automatically keep doing it.  Things will return to chaos before long. 

[Suzanne & Jack]

In most training you'll find that it's not the dog being trained but the owners. This is a very impressionable time for you to spend and bond with your pup. Enjoy it.

[Jane Smith]

I taught my girls the basic training....sit, stay, come, go to bed, leave it, roll over, lay down, etc.  That wasn't enough for our lifestyle.  We are hikers and campers and needed work on recall, wait, loose leash and off leash etc.  We sent them to a 10 day overnight boot camp, and it was the best thing we ever did.  Their last day and a half the trainer spent with us and our dogs going over what she taught them, and letting us do all of the commands.  Our girls responded very well to her, and to us then taking over.  I highly recommend it if you are looking for more than just "average" training.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

The vast majority of us have trained our own dogs, to one degree or another, with some formal classes as puppies. I am not sure that separating young puppies , who have just gotten adjusted to our homes, should be sent to boot camp for extended periods. Some people have done it with good results though. Luca and I went to weekly classes for about 10 months. Calla learned by example.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

She is so adorable....and I admire you for getting serious about her training.  I think four months is a perfect age.  I did the training with the help of a private trainer (twice a week for a year and then once a week).  I also practiced daily for about 45 mins to an hour and integrated much of the training into our daily lives.  I'm retired so I had the time for this.  I loved the experience of training, and I really think that it enhanced the bond with my Doodles.  That said, if I was still working full time I would seriously consider a "board and train" experience.  I would want to know exactly how the training was to be accomplished to be sure that I was totally comfortable with the methods.  I would also insist on some time during this training for the trainer to work with me, since once she comes home you'll need to consistently execute the method.  Four weeks seems like a very long time.  My brother used a board and train for his Lab that was 10 days and then the trainer came and worked with him at his home for two four hour sessions.  To me that seems manageable...four weeks would just be too long for me to be separated from my puppy.  This approach worked really well for my brother....but he had to continue the program in order for his dog to maintain the skills....same expectations, consequences, and rewards.  Let us know what you decide.

[Christy&Riley]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. It's very helpful! So glad I found this site. It's been fun seeing that the crazy things Riley does is just standard doodle behavior!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I can't speak to 'doggy boot camp', as I have no experience with it. I can tell you when you take your puppy to training classes, the 'homework' is really just implementing what you've learned into daily life. Sure, you can have 'formal' homework exercises, working with and reinforcing what you learned in that week's class (and your puppy will probably love them), but you can also start using what you learned in everyday life. For example, when you go for a walk, have the puppy 'wait' at the door (and go out yourself first before giving the release word). I currently have my Oscar, 11 mos., in intermediate classes, and I've found the 'training' part to be very easy. I take a handful of treats out with me on walks with him and during our walk we work on leash skills, 'down' and 'sit' with distractions and 'wait' at curbs . We're out there anyway, and its really no added time or real effort. It may come a little more natural and easy for me due to the fact that I've been through all this training before with Lucy, our 3-1/2 yr old doodle, (and it certainly is good that she follows all the indoor work right alongside Oscar, being a great example to follow!), but I don't remember it being a great deal harder with Lucy, our first dog (ever!). She was/is more spirited and willful than Oscar and was more challenging in all ways, but she's also very bright and picked up commands fast. I'm all for the classes, myself.

[Adina P]

I prefer to do the training myself.  It is so wonderful for bonding and team work and understanding how to communicate with your dog.  I have NO theoretical problems with board and train situations and I know some awesome trainers I would recommend or trust for my dogs if/when I was not able to do it myself, but even then, even then when it's all said and done you still have to learn how to maintain that training yourself.  It's not like programing a computer where the programmer puts in the code and then voila the computer will work the same forever until it breaks down.  

I say, if you have the time and the willingness to do the work (even though it may be awkward and new and you might not be great at it initially), doing it yourself is far better.  One thing to remember is that the 'night classes' are for you.  They teach you how to train your dog.  Those classes will do NOTHING to train your dog because the other 167 hours of the week your dog will be home with you (more or less) so anything taught in class that is not practiced and worked on and reinforced at home (and park, and downtown, and in the yard, etc) will be futile.  Does that make sense. In class you'll learn what you're going to be doing out of class.  I find it fun (though at times frustrating because it is a learning curve for both human and canine) and worth the work.