Anyone send your dog to a "boarding school"?

[MaryAnnDVC]

We have a 2 year old strong-willed German Shepherd. He's mostly a ***** cat with us, but he doesn't listen well and has nipped twice (in an effort to keep our kids from leaving for school on the evil bus ) and we can't have anyone in our house with him around; if we put him in another room, he whines and jumps on the door the whole time.

This is definitely our fault...we didn't train him the way we should have. After we got him, DD went through some major health problems, and dealing with the dog went out the window. We take full responsibility for his bad behavior.

SO...we visited a a "boarding school" last week and were VERY impressed with the owner and the program. The dog goes for a week to 10 days (whatever is needed...same price), lives WITH him, his wife and their dogs in the house...2 German Shepherds and a Chow; he's crated at first if he's too aggressive. There was a man dropping off his 3rd dog for the residency program...he was very impressed with the results of dog 1 and dog 2. (He wasn't "a plant"...we dropped in unannounced. ) At the end of the 7 - 10 days, we pick up the dog and spend some time learning how to work with him, then go back a week later to review, ask questions, etc., then again another time if necessary.

The cost? $1000. Not a drop in the bucket, and with 3 kids playing sports, DD#2 recently getting UNINSURED orthotics (WHY are those things so expensive???) plus physical therapy, and the lousy economy, we're hesitating. If not this program, we have to do something.

 

[yoopermom]

My only advice would be that no matter what outside training is done, the dog still comes home to your environment. So, if the trainer does followup with you handling the dog in your home, that would be best. My obedience students used to want me to train their dogs, and I would say, "But you're the one the dog has to listen to and live with".

Have you tried contacting either a local GSD breed club, or general breed/obedience club in your area for a referral? From what you're saying, I would really like to see a trainer who is an animal behavorist come into your home, do some thorough observation, and then work with you and your dog in its natural environment. If you'd like to pm me with the state you live in, I'll see if I can find some contacts for you in your area. GSDs are WONDERFUL dogs, but very intelligent and strongwilled, as you know.

Just some ideas!
Terri the Yoopermom

 

[nativetxn]

That is very expensive! I've never done this. I took my dog for obedience training but she didn't stay in the home of the behaviorist.

I hope this works for you.

 

[doxdogy]

Ditto on what yoopermom said. It is best to take him to obedience school. We had a german shepherd (scooter was his name) that it would tend to nip when you gave him a treat. Each time he did it to me, he received a firm no bite and I would tell him teeth no touch the hand. Also, when he tries to jump on you, gently nudge him in the chest with your knee and tell him NO!, OFF!. It is best not to use the word down. Because, down is a command in obedience training. GSD's are in the herding group, the nipping at the heels is an attempt to herd the children. The most important part of training a dog, is to establish that you are the alpha dog and you are the one in charge. Ours know that the dh is the head dog in our house. Though they do tend to listen to me more. Go and visit the AKC website. The address is http://www.akc.org. They can give you information about breed clubs in your area. Good luck and keep us posted on the progress.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Terri, we're in RI.

This guy also does weekly one on one training at his location or at our home ($79/hour) which we also thought about doing, with the whole family involved. We ALL need to work with him. However, we are rarely all around at the same time, and DH is working MAJOR over time (we communicate mostly by email ). Like I said, this guy does teach us at the end what he has taught the dog, and there are followups to go over any issues. I was even thinking the followups could possibly be done at our house...I'd have to ask.

DH did bring Simon for private training for 6 weeks when he was 4 - 6 months old. I was not impressed (I went a couple of times)...the guy who did it was actually the one who worked for the breeder we got Simon from, and we had really liked him on a personal level, but I don't think the training was very good at all.

Before this, we had a Labrador Retriever...he wasn't well trained either, but he was a sweetheart and we never worried about him around other people. That GSDs are intelligent and strong-willed is an understatement!

doxdogy...we did learn "off" vs "down" with the first trainer...Simon does "off" sometimes...just like he does everything else "sometimes".

