What is a “board and train” program?

• Board and train means just that, the dog is trained by our professional trainers while being boarded at our training facility. The dog stays the duration of its program at the facility (usually 6-10 weeks depending on the severity of the dog’s issues) and is returned at the end of the training program when the owners have finished their own education with the trainers.

 

What are the benefits of a board and train program?

• Board and train offers a quick, efficient, and economical solution to problem behaviors.

• While some people have a great deal of time to dedicate to their dog’s training, yielding fair results, most people do not. Our trainers, having a great deal of practice and experience, can train your dog efficiently in a short period of time.

• A board and train program is critical for any dog suffering from fear, aggression, or anxiety as these types of issues require a skilled hand to achieve successful results. While some people do chose to fix these issues on their own, we do not recommend it. Poor training can create very dangerous situations.

• Board and train offers more exposure to the world. Our seasoned trainers can introduce your dog (the right way) to more people, dogs, places, and things in one week than most people can in months, thereby creating a calmer, more well-rounded pup overall.

• In our board and train program, we do all of the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. You simply maintain what has been taught.

 

What will my dog learn in a board and train program?

• That depends on the length of your dog’s stay and the particular issues it struggles with.

• All dogs learn obedience. Whether they learn off-leash obedience or not depends on the length of their program. We teach the commands: sit, down, come, heel, and place. (We don’t teach the word “stay.” Sit means sit and down means down until the dog is told otherwise.)

• All dogs learn leash and house manners.

• All dogs go through confidence and drive building routines, in addition to proper socialization with dogs and people.

• All dogs learn marker words (classical conditioning), leash pressure, spatial pressure, and focus work.

• Dogs with specific behavioral issues such as aggression, fear, anxiety, resource guarding, etc., participate in counterconditioning, calmness exercises, detailed routines that target their problem behavior, and in-depth exposure.

 

Will I be involved?

• Absolutely. You dog’s success is dependent on your understanding of the training and ability to maintain it. While your pup is learning new skills with us, you will be learning at home. Our trainers will send you pre-made learning videos that break down our training system in-depth, so you and your family can study before your prescribed session times. You will also receive videos of your dog putting these concepts into practice.

• Every owner who enrolls their dog in one of our board and train program partakes in private training sessions with their dog and our trainers. In these training sessions, our trainers go over every aspect of the training and give you ample time to practice with your new and improved pup. You will also receive follow-up sessions once you take the dog home.

• For our cross-country and international clients who can’t always schedule physical follow-up sessions, we offer Zoom services.

• You will receive video updates once per week to inform and document your dog’s progress. You are always welcome to contact us to check in (see below for more on this).

 

Can I visit my dog while it is in the board and train program?

• It can be difficult to be away from your dogs for 6+ weeks, but the trainers at Method K9 do not recommend visitation. When the dog initially starts board and train, it can be a stressful experience (even with our best efforts to make it a fun and calm transition). They are in a new place with new people, and it doesn’t quite feel like home when the owners leave. After that initial transition, all dogs do just fine and are able to focus on training in a low-stress environment. Every time the pup participates in visitation, the process starts again, thereby adding undue stress on the dog. For the best training results, we recommend people wait until their appointed session times to visit with their dogs.

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What Vaccinations are required?

• All dogs must be up to date on vaccines: Rabies, Bordetella, Distemper, and Parvo. Dogs must have a clear fecal test within the last 30 days. These measures help to insure against the transmission of communicable diseases such as Giardia. 

 

How does payment work?

• A 50% deposit is required to reserve a board and train space. The other 50% is due on your scheduled start date.

 

What methods do you use?

• We do not limit our training to any one training method or methodology. We utilize a wide variety of training techniques and tools to make sure we can help every dog that comes through our doors.

 

What tools do you use?

• We make use of leashes, prong collars, slip leads, e-collars, toys, and food.

 

If my dog has already completed Method K9’s board and train program, is there anything I can do if I need help in the future?

• Our trainers are always available by phone or email if you have questions. We also offer private training sessions, Zoom sessions, and boarding for dogs that have already completed the program (we can touch up issues during this time, if necessary).

 

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