I HAVE A STAFFAND I AM SENDING HER TO A TRAINING CENTRE TO BE TRAINED FOR 3 WEEKS, WE HAVE TRIED LOCAL SCHOOLS, BUT WITH NOT MUCH SUCESS. I JUST WANT SOME OPINIONS ON THESE TYPE OF PLACES (GOOD OR BAD). LOOK FORWARD TO THE REPLYS

Hi guest

I personally know nothing about residential training ..but I would assume that if you have personal recommendations from people that you know rather than just adverts you should be more confident of the outcome . Have they said what to expect at the end of the 3 week course?

Melody

I assume from the way your post reads that by residential you mean that the dog will be sent to training without you. I have no confidence in residential training in this context! To me, the owner is normally more in need of training than the dog and this way you are not getting the training you need. Specialist training such as gundog work is slightly different in that the dog owner should know how to handle the dog, just lacking the time to carry out the training.

John

It isn't something I would ever consider for my dogs, I think half the fun of a dog is training it yourself and developing a relationship with it. Especially if there is a serious problem, when I think it is even more important for dog and owner to learn together. Plus I can think of very few people I would trust my dogs to
Anne
As John says gundog training can be a special case

Agree 100 % here. Have a friend who sent her Labrador away for training. It behaved beautifully for the trainer, but then awfully back at home :)

Daisy

I think residential training John is where you go and stay at a training centre with your dog and receive intensive instruction together for the duration. I may be wrong but I have seen such places advertised!
Lara

But having just re-read the thread I am confusing the original post with Melodys. The original poster does not mention residential in the post body but sending the dog away! :)

That was the way I read it Lara, "Send my dog away". In most cases it is the owner who needs training not the dog and like this they just won't be getting any.

John

Someone on here recently sent their dog away and got it back in not a very nice condition. I would be very reluctant in case someone ruined my dog with innappropriate methods. I would rather know exactly what was going on. Having said that I have trained dogs for other people - but I know me and my methods rather well :)

What are you sending her away to be trained for? For companion dog training you can take her once a week (for about a pound a week, learning yourself) and not be without her. You will still need to be trained in what she's been taught after all!

In my view, dog training is all about training the owner to train their dog. So if the dog gets sent away, and behaves impeccably, the behaviour may all be undone in a week if the owner hasn't had the training themselves :p :) so I agree with everyone else :)

Lindsay