You’ve spent months teaching your dog good behavior — but one weekend away might be wiping it all out. Here’s the ugly truth no one talks about.
You put in the work.
Hours of patience. Treats. Consistency. Maybe even tears.
Your dog sits when you say “sit.”
They don’t jump on guests anymore.
You finally see the light at the end of the training tunnel.
And then… you leave town.
Your dog goes to a boarding kennel or daycare — because, well, what choice do you have?
When you come back?
Suddenly your dog acts like none of that training ever happened.
Jumping. Barking. Pulling on leash. Ignoring commands.
You’re baffled.
You’re frustrated.
You start questioning yourself.
But here’s the kicker: It might not be your dog, or your training — it could be the boarding.
Boarding Isn’t Just “Doggy Daycare” — It’s a Different World
Kennels and boarding facilities aren’t just places where your dog hangs out while you’re gone.
They’re chaotic, high-stress environments where rules, routines, and human attention are wildly different from your home.
Here’s what usually happens:
-
Your dog’s “pack” changes daily — new dogs, new personalities, new social dynamics
-
Supervision is limited — one staff member for a dozen or more dogs
-
Stress levels skyrocket — unfamiliar smells, sounds, and cramped spaces
-
Reinforcement of bad habits happens in real time — barking, jumping, resource guarding
How Boarding Undermines Your Training
-
Inconsistent Boundaries
At home, you have clear rules.
No jumping on furniture, no biting hands, sit before meals.
At boarding?
Those rules often don’t exist or aren’t enforced consistently.
One moment your dog’s rewarded with attention for a behavior you’ve spent weeks trying to fix.
-
Stress-Induced Regression
Stress is a huge trigger for behavioral setbacks.
Dogs experiencing separation anxiety, overcrowding, or overstimulation may revert to old habits:
Chewing, barking, hyperactivity — even aggression.
It’s not your dog “choosing” to misbehave — it’s survival mode.
-
Lack of Personalized Training
Your trainer or you might use specific commands, tone, or cues your dog recognizes.
Boarding staff may not know these, or may not have the time or expertise to reinforce them.
Result? Your dog learns conflicting “rules,” and confusion reigns.
-
Playgroup Chaos
While socialization is great, unstructured group play can sometimes reinforce bad behaviors:
-
Over-excitement triggers jumping and mouthing
-
Dominant dogs may intimidate or bully more submissive ones
-
Dogs can learn “bad habits” from other misbehaving dogs
What No One Tells You: It’s Not Just Boarding — It’s How You Prepare
Most dog owners think the kennel is the problem — but how you prepare your dog matters just as much.
-
Do you do a trial day before overnight boarding?
-
Do you brief the staff on your dog’s training cues and personality quirks?
-
Do you ask about their behavior management policies?
If not, your dog is left to figure it out alone.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Training?
-
Choose your boarding facility wisely — ask about training policies, staff qualifications, and dog-to-staff ratios
-
Communicate your dog’s training cues clearly — leave detailed notes or videos for the caregivers
-
Consider in-home pet sitting or trusted family instead of kennels — less disruption, familiar environment
-
Keep training consistent after boarding — expect a reset and be patient with your dog
-
Use positive reinforcement when reintroducing your dog to your home routines
My Wake-Up Call: When I Lost Months of Training in One Weekend
I thought I found a great boarding spot.
It was clean, had great reviews, and “trained” staff.
But after two nights away, my normally calm dog came back anxious, hyperactive, and ignoring commands.
I realized the boarding facility wasn’t just a pit stop — it was a whole different world undoing my work.
Since then, I’ve:
-
Switched to in-home sitters whenever possible
-
Brought my dog for trial visits before boarding stays
-
Made staff training notes non-negotiable
-
Adjusted my expectations and training routine post-boarding
No comments:
Post a Comment