Boarding Schools for Dogs

The words boarding school usually bring to mind images of cold brick buildings and kids in drab uniforms. But when applied to dogs, the words boarding school conjure images of green grass, lots of treats and structured exercise. Dog boarding schools are available to owners who acknowledge the benefits of a well trained dog but don't have the time or patience to complete the training themselves.

  1. Kennels

    • When selecting a boarding school for your dog it is important to consider the environment your dog will be residing in. A quality dog boarding school will have large kennels and run areas for dogs to use and play in. Ask to see the kennels prior to registering your dog for the school and take note of the condition that the kennels are kept in. Kennels should be clean and free of messes. Dogs should have enough room to stretch and walk around without running into kennel walls.

    Training

    • Specify the type of training that you want to have your dog receive and find out the background of the trainer who will be training your dog. There are several different types of training disciplines available to dogs. For example, all dogs should have basic obedience training, while other dogs such as those bred for bird hunting need to be trained accordingly. If you want your dog to receive multiple trainings be prepared to pay extra and have your dog at the boarding school for an extended period of time.

    Costs

    • Dog boarding schools are not something to decide to send your dog to on a whim unless money really doesn't matter to you. The training that a dog receives from a boarding school doesn't come cheap. Most boarding schools charge an average $1,200 for a four week training session. This price includes the training and boarding of the dog for one training discipline.

    Follow Up

    • Dog boarding schools often offer a few follow up sessions where one of the trainers works with the owner and the dog together. This is the owner's opportunity to be trained and learn how to communicate with his newly educated dog. These follow up sessions are usually included in the initial price of the training package since the success of the dog's training relies on the owner's ability to reinforce it once the dog goes home.