FAQ's #CareyTrainsMe

What does a Board and Train Experience include for your dog?

Our dog board and train program allows your dog to stay overnight for weeks or months and experience many enriching types of training multiple times each day, including brain games, confidence building, socialization, obedience, and exercise during their stay.

Is it necessary to board your dog overnight to get the results?

Our dog board and train program allows your dog to stay overnight for weeks or months and experience many enriching types of training multiple times each day, including brain games, confidence building, socialization, obedience, and exercise during their stay.

Where do the dogs sleep at night?

For their safety, your dog sleeps in a home environment in a crate. We use extra-large crates that are comfortable for dogs over 125 lbs for adult dogs.  Puppies sleep in smaller crates. Depending on their stress level, the crate is either in the living room or their trainer’s bedroom. 

Is Puppy Boarding School different than a Board and Train Program?

The two programs are very similar in terms of obedience training, reward-based training methods, and learning games. The difference between the Puppy Board and Train is typically potty, and crate training is added, eliminating such nuisance behaviours like jumping on people, mouthing and puppy biting before it starts.

Will my dog be able to listen to me, or just the #CareyTrainsMe trainers?

The key to successful training is repetition and consistency over time. The #CareyTrainsMe training team maximizes several training sessions each day. When you pick up your dog, we will spend an hour reviewing their training. You will also be given a written training plan and a link to youtube of an outtake educational video. Visit our Youtube channel here. 

What is Canine Enrichment and why is it part of the board and train program with #CareyTrainsme?

Canine Enrichment is natural and instinctual activity that your dog enjoys. Enrichment improves and enhances your dog’s mental state using a range of activities designed to challenge and exercise their brains. Enrichment activities encourage your dog to problem solve, learn new skills, and become more confident; they also help create new neuropathways in your dog's brain increasing their brain activity. 

What are Learning Games?

Learning games are activities that are not always related to a specific cue or command. That means that learning games are designed to be used for or with educational goals but don’t require that the dog be successful at the game. There is never a punishment for failing!

What is Body Handling and Husbandry?

Conditioning your puppy or dog to be handled by humans is often overlooked in typical dog boarding and training. Animal husbandry is the care and welfare needed to have and keep an animal healthy. Husbandry is everything from checking ears, trimming nails, brushing teeth to full grooms, administering medication or injections, and keeping a clean and healthy environment.

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We expect our dogs to love being touched by anyone, including being poked and prodded at the vet without complaint when they haven’t been trained to do so. At #CareyTrainsMe we proactively work on body handling, all done with the dog’s consent. We use food and often teach the dog cues, so they know that they are being handled tolerate it, and even learn to enjoy it.

What are the principles at #CareyTrainsMe?

Reward calmness

Reward focus

Reward engagement

Reward patience and impulse control

Fun and frustration-free

What dog training methods are used?

Positive reinforcement and no physical punishment. 

At the #CareyTrainsMe, we use food, affection, praise, toys and play to reward. Our goal is to keep dogs in the best learning space with little to no stress. 

What dog training methods are used?

Positive reinforcement and no physical punishment. 

At the #CareyTrainsMe, we use food, affection, praise, toys and play to reward. Our goal is to keep dogs in the best learning space with little to no stress. 

Why don’t you use an e-collar or punishment?

Typically, off-leash board and train programs are often associated with e-collar training. We DO NOT use e-collars or shock collars. We do not use e-collars or adverse methods commonly known as punishment to create avoidance behaviour because it is stressful and painful. The punishment is uncomfortable or painful enough to cause the dog to suppress emotions and avoid the nuisance behaviour.

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Behaviour science has proven that punishment methods may show an immediate avoidance; however, over time, you will need to increase the intensity of the punishment. Punishment causes avoidance and a flight or fight response. Behaviour science has also proven that being uncomfortable or in pain, causes avoidance or a “fight or flight” response in animals, and they are not able to learn and retain information (just like us).

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Your dog will be more confident without punishment. We condition engagement and focus and make these two behaviours the most rewarding for your dog. After your dog's board and train, you will find that when your dog offers you eye contact all the time, their default behaviour is to sit or lay down, and their nuisance behaviours have been greatly reduced.

Once my dog is trained, will my dog lose their playful personality?

This is a question we are often asked, and the answer is always no – never.

We use positive reinforcement and do not use adverse methods putting your dog in an avoidance or ‘fight or flight response, so your dog will love to train, and will still have the fun playful personality that you love and enjoy.

What if my dog is fed raw food or has food allergies?

All owners provide their own dog's food and treats according to their own dog's individual diet. For delicious dog treat recipes click here.

If your dog has allergies, we will only use the food and treats provided by you to train your dog. We may offer high-value treats when training and always refer to the dog’s dietary restrictions before giving the #CareyTrainsMe’s treats or snacks. If your dog has allergies, extra high-value treats may need to be provided.

If your dog eats raw food, we ask that your dog arrives with the equivalent freeze-dried raw food, as it will be used to train your dog instead of fresh raw food. It is considered a high-value treat more than food, as it typically has a lot of flavours.

What if you miss your dog?

We update you by email within the first 24 hours, 72 hours after that, and every 7 days after that. You can also watch the #CareyTrainsMe’s Facebook and Instagram stories to see how your dog is progressing. Stories are updated every day or so. We can also schedule Facetime sessions where we review the training to date and answer questions. This is a big hit for families with children that are missing their pup. 

Can you guarantee training results?

We are committed to creating better dogs. Dog owners are provided videos of the training that was completed, so you can see what their dog is capable of. We offer ongoing support over the phone or Zoom/Facetime. There is never a guarantee with animals, and we do not have an official training guarantee, however, we have never had a disappointed board and train client. We are committed to results and our dog board and train programs works.

Who should do a board and train?

Why would someone do a dog board and train program and not just train their dog themselves?

Searching for dog training on the internet opens a floodgate of contradicting, overwhelming information. Board and Train programs are for people who want the absolute best experience for their dog and do not want to make any mistakes when creating a polite, happy, well-mannered, and well-adjusted dog.

From first-time dog owners to busy professionals, business owners and active families, the board and training have many benefits. Life happens! Starting a new family, trying to manage an over-excited dog, or raising a new puppy on your own, board and train programs help teach a hyper dog or young puppy manners and confidence. You can all find peace in your home, enjoy walking your dog and trust them to recall at local dog parks and off-leash trails.