Board & Train: The Hidden Costs of Convenience

In the dog training world, “board and train” programs are often promoted as a convenient solution for busy pet parents. The pitch is enticing: send your dog away for a few weeks and they’ll come back perfectly trained. But as a science-based animal trainer, who’s first professional paid gig was in a board and train facility, I’d like to explain why these programs often don’t deliver on their promises—and can even do more harm than good.

Let’s take a closer look at why board-and-train isn’t a recommended option for effective, humane dog training.

Stress and Learning Doesn’t Mix

Learning is a complex process, and for dogs—as with all animals—their ability to learn new behaviours is directly impacted by their emotional state. Research in animal behaviour and neuroscience shows that stress impairs learning and memory (McEwen & Sapolsky, 1995). When a dog is anxious, fearful or overwhelmed, their brain switches from a learning state to a survival state.

This is a key concern with board-and-train programs.

Most of these programs involve removing a dog from their familiar home environment and placing them in an unfamiliar facility—often surrounded by strange people, new smells, loud noises, other dogs, and different routines. Even for confident dogs, this kind of disruption is inherently stressful. And for dogs already struggling with behavioural issues (which is often why they’re sent away), the added stress can actually make things worse.

Stressful environments can also lead to what’s known as behavioural suppression. A dog may stop displaying unwanted behaviours—not because they’ve learned a better way to behave, but because they’ve shut down stopping them from displaying any behaviour. Once they return home and the suppressive environment is gone, the behaviours often come back. Why? Because they were never truly taught how to cope or behave differently in the environment where the issues were actually occurring.

Dogs Learn in Context

Dogs are contextual learners. That means they associate behaviours with the environment in which they’re taught. If a dog learns to walk nicely on lead in a training facility, that doesn’t mean they’ll do the same on your busy street. The cues and behaviours don’t automatically transfer.

That’s why the most effective training takes place in the dog’s day-to-day environment. Teaching a dog to greet guests calmly at your front door, to “leave it” in your kitchen, or to settle on their mat during dinner are skills best taught where they’ll actually be used. A facility located kilometres away from your home can’t replicate these everyday situations. Even when we run group training, we’re always encouraging participants to practice at home, because dog’s will often associate desirable behaviour patterns with the training yard.

Training Is a Relationship, Not a Quick Fix

The biggest issue with board-and-train programs is this: training is not something you do to a dog. It’s something you do with them.

Effective training is based on trust, communication, and mutual understanding. It’s about building a relationship where both you and your dog learn together. When someone else trains your dog for you, that crucial relationship piece is missing. The dog might respond well to the trainer—but they haven’t built that connection with you. The cues, praise and relationship need to be part of a shared language that’s developed between you and your dog, not outsourced.

The Dark Side of Quick Results

Many board-and-train programs, especially those offering fast or guaranteed turnarounds, rely on aversive methods. Tools like shock collars, prong collars, or harsh physical corrections may suppress behaviours quickly—but they come with significant risks. Fear, anxiety, aggression use, and a damaged relationship between you and your dog are common consequences.

Worse still, there’s often little transparency in these programs. When your dog is away at a facility, you don’t get to see how they’re being treated. Even programs that claim to use “positive” methods may resort to force if results aren’t achieved fast enough.

So What’s the Alternative?

The good news is that compassionate, effective dog training doesn’t require sending your dog away. In-home sessions, group classes, and private consultations are all excellent, evidence-based alternatives that include you in the process.

These methods allow your dog to learn where the behaviours actually matter—at home, in your neighbourhood, with you as their guide. Just as importantly, they equip you with the tools and knowledge to help your dog succeed over the long term.

Final Thoughts

Behaviour change takes time, and it can’t be outsourced. As tempting as it is to send your dog away and hope for a quick fix, the most meaningful progress comes from working with your dog, not around them.

Your dog deserves more than obedience—they deserve understanding, kindness, and respect. And you deserve a relationship built on trust, not fear.

Let’s move away from outdated approaches and choose a path that supports both ends of the lead.