Dog boarding school

[houselikeashed]

Our dog is about to go to boarding training school. Has anyone done this? And was it successful? I'm imagining we'll miss him terribly, as will our other dog. He is out of control though so we need to do something. I know it's our fault we didn't train him enough when he was younger, but we've never had a Spaniel before and just weren't thorough enough.

[villainousbroodmare]

I wouldn't hesitate to send a horse away to be schooled as long as it was to someone I trusted... I preferred to do my own dog training but I had a biddable and sensitive dog and plenty of time back then. Have a look at Lez Graham's Pet Gundog book.

[adaline]

I would never ever do this.

There was a post on here a while ago from a lady who sent her dog away to a training school for a month and the dog came back and had clearly been beaten and neglected. He'd lost about 1/3 of his body weight and would cower every time someone went near him.

You're taking a big risk. And even if your trainer is fab and doesn't use aversive methods, how are you going to know what to do to make your dog respond to you in the same way?

I wouldn't waste my money and risk my dogs health like that.

[BiteyShark]

How is your dog when you leave him for things like holidays?

I know mine would be heartbroken to be sent away for 4 weeks with a stranger. Something to think about if you haven't left him much before.

[Veterinari]

What method do they use to interrupt his prey drive OP?

[Veterinari]

It's important to know the methodology because interrupting a dog's prey drive is very difficult. He already has instinct plus months of learned experience and knows that chasing is a LOT of fun.

So you either have to be more rewarding than the chasing is for the rest of his life, or you have to inflict a punishment that is more severe than the pleasure he gets from chasing, and that he remembers for the rest of his life. Otherwise the training will fail at some point.

Are there no non-game areas you can exercise him?

[houselikeashed]

Veterinari
So what would you recommend we do?
I've tried walking him by a river instead but he just runs off wherever we take him. I put him on a 100ft lead but he's so fast he wraps it round stuff and he nearly drowned a few weeks ago. (well, he got himself stuck in some reeds in the water)

[houselikeashed]

I do take responsibility for his behaviour, but I need to move forward with this and not berate myself for my failings.

[Branleuse]

I think its a great idea. So many people give up on dogs when maybe they could actually benefit from this.

[Scarsthelot]

I dont think its necessarily a bad idea

I am just not convinced it will work long term for you.

If he is always walking to heal after one day session, I just dint understand why you wouldnt continue to do day sessions

[adaline]

Have a read of this OP

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/1709077-Dog-returned-from-kennels-today

[houselikeashed]

adaline
hmmm. well that doesn't help.
I will be visiting my dog regularly whilst he is there so can keep an eye on how he is being looked after.
I can only assume that the thread you linked is a rare and dreadful case.

[houselikeashed]

scarsthelot
I want to get it absolutely right this time as he has just turned two so am aware I'm running out of time to install good habits. That's why I'm letting a pro do it this time. This way he will get 4 weeks of consistent and thorough training in a purpose made training environment.

[adaline]

That's why I'm letting a pro do it this time. This way he will get 4 weeks of consistent and thorough training in a purpose made training environment.

But isn't that only going to teach your dog to respond to the trainer, and not to you?

You see it all the time on here - dogs who have two owners and behave totally differently each of them because they use different commands and techniques.

For example, my boy is much more obedient for me because I'm home with him more, and walk him more and train him more. I can tell him something and he'll do it, my husband will try and he'll just get ignored! My concern would be that you're spending money to getting your dog to be obedient for someone else but that it won't improve anything at home.

[Branleuse]

Dogs who are well trained dont forget it when they are with someone else.
My rescue dog was nicely trained before i got her and is the same for me as she was for the fosterer, so why would she be different when she came home from training school?

[Stellaris22]

I get that with the behaving differently with two people. I did most of the training and walk our dog 6 days a week, husband walks on Sundays. Mine does obey me more, but that doesn't mean she doesn't know the commands.

I would be reluctant to not see my dog for four weeks, but I also don't think it's the worst idea ever. Are you able to do regular check ins? I would just make sure you have incredibly thorough handover sessions to make sure you know the techniques they used so as not to confuse the dog by doing something different.

[houselikeashed]

stellaris22

Yes, we can visit however much we want to. We just need to phone ahead to make sure he's not out in the fields. Saying that, I may just turn up out of the blue to check up a few times.

[Booboostwo]

You are not really telling us what training techniques they use. Firm and repetitive doesn’t mean anything. Exclusively reward based (lure and reward or the more effective operant conditioning), mild aversives (deep voice, scary noise, water), strong aversives (physical force/punishment) are all completely different from each other. What did the trainer do to get him to heel off lead within one session?

