Dog board and train

[Glockman9mm]

Just wondering has anybody done something like this? I understand every dog and training facility’s vary. My male GSD is almost two, I’ve tried working with him and he’s smart as hell just extremely stubborn. He is awesome dog and I know he has a ton of potential. I just haven’t been able to find what clicks. I have a female that’s a bit older and she’s been a bit easier going.

I’ve got him scheduled to get neutered in a couple weeks, not sure if that honestly will help with anything. That said I’ve been doing a lot of homework on dog trainers in my area and found a place that seems to be awesome. The facility looks like a Hilton for dogs, there’s daily play times when they aren’t working on training. Part of the board and train is frequent field trips in difference scenarios testing skills and working on distractions. You can do weekly visits ect.

Pros? The results seems phenomenal, they try to stay away from e collar training. The foundation seems really solid.

Cons? It’s not the cheapest thing in the world but neither is one on one training. I’d hate to leave my buddy for a month.

I’m really debating on doing this.

 

[robrossk]

I suggest to read every review of the company you can find. Use neighborhood apps, yelp, and any other you can find. IF they use the choke collars I would be reluctant. They can sometimes really hurt the dog.

 

[Heinz]

Talk to some local pointing breed people. I am assuming you meant "GSP" German Shorthair Pointer. I have a weimaraner with his Junior Hunter rating. We are working on moving up. The guy who trained him initially told me "Remember he will do more for you than he will for anyone else"

 

[crstrode]

Before someone else trains your dog, try getting some training yourself.
Most of what a dog learns from a stranger will quickly fade once the stranger is out of the picture.

 

[jscheck]

If you are referring to a shepherd, I feel your pain. My last boy was the definition of a hard head. Smart but stubborn. If I could have afforded the board/train option I would have! As others have already said, do your research and try to speak to people and get a real review of their results. Best of luck!

 

[Rpg]

I’ve used professional bird dog trainers at various times over the years. These have always been well recognized folks.

The training facilities haven’t been Hilton’s for dogs: they’re kennels with the training facilities necessary for training bird dogs.

 

[Alton]

I love bird dogs. The best thing you can do is get trained. You can spend $1,000's on training and in time the dog will go back to training you. A good book is Gun Dog by Richard Wolters. Praise and Punishment. A dog is naturally a pack animal, you are the pack leader. Too many times the dog becomes the leader. As far as hunting, if the parents don't hunt, do not expect the pups to hunt either.

 

[Glockman9mm]

I suggest to read every review of the company you can find. Use neighborhood apps, yelp, and any other you can find. IF they use the choke collars I would be reluctant. They can sometimes really hurt the dog.

I will double check on the choke collar but I don’t think that’s a tool they use.

 

[Glockman9mm]

Talk to some local pointing breed people. I am assuming you meant "GSP" German Shorthair Pointer. I have a weimaraner with his Junior Hunter rating. We are working on moving up. The guy who trained him initially told me "Remember he will do more for you than he will for anyone else"

Nope not a GSP, he’s a german Shepherd.

 

[Glockman9mm]

If you are referring to a shepherd, I feel your pain. My last boy was the definition of a hard head. Smart but stubborn. If I could have afforded the board/train option I would have! As others have already said, do your research and try to speak to people and get a real review of their results. Best of luck!

Thanks! They’re stupid smart dogs, but that’s the downfall is sometimes the try to out smart you. Plus the fact they aren’t couch potatoes either. They like having a job and staying busy. I’ve dug around as much as I can I think with this place.

 

[Fishinfool]

I have owned two male GSD's, both since puppies, and trained both myself. Taught them hand signals, and to track, as well as the basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, no, ect.

My experience with the breed is that they are smart as a whip, eager to please. They can also be bull headed when they want to be.

What kind of training have you tried yourself? A dog as big and aggressive / protective as a GSD needs basic obedience, at the very least.

Couple basic rules of training. You have to be able to enforce a command, otherwise a smart dog will learn quick he can ignore you when he feels like it. Like teaching a dog to come, don't try it until you have a 50 foot rope hooked to his collar. Give him the "come" command, and if he does not immediately listen, pull him in by the rope while repeating his name and the "come" command. Reward him when he does comply.

Dogs are like kids, with short attention spans, so limit training to maybe a half an hour at a clip, and make sure there are no distractions around, like maybe other people, or another dog. You want his attention focused on you.

As far as training at an "away kennel", I don't want to generalize, but I think most dogs greatly benefit from their owner being present, and if possible, conducting the training themselves. It builds a better bond with the dog, and I believe helps to increase their desire to obey / please you.

I would maybe look for something local with a professional trainer where you can take the dog and participate in his education. It is amazing how much a smart GSD can do when he wants to please his owner - that intelligence just needs to be directed.

A note about choke collars and electric training collars. Proper use of either will not hurt the dog. A choke chain isn't intended to choke and punish the dog. it is designed to be used with a light snap of the handlers wrist, to get the dogs attention, and reinforce a command, nothing else.

An electric training collar is again not a punishment tool, it is designed to reinforce a command that is being ignored, and you are out of physical reach of the dog. A smart dog learns quick that not following your command, at any distance or situation, results in the hand of god coming down and giving a smack. They don't associate it with you, which is important. Physical / corporal punishment is a poor method, and can kill any bond / eagerness to please your dog may have.

Enough rambling, just some thoughts thinking back to my two guys.

Larry

 

[Spajohn]

Will they train your dog to open the fridge and bring you a beer?
You should ask, and base your decision on their reaction.

 

[Golddollar]

Will they train your dog to open the fridge and bring you a beer?
You should ask, and base your decision on their reaction.