Teri & doxdogy...I'll send you a link to the website (hope you don't mind). Just got an email from DH and he said to call and schedule Simon for the residency program. Like I said, DH is so loaded with work right now, I think he just wants to get it done and not listen to me complain anymore...at this point, I'm at my wit's end and not sure how well I would do working with Simon and establishing that I'm the alpha dog...I think he needs something intense and then take it from there when he's easier to work with. Ugh! I don't know!!! I'm feeling a little desperate right now.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>My friend had a big dog - big enough that I called him Marmaduke. She named him Wally.

Anyways, Wally would snarl at me, and scared me so much with his ferociousness I wouldn't go near him. I even kept him in my backyard for her for a week, but wouldn't go out there cuz he scared me so much.

She sent him to boarding school for two weeks, I think - this was about 10 years ago, and it cost her about $700 at that time.

He came back a changed dog - he was very friendly. Even though I was still very wary around him, my kids would play with him with no problem. He was still a good watchdog, but turned out very friendly after staying at that boarding school.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

{{kisses}} Mary Jo! Thanks for that glowing report!! After Simon becomes a good dog, you can come and play with him!

 

[dalepool]

Just got daughter's Alaskan Malamute back from 30 day K-9 Kamp. Paid $500.00 for 30 days in residence training. This has made a world of difference in this dog. Mind you he had already been to 3 sessions of training classes at the local dog school.

My brother took his German Shepard to the same school where police dogs go to train. He paid $500.00 for a 3 week in house Kamp.

Hope this helps

 

[LindaR]

The root of the problem seems to be that you guys don't seem to have the time to train your dog(s). Past and present. Yes, you can send him/her away to be trained by someone who knows how to establish his dominant position over the dog, but when the dog comes home, if YOU do not practice what he has learned and establish YOUR dominance over him, he WILL revert to his old ways. YOU need to be the leader of the pack, not the dog.

This is not meant to be offensive (I hope it is not) but perhaps in the future you should choose a more mellow submissive type dog to join your family if you do not have the time (or want to take the time) to train him yourselves.

BTW, I have a german shepherd (who believes she is higher in the pack than my daughter...) a border collie/setter mix (submissive) and a toy poodle (submissive). We adopted the GSD when she was two years old and she came to us with some habits that were unacceptable in my house. A few "dominance downs" and some growling and shaking her neck ruff soon taught her that mom is the boss. She never gives me problems. She will only obey my daughter when she gets ticked off and lowers the pitch of her voice.

Anyway, no matter what you choose, practice with your dog on a regular basis!

 

[LindaR]

Just out of curiosity...........is your GSD from American or German lines?

 

[AspiringCindy]

Does anyone have advice on how to house break an adult dog. We recently acquired a beautiful Champion Boxer, but unfortunately she doesn't seem to be house broken. No matter how many times we take her out( and she does go when outside), when she feels the slightest urge to go, she just goes in the house. This is becoming very frustrating because she has all the qualities that the family needs. She is gentle with our baby, she is a great watchdog, she is sweet and she is an absolute beauty. We even tried crating her. What gives?

 

[LindaR]

You have to be very patient. Put her on a leash the second you open the crate door, take her outside, choose a word (to be used by all) to teach her to potty on command, then praise, praise, praise when she goes.

A mixture of white vinegar/water sprayed on the spots that she has pottied in the house will kill the enzymes (smell) and prevent her from going back and using the same spot in the house.

Either put her on a leash and attach it to your belt so that she goes everywhere with you, or crate her (and follow the above) for a few days. She will soon learn what pleases you. You must make the pleasant things really wonderful and play down the accidents.

 

[AspiringCindy]

We do exactly that. Take her from crate to outside and praise her. I know she can hold it in because sometimes we leave her in the kitchen for 7 hours while I am at work and everything is fine. But other times, she can go on a 45 minute walk and urinate 3 times yet go again in the house 15 minutes later.

 

[luvwinnie]

we spoiled our dog and now we are calling in a prof. trainer because she goes after the dog we took in.

 

[LindaR]

Have you taken her to the vet to make sure that there aren't any physical problems?

