Symbio Dog Training

Important reminder when choosing a Board & Train ⚠️

I need to say this, not as a sales pitch, but as someone who genuinely cares about dogs and their people.

There has been a disturbing increase in serious neglect, abuse, and even felony cases tied to board & train programs across the country. Dogs being left crated for days, injured, lost, or worse…often by trainers who were never properly vetted.

Please do your homework before sending your dog anywhere.

Even if you never work with me, I want you to be safe and informed.

Before enrolling in a board & train, ask:
• Where will my dog live and train (home vs kennel)?
• How many dogs are there at one time?
• What credentials, experience, and references does the trainer have?
• Can I see the space?
• What does daily structure actually look like?
• How is transparency and communication handled?
• Is there a written contract, liability coverage, and clear policies?

If a trainer:
🚩 won’t let you see where your dog stays
🚩 avoids questions
🚩 has no paper trail, insurance, or clear agreements
🚩 promises “guaranteed results” without nuance

…please pause.

Your dog cannot advocate for themselves. You are their safety net.

This industry is largely unregulated, which means the responsibility falls on owners to ask hard questions. A good trainer will welcome them.

Whether you choose Symbio Dog Training or someone else entirely. Please choose carefully. Your dog deserves nothing less. 💜🩵

As much as I love dogs, please remember that Symbio Dog Training is not a rescue. Every year around this time, I get an overwhelming number of messages asking me to take in or rehome dogs…especially German Shepherds and Malinois.

While I do occasionally foster, that is separate from my training business. I do not have the time, space, or financial resources to take on additional dogs outside of my own family and training clients.

👉 For those needing rehoming assistance, I have compiled a list of rescue resources on my website [https://www.symbiodogtraining.com/for-rescue-organizations] that you can contact directly for potential intake.

I kindly ask that you respect these boundaries and refrain from using statements such as “or he’s going to the shelter” to try to get us to move forward. Maintaining these boundaries allows me to remain focused on my own dogs, my clients, and the training services I provide.

Thank you for understanding. 💜