You should not be allowing your long line to get tangled. You have a couple of options here. Either use a lunge line which you take in and let out as the dog needs it, or use an actual lightweight long line but in an area with no trees, bushes, people or other obstacles while keeping a very close eye on it so you can untangle it as he runs on and before it restricts him.

[Scarsthelot]

Dogs who are well trained dont forget it when they are with someone else.My rescue dog was nicely trained before i got her and is the same for me as she was for the fosterer, so why would she be different when she came home from training school?

2 completely different situations.

Ops dog has lived with her and got used to getting away with poor behaviour. He self rewards. He ignores op, be rewarding himself by having fun. That reward is bigger than anything OP has offered him, which is why he continues to do this. This has gone on for years.

The training will be only 4 weeks. Then he will return home where, he will remember that ignoring commands means he has fun.

Your dog was nicely trained for more than 4 weeks and you likely, kept it up. Rewarding good behaviour. That dog likely didnt have years of self rewarding. It had months/years of training.

A 4 week stay away wint make the dog remember what fun he had when ignoring OP.

Your situation = dog spent a decent amount of time being trained, rehomed and kept the same behaviour

Ops situation = dog spent a lot of time ignoring commands and having fun, 4 weeks training, back into the previous environment where he runs circles round OP and does what he wants.

4 weeks in the scheme of things isnt long for training.

Dogs definitely behave differently for different people. And in different environments. Often rescue dogs do act differently to how they were in their home.

As I said, I don't think this is necessarily a bad idea. What I do think is a bad idea, is that it doesnt sound like OP, will be involved in the training. I would have expected her to have to go regularly and be involved in training.

I absolutely understand why she is wanting to do this. I have cockers and foster all sorts of spaniels. Older untrained sprockers can be a nightmare. My latest foster was a 7 month old sprocker who had no training and was absolutely crazy. Wonderful but crazy. We did lots if training with him over 4 months. He went to his forever home recently and they came on training sessions with me and him, so could continue it. He is a fab dog but one of the hardest fosters I have had. And 4 weeks after I got him, if i had stopped training, stopped training him to walk to heel or stay, he would have reverted to his old behaviour

[Scarsthelot]

Oh and yes. Never use 100m line anywhere but an open field. It shouldnt be able to get tangled around things.

You have my sympathy, they arent easy dogs (I am sure theres the odd few who are). Sprockers have the reputation of being a great family dog. Which they are, but they are also hard work. That bit seems to not get mentioned as much when people talk about them.

[Veterinari]

Yes - my concerns are the same as @Scarsthelot

@houselikeashed you asked what I would do - I'd hire a trainer to work with me one on one and to train me and my dog in the environment where I expect him to live.

The first thing to train us impulse control - rewarding calm behaviour and training him specific controlled responses when he's excited eg 'look at me'

Additionally you need to drill heel work and recall (on a long line) starting somewhere quiet and gradually building up distractions

You also need to provide a rewarding alternative eg ball throwers to reward his prey drive.

I'd also consider managing your environment - where can you take him where he can run safely? For example my dog's are ALWAYS on leads in unfamiliar environments or where there are livestock but I'm lucky to live near safe beaches and woodland where they can run, chase squirrels and rabbits, and then return.

You need to think about how you'll manage him long term as it's unlikely that a short period in a totally different environment will permanently change his behaviour in your home environment.

[houselikeashed]

Yes, lesson learnt with the long lead.
I think he needs more training than I have the time and energy to do. I know people will flame me for that and say I shouldn't have dogs but I do and I love them to death and they are well cared for and suitably exercised etc.

[houselikeashed]

Veterinary - Thank you for your constructive advice. I did work 1-2-1 with a trainer like you suggested, but we couldn't find a reward he wanted more than to hunt. I honestly don't know where I can take him with no distractions. Even at the river there are ducks, birds and swans. Our local park is next to a busy road and not fenced off. Other than that it's just countryside.

[houselikeashed]

ps - he is currently lying next to me with his head on my lap like butter wouldn't melt.

[Wolfiefan]

More training than I have the time or energy to do?
Sending him away won’t cure this. My dog is three. We still have setbacks and I still need to reinforce training every day.
You’re looking for an easy way out. You chose to take on this dog. So you need to meet its needs.

[JayAlfredPrufrock]

Good luck.

It’s you. Not him.