Helping Anxious Dogs Thrive: Why a Residency (Board and Train) Program Might Be the Kindest Choice

Zoey's owners in Grove City started her obedience training young to prevent big problems from forming later!

I get it. You’ve never left Fluffy, and the thought of spending even one night away from her makes you want to burst into tears. “What if she thinks I left her?” you ask yourself. “What if she hates me?” you wonder as you stroke her while cuddling on the couch together.

But lately, Fluffy has been snapping at your nieces and nephews, and her anxiety seems to have gotten so much worse. You and your partner plan to have kids in the near future, but you’re worried about how Fluffy would handle it and whether she would be safe around your future children. Would the constant barking keep everyone up? Would it keep getting worse?

As a dog trainer in Grove City, Ohio, I’m here to ease your worries. Many of my clients bring me dogs with so many issues that I have to write on the back of my evaluation sheet just to keep track. But whenever we start talking about a board and train program in Columbus, Ohio, or as I like to call them, “Residency Programs,” my potential clients tense up.

First off, I totally understand how much you love your dog. Truly. I love my dogs like they’re my kids. But unlike many of my potential clients, I provide the necessary life skills, structure, boundaries, and opportunities to build resilience and confidence, the things dogs need to truly thrive. The things you would provide your human children without a second thought.

This doesn’t mean my clients treat their dogs poorly. Quite the opposite. They spoil them so well that the dog becomes an addict. The drug of choice can be many things.

Some dogs are addicted to adrenaline. They’ve never been taught how to settle. They’re given an endless supply of toys, snuffle mats, and “sniffaris,” so their brains are always going 100 MPH. These dogs are bouncing off the walls, chewing everything in sight, and reacting to anything that moves or makes noise.

Other dogs are addicted to affection. They control when, where, and how they interact with humans. They have free access to the bed and furniture and cuddle up whenever they please. If a human disagrees with it being “pet time,” the dog just rudely shoves their entire head into the human’s hand until they give in. “She loves me so much,” Fluffy’s owner says, not realizing they may be enabling possible separation anxiety in dogs.

Separation anxiety often stems from a mix of these addictions. Sprinkle in a dog that’s never been crated and has had its human working from home 24/7, and you’ve got the perfect cocktail for extreme anxiety when you inevitably have to leave them. Because society tells us never to let our dogs feel uncomfortable, we avoid the issue altogether by signing up for daycares and sitters instead of teaching independence.

To be clear, I’m not saying toys, affection, or playtime with other dogs are bad. What I am saying is that avoiding the life skills your dog needs can lead to big problems.

Big problems can look like Fluffy biting someone who gets too close. Fluffy has never been given her own space, so she feels like the couch and honestly the entire house is her territory. As she’s matured, she doesn’t want to share it. She barks at every “intruder” walking by, and the weight of being the guard dog of the house is debilitating, leaving her anxious all the time.

All of this to say, the kindest thing you can do for your dog is take the weight of the world off their shoulders. Our Residency Programs for dogs in Columbus and Grove City, Ohio start that process for you. We see dogs go from anxious wrecks to calm, truly stress-free companions, sometimes in just a few days.

Your dog won’t forget you. Your dog won’t be mad at you. Your dog will thank you for finally giving them the help they need and becoming their true best friend.

If you’re ready to help your dog feel calm, confident, and happy, schedule a free dog training evaluation today and see how we can help you and your dog thrive together.