I had a call from two separate people last week who's dogs had both spent a few days at a local 'residential training' facility. Both owners were worried because their dogs had developed other problems whislt being in the care of the 'trainer'.

Let me tell you how residential training works. You pay your money and leave your dog with a complete stranger, usually anywhere from 5 days to a month. During this time the stranger (trainer, or 'behaviourist') who often has absolutely no academic qualifications in animal behaviour or who is not registered with a recognised professional body for behaviourists or trainers, works with your dog to stop whatever behaviour is causing the problem.

Whilst your dog is in the care of this person, you have no idea what methods are being used or how your dog is being treated. A lot of these facilities describe themselves using military/correctional overtones such as 'dog borstals', 'doggie boot camps' etc which usually means they are using harsh, punitive methods with your dog. At the end of the training regime, the owners are invited to spend a few hours with their dog and the trainer to see the 'miraculous results' achieved and instruction on what to do to keep the dog 'at the bottom of the pack'. Oh dear.

Certainly in the case of the two people that called me, punitive methods had been used. One dog was now urinating in fear at the sight of his own leash and the other one had bitten his owner, the first time she placed his food bowl on the floor to feed him. Neither dog had shown any of these behaviours before going to residential training and both owners said their dogs were completely different since returning, but 'not in a good way'.

The problem here is firstly, leaving your dog in a strange environment, away from his home and the people that love him is incredibly stressful for him. Secondly, being coerced into doing/not doing certain things by a stranger using harsh punishment and pack leader theory, which we now know just doesn't apply to the domestic dog, is psychologically damaging for him.

For owners not to be involved in the training of their dog is frankly ludicrous, seeing as it is the owners that the dog will be spending his life with. Training your dog (using only kind, positive reinforcement methods) builds a strong bond between owner and dog, something that will not be established if someone else does the whole process for you. To attain leadership (not 'dominance'), your dog has to trust you. Leaving him with strangers that hurt him and then using those same methods when the dog comes home is the way to destroy trust, not build it.

When training your dog, make sure YOU are involved in the WHOLE process and in an environment where the dogs feels comfortable, either at home or at a reputable training class. Look for trainers who are members of the APBC, CAPBT or APDT. Ask them what their qualifications and experience are and ask for proof and for references from a veterinary surgeon or equivalent professional. Ask them about their methods too. 

Being an obedience trainer, dog owner, dog groomer or pet sitter does not entitle someone to practice as or call themself a behaviourist - that takes years of study and pratical training.

You wouldn't leave your child to be taught by an unregistered, unqualified person, so why do it to your dog?