Why You Shouldn't Do a Board and Train
- Brianna Dick
- Sep 27
- 3 min read
Board & train programs sound tempting: drop your dog off, pay a big fee, and pick them up weeks later “fixed.” The problem is that for dogs with real behavior issues like aggression, reactivity, separation anxiety, or fear, these programs usually don’t deliver what owners actually need. Don't believe me? Talk with my clients.
The Problem With Board & Train Programs
Your dog learns the trainer, not you
Training is about the relationship. Your dog spends weeks learning how to respond to a trainer, then comes home to a totally different person and environment. That transfer rarely sticks.
Behavior issues live in context
Reactivity, aggression, and separation anxiety are tied to your dog’s daily environment. A facility or kennel setting can’t recreate the triggers in your home, on your walks, or when you leave for work.
Quick fixes aren’t the same as lasting change
Many programs lean on heavy structure or corrections that make behavior look better in the short term. But once the dog comes back home, those old habits resurface because the root cause wasn’t addressed.
Separation anxiety can’t be solved in a kennel
By definition, separation anxiety is about your absence. Sending a dog away doesn’t help them practice being okay while you’re gone, it usually makes it worse.
The cost doesn’t match the results
Most board & train programs run $3,000–$7,000. That money could cover private sessions at home where you learn the skills yourself and see the changes where they matter.
Why Owners Keep Getting Burned
It’s easy to fall for the marketing: videos of calm dogs lined up in kennels, dramatic before-and-after shots, big promises of “transformation in 3 weeks.” The reality is:
Many dogs slip right back into old patterns within days of returning home.
Owners aren’t given enough hands-on coaching.
Emotional root issues like fear or stress are left untouched.
From the Trainer’s Perspective
I understand why people sign up for board & train, they’re desperate for relief and feel like they can’t handle things anymore. I used to run a traditional board & train program myself. At first, it seemed like a solution. But what I saw over and over was dogs reverting back to old behaviors once they returned home. The progress wasn’t lasting because the owner wasn’t part of the process.
That was the turning point for me. I stopped offering traditional board & train because it didn’t serve dogs or owners long-term.
Now, the most common feedback I get from people in my Immersion Program or in-home training is:
“I feel like I wasted thousands of dollars on a board & train before finding you. I wish I had started here sooner.”
Board & trains aren't just a gamble, it’s a waste of money and time that delays addressing the real root of your dog’s behavior.
What Actually Works
For behavior issues, the best investment is always training that involves the owner. That means:
In-home sessions where your dog learns in the same environment they struggle.
Programs that teach you how to handle situations day-to-day.
Behavior plans that go beyond obedience cues to deal with stress, fear, or anxiety.
Consistency over intensity — frequent, realistic sessions beat weeks away.
This doesn't mean that there aren't trainers out there of offer great board and train programs for minor issues like leash pulling, basic obedience, off leash and basic lifestyle adjustments but if you're looking for lasting results for your dogs behavior, particularly for anything reactivity, related please heed the advice of 10 years worth of clients who wasted thousands of dollars on board and trains.
By: Brianna Dick
Owner & Behavior Consultant
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