Don't laugh too hard. My brother had a dog that would bring me a beer on my brother's command. I think the refrigerator door handle was too high up for the dog to reach.

 

[Glockman9mm]

I have owned two male GSD's, both since puppies, and trained both myself. Taught them hand signals, and to track, as well as the basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, no, ect.

My experience with the breed is that they are smart as a whip, eager to please. They can also be bull headed when they want to be.

What kind of training have you tried yourself? A dog as big and aggressive / protective as a GSD needs basic obedience, at the very least.

Couple basic rules of training. You have to be able to enforce a command, otherwise a smart dog will learn quick he can ignore you when he feels like it. Like teaching a dog to come, don't try it until you have a 50 foot rope hooked to his collar. Give him the "come" command, and if he does not immediately listen, pull him in by the rope while repeating his name and the "come" command. Reward him when he does comply.

Dogs are like kids, with short attention spans, so limit training to maybe a half an hour at a clip, and make sure there are no distractions around, like maybe other people, or another dog. You want his attention focused on you.

As far as training at an "away kennel", I don't want to generalize, but I think most dogs greatly benefit from their owner being present, and if possible, conducting the training themselves. It builds a better bond with the dog, and I believe helps to increase their desire to obey / please you.

I would maybe look for something local with a professional trainer where you can take the dog and participate in his education. It is amazing how much a smart GSD can do when he wants to please his owner - that intelligence just needs to be directed.

A note about choke collars and electric training collars. Proper use of either will not hurt the dog. A choke chain isn't intended to choke and punish the dog. it is designed to be used with a light snap of the handlers wrist, to get the dogs attention, and reinforce a command, nothing else.

An electric training collar is again not a punishment tool, it is designed to reinforce a command that is being ignored, and you are out of physical reach of the dog. A smart dog learns quick that not following your command, at any distance or situation, results in the hand of god coming down and giving a smack. They don't associate it with you, which is important. Physical / corporal punishment is a poor method, and can kill any bond / eagerness to please your dog may have.

Enough rambling, just some thoughts thinking back to my two guys.

Larry

Good info thanks you! I’ve tried to stick with positive reinforcement. Problem is he’s a ball of energy and gets distracted quick.... oh look squirrel! This being my first male GSD and it’s been long enough, I’ve been wondering if getting him clipped would pump the brakes a bit. That said I haven’t tried any E collar training with him.

 

[Spajohn]

I’ve been wondering if getting him clipped would pump the brakes a bit.

I sure wouldn't want to be in his paws...

 

[Heinz]

Nope not a GSP, he’s a german Shepherd.

Will he hunt birds and point? or does he just arrest them and march them back?

 

[delcrossv]

Neutering may still help, but it's pretty late if you wanted a mellower dog. Usually it's done much younger. Our previous dog, a Pit/GSD/Chow mix was fixed at about 8 months and was kind of a nutter his whole life.

 

[Chukar60]

Before someone else trains your dog, try getting some training yourself.
Most of what a dog learns from a stranger will quickly fade once the stranger is out of the picture.

Simply not true.
I have owned 5 pointers. 4 were trained by a professional trainer and none of the training faded.
The problem is a lot of people have their dog trained and never bother to get trained themselves on how to properly reinforce the training when the dog slips. Every dog will slip if the handler is not diligent with correcting bad behavior. But you had better know how to correct it properly or you run a high risk of causing more problems than you sought to cure.
I have learned enough with the first 4 that I was able to train the latest by myself.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I agree with the find a GOOD local trainer . When you send a dog off to be trained it's not bonding with you , but the trainer . Both of my Aussies have been trained locally by an AKC certified trainer . They started as puppies earning their Canine Good citizen awards , and have constantly moved up . One is a therapy dog and is trick certified at the highest level . They have both been to scent class among others .
The point is , take your dog to training and let him bond with you . He will want to please you and his work will show that . Give it a chance and if you find a good local trainer you will be glad you did .

 

[Murphy's Law]

In order to train a dog, "you" have to start off by being smarter than the dog! Once you have established that, your GTG.

 

[Peak53]

In order to train a dog, "you" have to start off by being smarter than the dog! Once you have established that, your GTG.

Herein lies the problem! My Border Collie has a bit of a problem coming in at evening. Right now, he is lying in the snow about 80 yards out hoping for the errant fox or moose or, YES!, a human with a puppy to wander by, all of which occasionally happen. If I go out to call him, he will simply wander over behind a pine tree where he can't be seen. If I go out to get him and take one step off the packed trail, I'm up to my hips in snow and he is sinking in about 3".

OK, now donning boots and stuff. If I go out and walk the opposite direction, chances are fair he will come to see what I am doing. I haven't quite figured out this "smart" thing as of yet. Wish me luck!

 

[Heinz]

Herein lies the problem! My Border Collie has a bit of a problem coming in at evening. Right now, he is lying in the snow about 80 yards out hoping for the errant fox or moose or, YES!, a human with a puppy to wander by, all of which occasionally happen. If I go out to call him, he will simply wander over behind a pine tree where he can't be seen. If I go out to get him and take one step off the packed trail, I'm up to my hips in snow and he is sinking in about 3".

OK, now donning boots and stuff. If I go out and walk the opposite direction, chances are fair he will come to see what I am doing. I haven't quite figured out this "smart" thing as of yet. Wish me luck!

Have you tried baiting him with treats?

 

[Peak53]

Have you tried baiting him with treats?

One hour later after walking around on packed trails and making interesting noises, Cinco, the not quite yet wonder dog, came in for his customary treat. The problem is treats and praise can come in second to anything else he is more interested in. He considers a treat to be a trick! So, anyway, safe and sound for another night. Snowing, but not cold by local standards. Stay tuned.