If you are a dog owner,
or are contemplating becoming a dog owner, you may well want
to give some serious thought to obedience training for your
pet. The benefits gained, both for you and your dog, from a
course of obedience training, are all positive. Any
investment you may make, whether in time or money, will be a
worthwhile one. There are many reasons to place a dog in an
obedience training class. For one, you may need to regain
control over your pet as he has become used to having his
own way and is in need of character development. Five of the
main benefits that can be obtained from obedience training a
dog are as follows:
Dog obedience training establishes a line of good
communication between a dog and his owner. It provides a
language foundation that both a dog and his owner
understand. Basic commands are learned, such as "sit" and
"stay" and a dog will learn to respond to them
appropriately. An important part of the training will teach
an owner to read a dog’s body language. A dog will
appreciate knowing that his owner can communicate
effectively with him and it will help to avoid confusion. A
new bond is beginning to develop between them.
Dog obedience training exercises a dog’s mind and improves
on the dog’s innate intelligence. Physical activity is very
important for a dog’s wellbeing but dog obedience training
is another way of providing a mental challenge. The job of
trying to understand what behavior you expect of him when
you give a command is a way of getting his mind to work.
Most dogs enjoy this activity and readily want to engage in
more learning. This makes training a pleasure for both owner
and dog as an enthusiastic learner is a fast learner.
Dog obedience training gives a dog a sense of purpose. If
you own a dog from one of the working breeds, obedience
training will teach a dog to do his job well. Working dogs
have a lot of intelligence and energy, and if not trained
properly will not know how to channel their energies
appropriately. Working dogs that are unable to dissipate
their energies tend to become destructive and behave badly.
These dogs need a sense of purpose, so it would be sensible
move to invest in dog obedience training for the sake of the
sanity of you both.
Another added benefit of dog obedience training is that it
puts you in the leadership role. Dogs instinctively need to
belong to a pack, and you and your family become the pack of
choice for your dog. Within the pack, each member has a
specific role, preferably with humans as the leaders. Some
dogs find it difficult accepting their owners as the
leaders, and dog obedience training is the perfect way of
establishing that fact. A good dog trainer will show you how
to assert yourself in a gentle but authoritative way that a
dog will understand and accept. As long as you maintain the
authority you have learned, you should have no difficulty
with your dog remembering his place in the pack.
Dog obedience training creates mutual respect. As in any
relationship, you and your dog need to have respect for one
another. When you participate with you dog in obedience
training the respect which is fundamental to your
relationship begins to grow and mature. You both learn to
communicate not only with words but with body language. This
is the foundation for a lifelong friendship that both you
and your dog will find rewarding. You will find that if your
dog respects you, he will obey your commands and will submit
to you as his leader. If you respect him, you will be
sensitive to his needs and will take care of him the way he
needs wants to be taken care of.
Dog obedience training can take on many forms, and you will
find a style that suits your needs and personality. What
will work for one owner and dog will not necessarily work
for another. It may take a couple of tries to find the
perfect one, but it is worth the time and effort. You may
find your dog responds better to a whistle or a clicker than
to verbal commands. Or you may find that a dog whisperer
will work wonders for the two of you. Some dogs do well in a
group setting and others like one on one training better.
Observe your dog closely and you will soon understand his
learning style.
It is a pleasure to be around a well trained dog. Your
friends and guests will be more comfortable around your dog,
as they won’t be jumped on or barked at. You will have more
peace of mind knowing that your dog listens to your commands
when you give them. Both you and your dog will be much
happier.
