I'm considering placing my 7 month old dogo argentino with a board and train program for 30 days.
Does anyone have an opinion on whether or not this is a usefull technique verse group obedience class?
She definatley needs training. I would just like what is best for her future. Thanks in advance for all comments regarding this subject. b

Do you have the time to train the dog yourself or go to a group obedience class? If you do, I would do that instead of sending your dog away to "boot camp" (aka training) unless your going to be there and assisting and learning with the training. JMHO.
You could order a couple of Leerburg training videos-they really do help, trust me. Here are the ones to start with:
-http://leerburg.com//120.htm
-http://leerburg.com//302.htm
-http://leerburg.com//318.htm
and possibly for the future(considering the Dogo Argentino's history/background size and first uses as game hunting and dog fighting dogs:
-http://leerburg.com//301.htm

Hope this helps you out, Brady. And good luck!

I really don't like it when dogs are boarded for training. I consider it a lazy way out. Training is supposed to be a bonding experience between handler and dog. If someone else trains the dog, usually it is not with the same care you would with your own dog, and the dog learns to listen to the trainer, but does not guarantee that the dog will listen to you when you get the dog back.

It is far better to train your own dog than to say bye bye to Fluffy and miss your dog for a month when it is very simple to learn to do yourself.

If you enjoy your dog, I just don't see an upside to it.

At best, someone else spends the time building a bond with YOUR dog through proper training.

At worst, someone else spends time demoralizing a dog with poor training, so you get back a dog which sits, downs, and comes...but doesn't enjoy it.

Furthermore, the mechanics of training obedience stuff is rather simple. To keep the dog fresh, you'll have to do maintenance training to some degree by yourself for the remainder of his life anyway.

Furthermore still, group obedience class is not the only other option. In fact, I don't get the group training thing. I'm new to this too, and upon going to a training club of my own, I realized the you aren't actually "training" there. You may have a trainer there to help trouble shoot, and tell you what to do, but ain't nothing actually getting accomplished in an hour once per week.

Yet furthermore, from what it sounds like you're implying, I get the feeling that it's not just conditioning to commands you're interested in. Got a high energy little puppy on yer hands do ya?

Check out the following:

The basic obedience DVD sold here
Cesar Millans book (not sure if it's sold here).

It's a potent one-two punch.

I don't think it's a good idea to send a dog out to be boarded and trained. This is a time the puppy needs to be continually bonding with you.Training her yourself contributes to that bonding and is far more rewarding than having someone else do it for you.

You really have no idea how she will be treated and trained, no matter what they tell you. There are horror stories of how dogs come back home completely different, not the same dog the owner sent away. Shy, reserved, afraid...anything can happen in one day, much more in one month.

You should instead consider getting Ed Frawley's Basic Obedience DVD http://www.leerburg.com/302.htm and enjoy working with your dog yourself. Once she knows basic commands well, a group class can serve to provide distractions to further her ability to listen and do even with distractions around. I personally would rather not do a group class.

There's a book that several of us just got and I can't say enough good things about it. Even if you're not going to do Schutzhund, the training foundation described in detail is well worth reading and using for the benefit of your dog. There's several chapters on different commands that may be useful to you, even though like I said you may not go into competition. http://www.leerburg.com/925.htm

Several other training books that Ed Frawley of Leerburg recommends are on this site: http://www.leerburg.com/books.htm

You might be interested in starting clicker training, a couple of those books are listed on that site as well.

My decision on board and train has some ground. First, I have two small nieces visiting and my dogo is not familiar with small children. So, I would board her. While considering the boarding option, which is quite expensive, I might as well start a serious training regimen. I plan on continuing the training after her "boot camp". Hopefully using commands that have been used for the last thirty days.
On the other hand. I feel guilty having my dogo trained by someone else. But, I am aware of service dogs that have training and love their new owners just as much.
I'm still thinking, so thank you so far for the comments.

Many sport hunters send their older pups out for extended periods of time for field training. This is one of the reasons trainers exist! If you are not interested in training her yourself or don't have the time, I see nothing wrong with this option. The thing is you have to really do your homework and make sure you are sending the dog to someone who will not only train your dog, but care for her.

Brady,
It sounds to me like you need to socialize your dog. Why not use the chance with your neices to let the dog see and hear children? Has the dog been aggressive or something? Do you have a crate? Boarding the dog just because you have people visiting says a lot.
AL

I have had her around some people but she is getting bigger and a little too curious. I would love to socialize her but I need to start with someone who is familiar with larger dogs and not nervous.
She has also started to jump and nip out of excitement. Not aggressively, more inquisitive.
I myself may be a little gun shy too. My Rottweiler, who has since passed, bit someone once out of fear. I never want to experience this again.
Before buying my dogo, I researched her breed extensively. Breeders as well. She has excellent potential. I guess maybe I need someone to get me back on the horse again and the trainer may be a good option for me as well as the dog.
With regards to price, the trainer is priced somewhere around 1900 to 2500 for the time.

The dog is 7 months old, just a pup. If you avoid situations that you don't feel like dealing with you'll lose tons of good opportunitys to socialize/train your pup.I had company over yesterday and i used the chance to socialize my 6 month old, excellent opportunity that i took advantage of! I would never leave one of my dogs with someone else to train, not in a million years. Read the articles on this site and order the ob video and start having fun training, basic obedience is really easy and fun, motivation is the key!