Thursday, February 6, 2014

Obedience Training For A Happier Dog & Owner

By Garrett McMahan


Obedience training is an excellent way to ensure that your dog is a happy, healthy and safe pet, but people often take a negative view of obedience because they don't wish to be harsh with their animal companion. The truth is that dog obedience training actually improves the bond between you and your pet and you'll enjoy your pet a great deal more if they are well-trained. If you are not convinced, read on and discover the reasons why training is an essential part of owning a dog.

The exuberance and joy of a dog is a wonderful thing to behold, and their playful spirit and loyalty are reasons why we enjoying having these animals as our companion. However, without training, even the sweetest-tempered dog can showcase unacceptable traits such as excessive barking, jumping on people and even chewing up items in your home. With proper training, you can eliminate these problems which will allow you to truly enjoy every minute you spend with your dog.

Aside from breaking bad habits, your pet's safety is one of the biggest reasons why training is essential. Your dog should follow basic commands such as sitting, staying and coming to you when told. The dog also needs to obey these commands in a variety of situations. Imagine if you are at the park and your dog somehow becomes separated from you. If he is well trained, all you must do is tell him to come to you, sit and stay. Otherwise he could get hurt by another dog or even run out into a busy street.

Obedience needs to be something your dog can do in variety of scenarios. It's easy for a dog to remember to sit and stay when you are in your living room or backyard, but it's harder yet more essential for them to obey you at the park or while on a walk. They need to be able to obey even with a variety of distractions. Not only does this keep them safe, it also makes them a better companion in general. Perhaps your dog's barking or inability to sit and stay means you have to leave him behind when you go to the park or to a family party. A well-behaved dog can be taken to many more places than a troublesome animal. Keep in mind that dogs truly hate to be separated from their owners, so they are always happier if they can come along with you.

One of the reasons why people resist obedience training is that they don't wish to be harsh with an animal or dominate over it. Certainly, we never want to be cruel to any animal, but dogs need structure and this actually makes them happier. After all, the pack instinct still thrives within dogs and packs always have a leader. In your family, your dog looks to you as a leader and will follow your commands happily. A dog that knows what to do and what you expect is a more content animal. They love to please, and what could be more pleasing than a happy, obedient dog?

Too often people choose a dog training program that doesn't address all of their needs or perhaps promises to have your dog trained in less than a week. You need to select a training program that includes a huge variety of basic skills, including walking on a loose leash, sitting, staying and coming on command. They also need to learn how to stay quiet and stay down for an extended period of time. You also want to be able to accomplish this training without having to yell or constantly provide treats, and this takes some time and some patience. A DVD course, such as The Dog's Way, can be an excellent method to achieve all of these goals and get the most out of this special relationship.




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