The Importance of Obedience Training for Your Dog

Dogs are truly man's best friend and can transform your life offering you unconditional love and great companionship. That being said, a dog that isn't well trained can be a potential disaster waiting to happen and this is why it's crucial that as a responsible dog owner you make sure your dog receives obedience training at an early age.

There are many different options you can choose from when deciding on starting your dog with some obedience training. Some dog owners prefer to train their dogs themselves. You can opt to do this if you have some experience in dog handling and training. Others prefer enlisting the services of a professional in their dog's training. This is usually done by taking your dog to an obedience school and enrolling him in classes.

Some obedience schools offer daily classes while others will keep your dog boarded at their facility while they train him. Whichever option you choose, your dog will greatly benefit from obedience training. Obedience training teaches your dog many social skills as well as basic commands such as sit, stay and walking on a leash properly. Good obedience training will teach your dog how to behave properly around people and other dogs and some obedience schools may help address problems in dogs such as barking, destructive chewing, house training and aggression.

There are several levels of obedience training and once your dog has completed his basic training you may decide to enter him in more advanced training classes. Advanced classes usually focus on certain specializations such as eye dog training, livestock herding or search and rescue training. Some classes are held for certain breeds of dogs.

The most important part of any obedience training whether you do it yourself or not, is that the dog is handled with kindness and care. Building a relationship based on trust with the dog is vital if training is to be successful. Dogs love to please someone they respect and trust and attempting to train a dog using harsh or cruel techniques will only result in a fearful or aggressive dog. Praise and rewards should be used as training tools instead of reprimands and punishment. Dogs respond better to rewards than harsh corrections. A strong voice or quick tug of the leash should be enough to make the dog understand that a certain behavior is unwanted.

Many books and websites offer a wealth of information about training techniques. Your veterinarian should also be able to recommend some resources for you if you would like to research different training methods.

When choosing an obedience training school for your dog, try to pick one that allows you to attend with your dog. Working with your dog will strengthen the bond between you and will help you understand your dog better. If you choose to send your dog to an obedience school where he'll stay for training, always make sure you research the facility properly and ask around for word of mouth recommendations. Ask for references and don't be shy to ask about the training methods used at the facility. Do your homework properly about the place before sending your dog off for training. Sending your dog to a disreputable obedience training facility could cause irreparable harm to your dog's mental and physical wellbeing.

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