Will boarding make your dog's anxiety worse? Our findings...

Hey there,

Let me address something I hear from worried dog parents all the time:

“My dog has separation anxiety. Won’t boarding make it worse?”

It’s a completely valid concern. And the answer isn’t as simple as yes or no.

The truth? It depends entirely on the experience your dog has while they’re away from you.

The Wrong Environment Can Make Anxiety Worse

Let’s be honest about what happens in some facilities:
• Dogs with poor social skills bullying the anxious ones
• Constant barking that stresses out everyone in the building

• Different staff members enforcing different rules
  • Bad and even scary social experiences
  • Little to no personalized attention

In this scenario? Yes, your anxious dog will likely come home worse than before.

Their fears were confirmed: “The world IS scary when my person isn’t here!”

But The Right Environment Can Transform Your Dog

Here’s what happens at our facility:
• Every dog interaction is carefully supervised by trained staff
• Only socially appropriate dogs are allowed to interact with yours
• All staff follow the same protocols and rules
• Your dog follows a predictable, comforting daily routine
• Your dog builds a trusting relationship with our team

The result? Your dog experiences something profound:

“I was worried… but then nothing bad happened. In fact, I had fun!”

What Transformation Looks Like

Take Bella, a Border Collie mix who would literally destroy doors when left alone. Her mom was terrified to leave her anywhere.

After her first weekend with us, Bella was still anxious. But by her third stay, something remarkable happened.

When her mom came to pick her up, Bella was happily playing with her trainer. She greeted her mom with joy, but wasn’t frantically desperate like before.

Two months later, her mom reported Bella could now stay home alone for 4 hours without issue – something that seemed impossible before.

Why Our Approach Works

We don’t just “manage” anxious dogs – we actively build their confidence through:

1. Consistent, predictable routines that lead to confidence
2. Positive social experiences because your dog’s boundaries get respected
3. Confidence-building training exercises throughout the day (with our Deluxe add on services)
4. Gradually increasing independence at a pace your dog can handle
5. Staff trained specifically in anxiety reduction techniques

The secret is that separation anxiety often stems from insecurity and unpredictability. By creating a predictable routine and experience, your dog learns that being away from you can actually be enjoyable.

From “Anxious Mess” to “Independent Dog”

Dogs who once couldn’t be left alone for 5 minutes gradually transform into confident companions who learn to enjoy being away from mom or dad.

Try Us Once – See The Difference

If you’ve been hesitant to board your anxious dog, I completely understand.

That’s why we offer an “Assessment Day” where you can see how your dog responds to our environment before committing to a longer stay.

Your dog will spend a full day with us AND we include a free 30 minute session with one of our trainers at the end. So you can get all your questions answered by a professional trainer.

Ready to help your dog overcome their fears?

Text “Assessment Day” to 801-613-1364 or email it to info@trainwalkpoop.com to schedule your dog’s Assessment Day.

To braver, happier dogs,

Ryan

P.S. We’re picky about which dogs we accept because maintaining the right environment is crucial. If for any reason we feel our facility isn’t the right fit for your dog’s specific needs, we’ll be honest with you and suggest alternatives. Your dog’s wellbeing always comes first.