I often hear from potential clients who are torn between hiring a private trainer like me or sending their dog to a “boot camp.” Let me be clear: boot camp is not the answer. The term itself conjures images of military-style training—pre-dawn wake-ups, yelling, rigid control—and that’s not what dog training should look like. Training should be engaging and enjoyable for both you and your dog.
These boot camps often make grand promises—”fixing” dogs, offering robotic obedience, and guaranteeing results within weeks. That can sound appealing, especially if you’re busy and overwhelmed. But here’s the truth: most of these programs are too good to be true, and here’s why.
(Note: There are positive reinforcement-based board-and-train programs out there. These are not the kind I’m warning about. I’m referring to programs branded as “boot camps” or “kennel training” that rely on harsh methods.)
The problem
Most boot camps rely on outdated, aversive methods—think shock collars, prong collars, leash corrections, yelling, spray bottles, and dominance-based techniques. These aren’t just ineffective; they’re potentially harmful, especially for puppies or fearful dogs. Veterinary behaviorists and ethical training organizations strongly oppose these methods.
And here’s the kicker: anyone in the U.S. can call themselves a dog trainer. Professional licensure is not required to call yourself a dog trainer nor is there any industry-specific government regulation.
So it’s up to you, the dog owner, to ask the right questions before hiring someone. This video on transparency and what to ask your trainer is a great place to start.
Misidentifying the problem
Another common issue: many dog owners misinterpret behavior. If a dog is fearful or anxious and doesn’t respond to a cue, it’s often labeled as “misbehaving.” So instead of addressing fear or reactivity, people seek obedience training. Sending a fearful dog to a facility that uses aversive tools will almost always make things worse. Fear is not disobedience.
Dogs are not pipes. You need to be involved in your dog’s training. You can’t just outsource it like you do your plumbing.
I get it—we’re all busy. I call a plumber when my sink leaks too. But dogs aren’t plumbing—they’re complex emotional beings. You can’t just “send them off to get fixed.”
Effective training isn’t just about teaching cues. It’s about:
- Managing the dog’s environment
- Providing exercise and enrichment
- Teaching humans (especially kids!) how to read dog body language effectively (grab my free dog body language course here!)
- Building a strong, trusting relationship
And when training is done right is fun for everyone involved.
Dogs don’t generalize well
Context matters to dogs. A lot. That’s why your dog might sit perfectly at home but seem to forget how to do it at the park. Sending them to learn skills in a completely different environment (with strangers) makes transferring those skills to your home life harder, not easier. And some behaviors—like resource guarding or snapping at kids—need to be worked on where they occur, with everyone involved.
Day training may be an option if you’re short on time and want professional help. It can be especially great for puppies or basic skills. Day training is where a trainer comes to your home while you’re at work, trains your dog in their familiar environment, and then does “transfer sessions” with you to pass on the progress. It’s efficient, effective, and humane.
If you’re set on board-and-train, make sure the trainer uses positive reinforcement and offers full transparency. They do exist, but they’re not the ones making bold “guarantees” or using shock tools.
Noelle’s Story
I want to share one of my stories I have about the fallouts of sending dogs to boot camps. Noelle’s family sent her to a six-week “rehabilitation” program in NYC because she barked at dogs on leash and was pushy at the dog park. When she came home, she was wearing both a prong and a shock collar and returned malnourished, fearful, and more aggressive than when she left. Within hours of returning home, she bit an adult family member and was returned to the shelter where I was working.
Before boot camp, she had never bitten a human or caused injury to other dogs. Afterward, she had a bite history, injured two dogs (requiring stitches and antibiotics), became reactive to strangers, and developed a fear of touch. The family had spent $6,500—and now had a dog with serious behavioral trauma and then found their way to me, desperate for help, as often happens. I’m very often the 3rd or 4th trainer a family finds, and sometimes says “if you can’t help us, we have to euthanize or give them up.” No pressure, right?
It’s not this family’s fault. They didn’t know what they didn’t know. They trusted someone calling themselves a “trainer” and “behaviorist”—terms that are often misused. (FYI: Only veterinary behaviorists or professionals certified by the Animal Behavior Society as CAAB or ACAAB can legitimately use that title in the US.)
Whatever you decide, always ask questions. Ask about methods. Ask what happens when the dog gets it wrong. Ask what tools are used. And if you’re unsure, check directories like:
No ethical trainer will promise to “fix” your dog. In fact, many ethical organizations like the Pet Professional Guild and IAABC have Code of Ethics guidelines preventing members from offering any sort of guarantee on results because behavior is influenced by too many factors out of our control, as stated by PPG,
“due to the nature of applied animal behavior and limiting factors around the pet guardian such as time commitment, family circumstances, management practices and other environmental factors.”
Noelle’s story has a happy ending—but it took almost a year to undo the damage from just six weeks of boot camp. I specialize in fear, reactivity, and aggression, and I offer remote training so I can help no matter where you live.
If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to hand your dog over to a stranger and hope for the best. There’s a better way—and I’m here to help.
If you would like to support my efforts and make a contribution to allow me to continue to create free resources like blog and all of my other free resources, you can Buy Me A Coffee!
Happy training!
