Royvon Dog training and boarding kennels

miamoo

Hi, I am writing this post because of the lack of infomation I could find when I was researching the above kennels and training.
Every post I found where someone asked for an opinion on the kennels ended up in a 'how can you do this to your dog' type reply.

Basically we usually put Mia into local kennels, but as we are leaving her for a little longer (10 days as we are going on holiday) we were abit concerned she may get bored, so I looked into kennels that will train your dog as well as board them

Royvon was the only kennels I could find that will kennel and train a dog for any length of time you choose (from 2 days and up) it costs £12 a day for boarding and £13 a day for training inc VAT (our usual kennels are £18 a day for just boarding).

Mia is quite well behaved the only issue we have with her is she pulls on lead, and is funny towards other dogs when she is on lead. We aren't expecting these issues to be sorted in the 10days, they usually like the dog to remain for 3 weeks, but I am happy that all her training will be reinforced everyday, while we are away.

She has gone today, and I will post again a week on Friday when I collect her. Thanks for reading:D

Welshwoofs

Oh I hope you get a reply! I was thinking of putting mine in Royvon for a couple of weeks to iron out a few training issues which I've failed at solving since puppyhood, despite trying everything suggested.

Mine has particular things he just does not like and will either bark at, or try to run away from...but they're odd things like fishing rods and umbrellas! He also really does not like people with mental health issues. Sounds odd I know, but he's as soft as butter with everyone he meets but I've had occasions where kids with Downs Syndrome, Autism or obvious learning difficulties have come up to him and he's instantly curled his lip and backed away growling....which needless to say is a little embarrassing if the 'normal' sibling/friend/parent has just been treated to tail wagging, shake paws and snuffles.

miamoo

I will let you know how she gets on, she is a very stubborn Doberman so they have their work cut out!
I forgot to say its the south wales one she has gone to.

sarabe

Did you ask how they would be training her? What methods they employ and whether it is something you would be able to, or happy with continuing when she returns.

I am not near them geographically but have met a couple of dogs that were sent there for training.

One was a Rottie x GSD who was easily distracted by wanting to play with other dogs and had a recall problem when at the park. I don't know how they cured his wanting to go to other dogs but I can have a good guess as his recall problem morphed into an aggression towards other dogs problem.

The other was a GSD that I ended up taking in after he had shut down completely and become "untrainable, despite all that money I spent" according to his previous owner.

Hopefully they have changed staff or policies or both since then.

miamoo

Yes the trainer said he will use positive reinforcement, we spoke for a while he was really nice, he explained what will happen each day, that they will spend time at first gaining each others trust, we have to spend the afternoon there with them when we get back.

Just to add Mia is trained, she knows all her commands, we haven't put her in as we cant controll her, it is to build on her current training. Rather than just to put her in Kennels.

I completely agree Sarabe you cant just throw money at a dog and expect it to be trained, it doesn't matter how much money you spend if your not willing to put the hard work in aswell.

bigblackdog

have just shown an interest in there services and waiting to hear back from them , regarding our boisterous 3 yo lab

foreign_correspondent

I dont know anything about the kennels in question, but some online reviews are quite worrying:

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews187756.html

pboae

90% of dog training is about training the owner not the dog.

When a dog won't behave, it's often because the owner is failing to communicate what it wants the dog to do, or at least failing to communicate it consistently enough for the dog to learn. There's no shame in that, we aren't dogs, we aren't born with an innate ability to 'talk' their language. We need to learn it, and a good dog trainer will teach you how.

A good trainer spending lots of quality 1-to-1 time with a dog should be able to show a dramatic improvement in behaviour in a couple of weeks. If the owner is not involved in the training, then once the dog is home it will usually be back at square one before a week is out, because the initial problem of communication failure hasn't been dealt with.

The one advantage training centres do have is that it can prove to owners that there is nothing 'wrong' with their dog, and that they are perfectly capable of learning. But even that can sometimes back fire as owners then assume the dog is being naughty or wilful when it won't continue the good behaviour for them.

miamoo

Have you read my post at all Mia does not NEED training, she does behave I am using the time she would be boarding, to do some extra training aswell.
I do not want her training to slip while I am away.

I will update for anyone interested when we pick her up Friday 18th Dec

mogadon

EDIT: Realised she has already gone, so not relevant now :-)

miamoo

Back to update as promised. I didnt update on Friday as she was behaving exceptionally well and I didnt know how long it would continue!
Well I am really pleased, the trainer worked on her ignoring other dogs on lead, and not pulling, along with practising all her basic commands. She has been out a few times and half heartedly barked at a dog she saw, gave her a little tug and she turned away and walked with a loose lead 90% of the time.

We have changed a couple of rules when she returned, no going on the sofa and no going in the kids rooms (we tried this before but it never worked) this time she listened straight away and she hasnt got on the sofa once!

The trainer was great, he worked really hard with her, and the fact that he wasnt emotionally involved really did help, he gave us a programme to follow at home, and we can ring/email anytime for help or advice.

Mia in herself seems so much more grown up, she responds to commands that bit quicker, she looks amazing her coat is really shiny she wasnt stressed by the experience at all, and we are booking her back in for a week later in the year when we go on holiday.

Hope this helps