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

LindaR, no offense taken! You are very right. Getting a GSD was DH's idea, and I made him promise he'd be well-trained. However, we've had some unexpected "distractions", including DD's illness and DH getting put in charge of a new product line at work, which is overwhelming to all of us...he's like an absentee father these days, but it wasn't anything we could have anticipated almost 2 years ago when we got Simon. We are hoping that in the not too distant future, DH's work time eases up. You're right also about working with Simon after he comes home. With the weather getting nicer, it will be much easier to spend some time with him outside to work with him. And I am not about to let $1000 go to waste!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Your PM box is full! Here is the message I am trying to send you.
Sorry I am so late answering, but we were in St. Louis for dog shows. I think the in-home training would be the best deal. You need to know how to handle the dog, and having someone else do the training won't help much if you can't follow through with it. The most important thing is to be consistant. The whole family has to know what to do and do the same thing every time.

 

[dalepool]

Let me start out by stating-----Daughters dog went to in residence, 30 day K-9 Kamp----Brother's dog went to 3 week boarding Kamp. Prices were same--$500.00. Daughters dog lived with the training family trained 24/7 ---Brothers dog was boarded--trained during regular hours.

I am not qualified to properly train our dog----so I being a responsible owner --- spent the money to make sure our pet received the proper training to make his life happy and safe. I continue to work with our dog everyday. Pet training is an on going process.

Mellow and submissive----does NOT make a dog easy to train. It just gives you a mellow submissive dog.

Vinegar is an acid---so spraying vinegar on your floor will give you a vinegar smelling floor. ( unless you keep an eye on the pet ---you'll only be able to spray the places you see them potty).

Guess I'm one of the "IF YOU DON'T HAVE "TIME" TO TRAIN A DOG WHY HAVE ONE--- GROUP"

 

[jrmasm]

I just want to comment on how refreshing it is to hear people discuss trying to correct problems with their pets rather talking about how guilty they feel because they are thinking of getting rid of them! I was beginning to think that I was the only one that thought pets were a lifetime commitment.

Keep it up!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Guess I'm one of the "IF YOU DON'T HAVE "TIME" TO TRAIN A DOG WHY HAVE ONE--- GROUP"

Geez, I guess when DD became ill, and now that DH has new responsibilities at work while this new product line is getting going, we should've just given Simon away! How dare we not predict the future!

The kids (and DH and I) love Simon, and I'm not about to give him up...not without doing our best to have him trained and able to stay in our home; nor am I going to teach my kids that that's what one does with a pet. I'm a SAHM, but I don't have a clue how to train a dog...our other dog was a sweet, laid-back, lick-the-burglar's face kind of dog, by nature; at this point, I am unable to take on, without assistance, training this dog, since he's now a large, hard-headed stubborn 2-yr-old adult German Shepherd. And neither can my kids. And in all the years that DH had dogs growing up, none of what he and his family did would suffice with this dog at this time.

I'll be the first one to say that it SUCKS that DH is so busy these days...I can give you a long, teary earful about what a ****ing ***** this situation is. But it is what it is, and if we want to keep our dog...and we do...we need to make a decision about training him. What I was looking for here was some feedback about resident training programs. I certainly understand, and welcome, everyone's opinion about residency vs at home training, but did everyone miss the part about the trainer also working with us and the dog after the residency program is up? Whatever...I've got enough info from people who HAVE done it and have had success to make my decision, and no one saying they've done it and it hasn't worked. Thank you.

No way do I NOT understand that we can't just have this dog trained elsewhere and then come back into our home only to ignore him, nor would I. It only makes sense to me, and was made quite clear by the trainer, that training is an ongoing process.

Maybe I should keep the dog and get rid of the husband who found himself so busy at work?

Vinegar is an acid---so spraying vinegar on your floor will give you a vinegar smelling floor. ( unless you keep an eye on the pet ---you'll only be able to spray the places you see them potty).

And I always thought vinegar was highly recommended for cleaning, doggy accidents or not. Let's just HOPE people are finding the places in their house where their dogs are going potty, whether they actually see them doing it or not.