Dog Anxiety After Boarding And Training

[Staff'n'Toller]

Hi Mel. From what I have read, dogs don't have the same concept of 'time' as we do. They certainly do not forget their owners

I am not suggesting that they do have the same concept of time as humans, but they do have a 'concept' of it, and perhaps more a concept of ritual and routine, and I think 4 weeks compared to 1 week is still a big difference as far as environment, routine and building relationships with humans go.

They certainly do not forget their owners and when they return home, they're going back to an environment to which they are familiar

Yes but the dog didn't have the foresight to realise it was going back home, so it sounds as though it has been a big upheaval for this particular dog.

I believe this dog is also young? Care to confirm that for us Panda?

Perhaps Panda chose a critical socialisation period to board their dog - to the dogs detriment it would seem.

Awaiting further info...

Mel.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Looking back on previous posts from the OP, it seems this dog was 9-10 months of age when it went into kennels and had fear based issues with barking dogs etc. before this.

Mel.

[Erny]

Sorry Mel - on the 'concept of time' discussion, I was generalising. I certainly agree that dogs can benefit by being socialised/habituised to a kennel environment more gradually .... even starting with day care and increasing to o/night stay etc. etc.

Sometimes, though, when a dog comes in (and provided it has the appropriate temperament to cope with kennel environments) it's better off for the longer period, rather than short stays. In short stays, the dog who is not yet 100% comfortable, goes home whilst still feeling less than 100% comfortable. A dog that stays in longer can work through that uneasiness (with the help of the kennel staff too), become comfortable for a while, and then leave. It's last memory of the kennels is then one of comfort, rather than the opposite. Naturally, everything depends on the individual dog.

I can't recall the OP saying how old her dog is ... but if it's in the critical period (ie 8-16 weeks) it would not have been lawful for the kennels to have taken the pup for boarding OR boarding and training. ETA: At least, that's the law here in Victoria.

Edited January 21, 2006 by Erny

[yogibear]

Dog does sound traumatised and i'd also be wondering just what training they did.

A guide dog trainer told be that it takes a guide dog six weks to settle in with their new owner and not be attached to their trainer so if that was the case then dog would have been well setteled into the kennel in a month and if the dog is stll pulling after a month of intensive trianing then why.

Personaly im against the borading school idea as well its not the same as dealing with the dog in its normal environment dogs dont generalise well so if they have an issue at home it should be dealt with at home.

Im sure there are grat kennels for training around but i would insist on watching them training a dog to see how they handle it having said that it probably wouldntmatter as i wold imagine the owner is inexperienced and wouldnt undestand what was being done anyway.

[panda]

Thank you to all of you for your opinions and advice. I posted my request for help on Friday night. On Saturday morning, I went out in the yard, and saw my dog had vomitted. I had a look to see what he had brought up, and it looked like some kind of root. I guess it acted as a drug in his system. His eyes did look a bit red when he came back.There is certainly nothing like this root in our yard, so he must have come across it just before he came home. Since he vomitted, my dog has been his usual happy, loving self. He is completely back to normal, besides picking up kennel cough. I called the kennel about the lead pulling, and they are going to send over a trainer to help us with this problem. I can't tell you how happy we are to have our dog back. Once again, thank you for your responses.

[Miranda]

IMO it's a ridiculous idea as the owner needs to be trained in addition to the dog.

Unlike Miranda, I don't think sending a dog to boarding and training is a "ridiculous" idea. Perhaps you don't realise, Miranda, that there are kennels who do provide the information and lesson to demonstrate and coach the owners to at least start them off in the right direction with their new trained dogs. The owners are also always told to call if there are any questions along the way.

I think it is a ridiculous idea because the majority of the public have no way to tell if they're taking their dog to a reputable establishment or to some d******d who's just finished a six week training course and who's only ever owned one dog in his life. The gullible public usually have no idea of training methods whatsoever and they believe whatever these people tell them. You of all people must be aware of just how many 'expert' trainers and behaviourists are setting up in business all over Australia and how on earth are the general public going to know who is legitimate and knowledgeable and who is just trying to make money out of them. You only have to look at the success of 'The Dog Whisperer' and 'Barkbusters' to see how people are sucked in.

Personally I would NEVER, EVER send my dog away for training. I just don't agree with it full stop. I guess you and I will have to agree to disagree on this point

ETA that greyhound training is a completely different ballgame IMO and is not really relevant to this topic.

Edited January 22, 2006 by Miranda

[blacklabrador]

In addition to behavioural issues, could you consider also that the dog may have developed a physical problem co incidently? It makes me wonder why he doesn't want to be touched - is he in pain etc? Is there a thyroid condition that has made him edgy and hyper alert?

It's such a shame that he is not himself - I can imagine that it is heartbreaking for you. I hope you get to the bottom of his problems soon.

[dogbesotted]

Glad to hear that he is back to his normal self...

I will add that i would be reluctant to board and train any dog of mine. I much prefer to know what methods are actually used ( as opposed to preached). Altho perhaps a dog may need to learn acceptable behaviours many problems arise due to the owners thenlseves ( I include myself here as well). A good dog trianer not only helps train the dog but trains the owners to train their dogs -- a much more successful process.

[Erny]

Miranda:  I guess you and I will have to agree to disagree on this point

I do agree to disagree, to an extent, Miranda.

Miranda:  I think it is a ridiculous idea because the majority of the public have no way to tell if they're taking their dog to a reputable establishment or to some d******d who's just finished a six week training course and who's only ever owned one dog in his life.  The gullible public usually have no idea of training methods whatsoever and they believe whatever these people tell them.  ............. You only have to look at the success of 'The Dog Whisperer' and 'Barkbusters' to see how people are sucked in.

You could say the same thing about private dog trainers. I agree - there are some not so desireable boarding & training venues, just as there are some not so desireable private trainers - naturally, it's a matter of checking things out, including the credentials of the trainers, be they for private lesson purposes or be they for the boarding and training facilities.

You will have already seen opinions being requested and given in relation to those dog training franchises you mentioned. That's another way of checking out some places too - ask for a number of people's opinions.

It's great that you're enthusiastic and able to manage and train your own dog as you do - I agree that is the ultimate ideal for both dog and owner. But some people either aren't going to, or aren't in a position to, or aren't able to. So Boarding and Training is an option for them.

Get a good reputable organisation and it can be added value to your dog's stay there to, as the training adds mental stimulation during the time that you might be away. The kennels where I train often have people boarding their dogs because they're going away, and requesting "maintenance training" sessions for their dog during that time. So not only do the dogs get their usual social play time away from the immediate kennel environment, they also get one-on-one attention from the trainer. The dogs love it.

It is a matter of personal opinion, as you've expressed. There are others, however, that are in a different position and of a different view as a result.

Edited January 22, 2006 by Erny

[Erny]

Panda - so glad your dog has returned to usual self. I'm also glad the kennels you went to have the integrety to go out to you to work through the pulling on the lead issue. Once they do (and I expect it will involve some 'how to' instruction for you ), you will probably find things starting to happen as you had previously expected. It is a matter of them having given the dog the 'buttons' and you working towards the knack of being able to 'push those buttons' properly. Good luck - I hope it all goes well for you and your dog.

Please let us know how you get on after the kennel trainer has seen you, and after you've had the opportunity to practice the exercise.