In-home Dog Training: Most Involved and Beneficial Training for Owner and Dog 

This past weekend, I spoke with a colleague of mine who resides and trains in the Pittsburgh area. I asked her about her former experience of board and train programs, where a trainer takes a client’s dog into their home/facility, works on them for several straight weeks, and then returns the dog to the client, completely trained. Here in Baltimore, I have group classes set up in different facilities across the area, and I always offer private in-home training, but board and train was something that, while seems like a great idea, could potentially be detrimental to the training and ultimate relationship between owner and dog.

Bmore Dog Training offers in-home dog training to all of Baltimore and the surrounding areas!

With training, every thing is a risk because every dog and every owner is different. I have learned that some dogs can reach their owner’s training goals in no time, while others may need more patience and need to work at a slower pace (this also applies to the owners themselves). This is why I offer my results-based in-home dog training here at Bmore Dog Training.

I believe in commitment and consistency when it comes to dog training, and if the owner demonstrates both for their dog, then I must offer the same until we reach the results that we want for the dog. I also feel that in-home training is the most beneficial type of training, for both dog and owner. Unlike group classes (and in some cases, board and train programs), the dog receives complete individual attention from both trainer and client. We work on the dog in their most familiar and comfortable environment – their home, rather than a strange place inside a daycare or kennel facility. Most importantly, in-home training is about keeping the owner involved and having them learn how to handle their own dog!

While I can bring all of my clients’s dogs into my home or into some big open building and shape them into obedient, well-behaved dogs, to me, that doesn’t mean anything if the owner of the dog cannot do the same. Sure, I can give follow-up instructions once I return the dog to the owner, but why not instead include the owner through the training and the dog’s personal growth as it is happening. Why not have the owner get involved from the beginning when things might be tough initially, but then they overcome TOGETHER through reward-based techniques and consistent communication?

This is not a slight against board and train programs – I have spoken with many dog owners who have found great success in this type of structure. However on the same note, a lot of my clients who call me have tried the board and train option (and many others) and are at their wit’s end when it comes to their dog’s behavior problems. With both my Practical Pet Protocol group classes and especially my in-home training, owners become empowered as leaders and learn how to bring their dog to more successful situations and positive outcomes.

To learn more about my training programs, give me a call at 800-649-7297, or email me at training@bmoredogtraining.com