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!

[a.k.a. Rodney]

My 7 mo was sent to a friendly environment for a board/stay...what I mean is in a home and with no more than 6 dogs. She needed it & when she came home after 2 wks ...it was like her "evil twin" left!!
She is back again only b/c we are out of the country & in my area they $50 to board a dog....and I'm paying $100 a day with an unbelievable trainer for board & train..she lives in the country and she picks up and delivers her back home.....this is not a place that trains police dogs. They live in her home and I think she's incredible!!
My DerbyDoodle went from demanding and not calm to the most obedient and sweet dog in 2 wks.
She is working this week on more advanced commands like going into a sit from a down/stay and others I guess I'll see soon.....so, my vote is...they always come back BETTER dogs but you must keep up the training at home!! This trainer has a Facebook page and posts pix every day and sometimes more often..,always texted me pixs every day also. I liked especially that she trained without treats...except for the command come. She used a prong collar, but now my DH walks her on a regular collar...although trainer prefers she stays on prong longer...with me she does. She returned her and trained us for about 2 hrs. This gal is always available for any questions I have by text, phone or email. She is quite well known in the Chicago area. I didn't home school my kids , so I figured she it just as important for her to learn quickly & appropriately from a professional.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Can you share how in 2 weeks she got the evil twin to go away!!!  I need some insight for our little Miss Niña.

Thanks

[a.k.a. Rodney]

I've asked her that quite often. She's the professional..been doing for almost 30 years...I did notice immediately that in 2 minutes DerbyDoodle knew she was the leader, from the moment she entered my house almost ! She maintains its all about voice, body language, consistency & of course understanding what makes a dog tick! What seems so obvious to me is some how she got DerbyDoodle to flip her Calmness switch on. Trainer says if dog knows you're the leader, they relax and don't stress trying to be!

[BG and Gavin]

Four weeks at four months old, well I would be afraid of missing out on a critical period of bonding time. I just could not be without my pup that long. Good luck with your decision.

[Jane Smith]

Just to clarify, I didn't send my girls off to boot camp until Ethel was one and Lucy was two.

[Christy&Riley]

Riley has some moments where she is really hard to manage and my husband has been buried at work so I think he was trying to figure out when he would have time to participate in training. Boarding probably sounded like a good option to him at the moment but I can't see him letting her go that long. I still think we're the ones who need the training so I can't see us going with boarding.

[a.k.a. Rodney]

I only did 2 weeks initially at 7 mo..most trainers have flexible programs...thinking if they are good at what they do ..it ought to get done in 2 wks! 4 weeks seems unusually long! Unless of course there are serious behavior issues.

[Heather & Brinkley]

Training classes were for me as much as they were for Brinkley. It is something that has to continue after classes end and I needed those skills in order to continue. Brinkley is 3 1/2 and there are still things he needs work on-- things I now know how to handle because of the skills I've learned. We work full time as well and on those nights I was rushing home to pick him up. It was crazy but worth it.

Plus, our first training experience was not a good one. It was too harsh for my liking. I should have known when I originally called and he made a snide remark about all Goldendoodle owners who aren't willing to "get mean" with their live teddy bear... It went on from there. If Brinkley was boarded with that guy, I wouldn't have known how he was being trained and treated. Not everyone had our best interest at heart.