Did you know that 53.1% of dog owners have never been to a formal dog training class; I must admit these figures surprise me but it does beg the question, do we really NEED to train our dogs?
Confession time…. my Golden Oldie, Leo, recently turned 14years and he has NEVER had formal training or been to a training class. Leo was my first dog in my own home, he joined us as a 2.5year old and as a youthful 21year old (let’s forget the maths) I didn’t know much about dog training. Truth is, despite a tough puppyhood, he was easy! Apart from a dodgy recall around the ladies in his younger days he never put a foot wrong; always happy, calm, gentle, loves everyone he meets. Maybe we just got lucky, very lucky. But like 90% of dog owners, the only command he knows is sit!
Fast forward 12 years and I firmly believe that a well trained dog is a happy dog. By well trained I don’t mean that your dog needs to win agility at Crufts but that they should have enough training to allow them to feel content and lead a happy life. I’m now enjoying experiencing puppy parenting for the very first time, Dave, our Lab, is now 9months old and he is a pretty chilled out, well behaved puppy. Despite my day job, we attend training classes to give us the quality time to train together and have feedback from a trainer; being so involved I don’t always see our mistakes. Don’t get me wrong he certainly has some faults but in general he’s a good dog…. Is that down to training?
So WHY train your dog?
A trained dog generally has more walks because the owner isn’t being pulled down the road or even into the road! Trained dogs have more freedom to run, chase and play whilst on their walks because they’ve been trained to come back when called so their owner has the confidence to let them off the lead. Trained dogs generally have more interaction and love from their family and visitors because they don’t jump up, knock people over, bark at them or chew their slippers!
Most owners only seek the support of a trainer when they are experiencing problems with their dog’s behaviour but prevention is better than cure. Attending a puppy or dog training class helps set you and your puppy up for success and will help to make them happier and calmer before learning the bad habits.
Socialising with other dogs and humans - A good dog trainer will help you to ensure you provide quality socialisation and lots of pleasant experiences for your dog. Socialisation is ongoing but is most beneficial when carried out from birth to approximately 18months of age as this young age is when your dog experiences fear periods which can affect them for the rest of their life.
Your dog will make friends (and so will you!) - Training classes should be relaxed and fairly informal so you can chat and make friends with the other owners, the other dogs and your trainer.
Having support and guidance - Having a dog in your life is amazing but it’s also a tough journey; with nipping, weeing, chewing and barking. Being part of a training class means you have the support of your fellow class members (who have probably had similar problems) and the ongoing guidance of your trainer.
Building a relationship - Like a friendship, partnership or marriage takes time to grow and become successful; so does the relationship between you and your dog. Spending quality time with your dog will improve your relationship, help you to understand each other and create the ultimate bond most dog parents crave.
Having FUN - Like most things in life; dog training should be FUN. No one enjoys being bored and that is certainly true for your dog. Dogs love to have fun; training provides the best results if it’s FUN!
Potter Paws is a dog training school in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and our training classes run throughout the year and there are plenty of different courses to choose from. So if you’re looking for a fun and friendly dog training class, come and try us out!