Fresh Start Pet Coaching

Rusty is approaching 6 months of age and Torchy is about 8 months. Torchy is already in training, learning basic manners and becoming a stellar Frisbee dog. Rusty will begin training sometime this week. If fact, you will be able to follow along with Rusty’s training program with your own dog in our 10 minute a day training program beginning 1/4/10.

As I watch these dogs grow and learn I am amazed at the capability of dogs. Torchy is an energetic, active Frisbee dog. And even though he is extremely high energy and had no concept of manners initially. He is becoming a well behaved part of the family. Rusty is extremely smart and exuberant dog. I really do love his enthusiasm and his love of life. He has already picked up on some basic commands like sit just by watching his adopted brother Torchy.

As I begin to develop Rusty’s training program I have asked myself the question of why it is so important to train your dog.

What benefit does training your dog really have?

The reality is, we couldn’t live with Torchy and Rusty without teaching them basic manners and house rules. They are both very high energy dogs and they would drive us nuts. The jump, run, play, chew, and bark. But because we are teaching them how to behave in a human family, they are learning to contain their impulses and obey the rules.

Here are the top 5 benefits to training your dog.

1. Your dog learns boundaries. The number one reason to train your dog is to teach your dog what is and is not acceptable in your household. Is he allowed to jump up on people or sit on the sofa? Is barking allowed in the house or is that something that is limited to outdoor times? These are all things that your dog will learn as you train him and teach him to respond to your commands.

2. Training increases communication. Depending on the type of dog you own, your dog has the potential to learn up to several hundred words. And since we humans don’t speak dog very well, it’s important that your dog develop a basic human vocabulary. Teach your dog that sit = butt on floor really does come in handy in a variety of circumstances, such as when you walk in the door carrying an armful of groceries and you don’t want your dog jumping up and knocking you over.

3. Training prevents some behavior problems. Several scientific studies have found that training your dog in basic manners and house rules is associated with a lower occurrence of unwanted behavior. You can keep your dog from becoming unruly and out of control by establishing boundaries from the beginning and opening the lines of communication by teaching your pup basic commands like sit, down, and stay.

4. Training could save your dogs life. Imagine this, your dog takes off after a squirrel (ball, cat, other dog, etc) and is headed right for a busy street. But because you have worked consistently with your dog on responding to commands, even in areas filled with distractions, your dog reluctantly ends the chase and heads your way when you issue the command to come. The reality is that there are situations where training can mean the difference between life and death to your dog.

5. Training strengthens the bond between you and your dog. In my professional opinion, this is the most important benefit to dog training. It really does strengthen the bond that you and your dog have with each other. You are spending quality time with each other with out interruption by your busy life. You are learning to understand each other and communicate effectively which is the key to any healthy relationship.

Remember that training should be a fun activity that you and your dog enjoy, if it’s not you may need to change your approach. If you are having difficulty training your dog or if you feel that your dog has become so unruly that you don’t know what to do, contact us today to set up your complimentary 15 minute telephone consultation