Olympia Kennels 

1. I've heard leaving your dog in a strange place can be traumatizing for him.
   

1. There are, for sure, horror stories that go along with dog boarding facilities but they are not the norm.  In fact leaving you dog in a new place is a great way to increase your dog’s confidence and sociability.  It is a must for all dogs that are aggressive, shy or fearful, or suffer from separation anxiety.

2. If you train my dog won’t he only listen to you?
   

1. No, not if you do your part in reinforcing the dog’s new way of being.  Please read “Facts about board and train programs” in the article section of the website.

3. How often are the training sessions with my dog?
   

1. Ten - fifteen times a week.

4. How long are the sessions with my dog?
   

1. 30 minutes – 1+ hour(s): depending on the lesson and the dog.   For instance puppies may only be able to work for 30 minutes because they tire easily (same with old or overweight dogs) but on the other hand you may have a high energy level dog that requires an hour (plus) of work.

5. What equipment do you use when training my dog?
   

1. We use whatever equipment works for your dog.  Every dog is different much like all of us humans are.  We all learn at different paces and in different ways.  Some of us learn quickly by watching others, and some of us learn faster by reading. Beware of any trainer that attempts to convince you that their WAY is the best.  No particular WAY is the best.   Some dogs respond better to food treats while others need compulsion and corrections and further still most need a little bit of it all.  We will work with any equipment that brings out the best in your dog and the best in the training.

6. Will training scare my dog, break his spirit, make him dislike me or make the problem worse?
   

1. No, not if done correctly.  Any dog, in any situation can benefit from balanced obedience training or behavior modification.  Obedience training builds the dogs confidence and allows you to communicate with your dog.  It makes his life (and yours) a lot easier.

7. I want my dog to be a dog… could you just get him to stop (insert bad behavior)?
   

1. No, if this was true you wouldn’t want him to stop his current behavior.  The fact of the matter is that untrained dogs chew things you don’t want them to, pee on your rugs, bark at strangers, attack other dogs, lunge at bikers and/or jump on guests after sniffing their crotches.  That is a dog being a dog.  You don’t want your dog to be a dog; you want your dog to be a manageable, loving pet. For this transformation to occur you need a way to communicate with your dog. As previously mentioned (in question 6) obedience training creates this communication through a shared language.  Your dog can still be himself but now he will understand what is expected of him in all situations in which he previously… “Acted like a dog.”

8. Will my dog forget me, resent me, or otherwise if I leave him to board or train with you?
   

1. Don’t be ridiculous.  Dogs don’t comprehend the passing of time in the same fashion as we humans do, so they are unaware about exactly how long you’ve been away.  In addition to this, your dog is much more resilient than you are.  He will not miss you in the same manner in which you miss him.  However, he will surely be beside himself when you come and pick him up!

For any questions that were not answered here please email us at olympiagsd@msn.com or give us a phone call: 1-603-887-2391