Dog obedience classes allow pet owners to train their dogs to prevent or change bad behavior problems. Proper obedience training helps establish good communication between a dog and its owner.
Most dog obedience classes are geared towards training both puppies and older dogs to act appropriately in the right place at the right time.
Obedience classes have been proven to be the most beneficial when dogs are trained at an early age. Puppies as young as eight weeks are often trained in groups to help them learn socialization skills and friendliness.
Before registering your pet for obedience training, you need to know what to look for when choosing a dog obedience class:
Find out how large the class sizes are to make sure your dog will receive the proper amount of attention.
Both puppy classes and classes for older dogs should train your pet to obey commands, learn to stay when told, and demonstrate appropriate social behavior when around strangers.
Your dog will be coming in contact with many other dogs during the training, so it’s important to look for classes or schools that require each dog to have a record of their medical health. This will reduce the risk of exposing your dog to diseases that other dogs may carry.
You should ask to see the credentials of the dog trainers or obedience class instructors; or if that is not possible, ask for a list of satisfied clients willing to talk about their experiences. If the school or class refuses to provide that information, it’s a warning sign that you need to look further before deciding. The most reliable recommendations for the best dog obedience classes come from friends and other dog owners.
If the school or class offers boarding facilities for dogs in training, be sure to ask if they are able and willing to administer medications or provide special diets if needed.
Schedule a visit to the class or school before you commit to registering. Check the school’s list of activities to be sure there is a variety of activities designed to reinforce any behavioral issues your dog may have.
Some trainers will conduct dog obedience classes in your home. This can be beneficial if your dog needs to overcome bad behaviors, is too aggressive, or does not get along well with other dogs. If your pet is exhibiting very aggressive behavior towards other animals or humans, you should look for a personalized training course designed to deal with specific behavior problems.
Should you decide to train your dog on your own be sure to include the following goals:
Train your dog to walk while obeying commands.
Don’t let it tug at the leash.
Train it to meet and greet visitors without jumping on them.
Learn how to deal with and stop aggressive behavior.
Learn how to establish effective and specific communication between you and your dog.
It was long believed that puppies were too young to be trained. That belief has been replaced with solid evidence that puppies 10 weeks of age can be taught to obey certain commands. If your pet is still a puppy, now would be an ideal time to start dog obedience classes, whether at a school, a private class, or at home.
A well-behaved pet is a wonderful companion.