Dog Training School: Should you pack Fido a lunch?

I’ve talked about Vance’s separation anxiety issues on this blog before. And, Mr. Light of My Life (the hubster) thought it would be a good idea to ship Vance off to dog training school because he felt that *our* anxieties about leaving Vance alone were making Vance that much more anxious.

I actually did a lot of research to see what was available but I discovered that most dog training schools aren’t equipped to deal with behavioral issues–rather they tend to specialize in training dogs for absentee owners. Sort of like how I view boarding schools for kids, actually ;-).

So, instead, we decided to hire a dog behaviorist who came out to our home and was able to observe the three of us and give us tips for eliminating Vance’s separation anxiety. But, if it had just been that Vance needed to be trained, and we didn’t have the time to do it, I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable shipping him off to a dog training school. Partly, that’s because I genuinely enjoy training him–it’s a fun, creative time for us. But it’s also because I’m not sure how I’d go about doing enough research to feel comfortable handing him over to someone without being there watching how they were working with him. I know most dog training schools are reputable and treat dogs most gently, but that doesn’t mean all of them do.

What are your thoughts on dog training school? Has your dog been? Is it something you’d consider? I’d love to hear your opinions!