Why I Don’t Trust Most Board and Train Programs (And You Shouldn’t Either)

Picture this: a confident trainer—usually a man, let’s be real—offering you an effortless solution. “Just drop your dog off for two weeks, three weeks, maybe six. Go enjoy your vacation. When you return, your dog will be calm, obedient, and perfectly trained.” It sounds tempting, especially when you're feeling overwhelmed. But this picture-perfect promise leaves out a huge piece of the puzzle. Dog training isn’t just about having your dog perform cues—it’s about how your dog feels in your presence and how they respond within your home environment. Sure, your dog might behave a certain way at the facility or with the trainer they’ve been intensively working with. But your dog’s ability to generalize that behavior, feel secure, and respond to you isn’t something anyone else can build for you. You can absolutely get expert coaching and guidance—but no one else can do the relationship work for you. That’s why a board and train program isn’t always the quick fix it claims to be.

Not All Board and Trains Are Bad—but Most Deserve Scrutiny

Let’s be clear: not every board and train program is a nightmare. There are facilities that use evidence-based training methods, prioritize your dog’s emotional welfare, and teach skills through positive reinforcement. But they are the exception, not the rule. Most board and train programs are built for speed, not for nuance. They rely on physical corrections, compulsion, and behavior suppression—methods that might produce the illusion of progress quickly but don’t teach the dog what to do instead, and certainly don’t build long-term success.

If you're considering a board and train, it's crucial to ask questions—starting with what methods are used. A good trainer should be able to clearly explain how they teach new behaviors, how they reduce unwanted ones, and what tools or techniques they use to do that. You’re not looking for buzzwords or vague philosophies—you’re looking for evidence-based strategies grounded in learning science.

Red flags to listen for include:

• “My method is…” (Without further detail. If it can’t be explained, it’s not a method—it’s marketing.)

• “Every trainer does it differently. This is just what works for me.” (This often signals an approach based on habit or personal belief, not science.)

• “Dogs need discipline.” (Ask what they mean. Often, this is a stand-in for punishment-based techniques.)

  
  

These kinds of phrases often signal that the trainer relies more on personal beliefs than on actual data or best practices. The truth? There’s no magical single “method” that works for every dog. That’s marketing, not science. Evidence-based training adapts to the dog in front of you and considers their individual learning history, emotional state, and environment.

If you’re simply looking for a place to board your dog while you’re away - and you’ve found a trainer who is transparent, humane, and reinforcement-based, then a board and train might be appropriate. But understand what you're getting: this is not a program that will “fix” leash reactivity or serious behavior issues. A good board and train facility can reinforce known cues, teach new cues, prevent regression, and keep your dog safe while you’re out of town. That’s it. There is no such thing as dropping your reactive dog off and returning to a calm, behaviorally resolved pet. That work still belongs to you, and your dog deserves that kind of direct involvement.

Another important factor to consider when evaluating a board and train program is how your dog will spend their time outside of formal training sessions. Even in the best-case scenario, dogs are typically confined to kennels or crates for much of the day. While some board and train programs take place in a trainer’s home with crate rotations, others are run out of commercial facilities with kennel runs. These setups may include indoor-only spaces or a combination of indoor/outdoor access, but regardless of layout, it’s unlikely your dog will receive the same level of attention and interaction they’re used to at home.

The kennel environment itself can be highly stimulating—or even stressful—depending on your dog’s temperament and the facility’s design. Many dogs display heightened reactivity when housed in traditional kennel runs, especially when surrounded by other barking or anxious dogs. This is why modern animal shelters increasingly use private rooms with glass doors instead of wire kennel rows—they’re intentionally modifying the environment to reduce reactivity.

