I was going through some of the forms today for our Austin Dog Board and Train programs and it occurred to me that people come from some very long distances for our dog board and train services. Although most of our board and train clients live right here in Austin, many come from Kyle, San Marcos, and Dallas. I have a client who is currently looking for board and train services for her elderly mother's dog in Missouri so she and I were discussing the pros and cons of doing a board and train program for dogs on a distance basis. There are several things to consider when deciding whether to do a long-distance board and train program for your dog. First, will you be able to go to the trainer's location and work with them at least once or twice to help your dog transfer the learned behaviors to you? My clients are all able to do this with me even though they live several hours away. Are there any quality dog trainers where you live that offer similar services? If so, what can the long distance trainer offer that they cannot? Will the trainer provide telephone support free of charge to you after your dog goes home to help with the transition to your home? Last, is the board and train program a highly specialized one that you cannot find elsewhere? For example, perhaps it is a dog board and train program that addresses aggression or that trains your dog to be a hunting dog. This may make travel more reasonable.
Whether you decide to do a long distance dog board and train program or one that is close to you, remember to ask a lot of questions about the type of training provided, the care your dog will receive, the private training that you will receive, and the level of generalizing and proofing of the behaviors that you can expect from the program!
Cara, Austin Dog Trainer
