We’ve
all encountered them at some point. Ill-mannered
dogs. We’ve even seen their owners yelling
at them, tugging at their leashes trying to make
them behave. What is sad is that you can’t
blame the dog for the owner’s irresponsibility.
This
type of behavior could have been avoided with
obedience training. Obedience trainng is a platform
for the dog and the owner to learn how to effectively
communicate with one another.
Can
you conduct obedience training on your own? This
is a question that has long been debated by the
experts. One school of thought is that it would
be better if a professional does the training,
while others feel the owner can do it if they
feel competent. The truth is that a combination
of trainer and owner is probably the most effective.
Find
an obedience school in your area. You will probably
be told that they recommend a series of lessons
that include both the dog AND the owner. Sometimes
the classes can be arranged where trainer comes
to your home. Some trainers feel that training
where the surroundings are familiar is helpful
where some prefer their own location.
However,
whether the obedience training is done at home,
by a professional trainer, or in an obedience
school, there are things that must be considered
when incorporating this kind of training. Here
is a list of the things that should be taken into
account.
1.
Fun
Obedience
training does not necessarily mean that strict
rules should be imposed. This is because the dog
is not aware of the reasons why he should be trained.
Therefore, for him to respond to the commands,
the training must be done in such a way that the
dog sees the activity as something that is fun.
The
dog should be praised when he exhibits proper
behavior. Some trainers also recommend treats
and some do not. That should be discussed with
your trainer.
2.
Consistency
During
the course of obedience training, it is very important
to have consistency in the training. For example,
if a dog was allowed to sit on the rug the other
day and when the dog tried to sit on the rug today,
he was scolded. Things like this should not be
taken for granted. It is extremely important to
teach the dog what he should and should not do
and stick to it. Confusion will only make the
matters worst.
3.
Obedience training instructor/trainer
When
people choose to enroll their dogs in an obedience
class, it is important to analyze the trainer
before the owner leaves his dog. The character
and personality of the trainer is extremely important.
They should be professional enough to know how
to handle the dog’s behavior and how to
train them properly. Again, you might want to
find a trainer that works with both you AND your
dog.
4.
Referrals
It
is best not to try new and unfamiliar obedience
training schools. This could be really risky both
for you and for your dog. It would be better if
dog owners will ask for some referrals from their
veterinarians, dog breeders, or other people who
can give their honest opinions.
5.
Charges
Not
all obedience training schools are created equal.
They vary depending on the kind of services they
offer. It is best to consider their fees and what
services they offer at that rate. This is one
area where you don’t want to scrimp so cheapest
isn’t always the best. Also, make certain
you are dealing with a trainer that will work
with both you AND your dog.
6.
Methods used in the training
It
is highly recommended that dog owners ask about
the methods being used in the training. Make sure
the terms are spelled out clearly. Shop for the
best training you can find for the money. Don’t
make a decision quickly. If you don’t feel
comfortable with one individual, by all means
keep looking.
There
are some dogs that just seem to follow directions
with little or no effort with never a session
of profession training. Unfortunately, these examples
are few and far between.
Invest
in obedience training and you can look at a long
and healthy relationship with a loving companion.
With obedience training, dogs will surely be on
their way to happier and more enjoyable stay with
their masters and the people around them.