When you look at the daily schedule for most board and train programs, it often includes several short potty breaks, a couple training sessions of 20–30 minutes, a walk or longer outing, and possibly some solo yard time. While that may sound like a decent amount of activity, once you tally up the hours in between, you’ll see that your dog is likely spending the majority of the day confined and unsupervised. That’s not necessarily harmful, but it’s something most dog owners don’t realize when imagining what “immersion training” truly looks like. For reactive dogs especially, this setup may not be ideal, as their behavior can worsen in high-arousal environments or regress without consistent, individualized support.

Training Is About Relationship—And That Can’t Be Outsourced

A trainer can absolutely build their own relationship with your dog—but they can’t build yours. No matter how skilled they are, they can’t substitute for the trust, communication, and reinforcement history that your dog develops with you. At best, they can teach your dog basic cues like sit, down, or stay, and then show you how to maintain and reinforce those behaviors once your dog is home. But make no mistake: your dog still has to learn how to respond to you, in your environment, under your handling.

And behavior isn’t just about compliance—it’s about emotion. Emotion drives behavior, especially the kind we’re usually trying to change through dog behavior training: fear, anxiety, frustration, reactivity. If I send my reactive dog to a board and train facility, the trainer might be able to reduce some reactions under their supervision. But that doesn’t mean my dog will feel safe or act the same way with me. If my dog’s history on leash with me includes stressful or reactive experiences, that emotional context doesn’t disappear. It comes right back the moment we’re reunited.

Behavior Doesn’t Happen in a Vacuum—Environment Matters

In dog behavior training, we look at the ABCs: Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence. The antecedent—the environment—sets the stage for what behaviors are likely to show up. If my leash-reactive dog is removed from an urban setting where they’re walked four times a day and constantly exposed to triggers, and then placed in a calm, rural training facility with wide open space and fewer stressors, of course their behavior will look different. That doesn’t mean they’ve changed. It means the environment changed.

One of the first things I tell people in my coaching program is: let’s set the stage for success. Before we even start practicing anything new, we look at how to adjust the environment to support better behavior. Because when we tweak the setup—timing walks, choosing routes, managing space—we often see improvement right away. That’s how antecedent arrangement works.

Board and train programs can’t replicate your home environment. No matter how well-intentioned the trainer is, they’re working with a completely different set of conditions. That means they’re not training in the same context where the behavior actually shows up. And when your dog returns, you’re left dealing with those original antecedents all over again—with none of the tools or practice built in.

Lack of Oversight + Fast Results = Aversive Tools Behind the Curtain

Most board and train programs operate behind closed doors—with little to no oversight. You don’t get to see how your dog is handled moment to moment, and that makes it easy for trainers to cut corners, especially when their business model depends on fast, dramatic results. The faster they can get your dog to stop barking, lunging, or growling, the sooner they can post a “success” video and move on to the next client. And the fastest way to suppress behavior isn’t through compassion or evidence-based practice—it’s through aversive tools: prong collars, e-collars, leash corrections, intimidation.

This isn’t just about ethics—it’s about outcomes. When behavior is suppressed through fear, you’re not resolving anything. You’re just burying it until it resurfaces again—often worse—when your dog returns home. That’s the fallout you never see on social media.

You’re Already on the Right Track

If you’ve made it this far, you’re already doing something right—you’re researching, questioning, and thinking critically about what your dog actually needs. That’s more than most people do. Hopefully this gave you some clarity on what board and train programs can and can’t offer, and what it really takes to change behavior in a lasting, ethical way.

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Looking for a Smarter Alternative to Board and Train? If you’re ready to work with your dog instead of handing them off, I can help. The Dog Lab is my custom coaching program designed for dog owners who want real, lasting change. Together, we’ll develop a training plan that works for your life—one that addresses behavior at the root and helps your dog feel safer and more confident at home and on walks. Learn more here.

Not Sure Where to Start? I offer one-time behavior consultations for dog owners who want expert eyes on their situation and a clear plan for moving forward. Whether you’re trying to avoid a bad board and train experience or recover from one, I’ll help you make sense of what’s going on and what to do next. Book a consultation here.

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