Saturday, September 26, 2009

Why Dog Training is Important for You and Your Dog

By Don De Good

I know I know, you probably think any sort of training will interrupt the wonderful relationship you share with your dog. Sure it does yell rather annoyingly when you take it out on walks, and you do have to lock it up during dinner parties given how it snarls and growls at your friends four year old, but that's all ok, because that's what dogs do right? Ummm... not really. Sorry to burst your bubble but in spite of not being a human being your dog too is expected to be polite. Sure his antics might seem adorable to you, you might think it's cute when he jumps up at neighbors and scratches up doors, but your dog's victims sure as hell wouldn't agree with you.

You may find it difficult to be the one to require obedience from your dog, and I can understand your reservations. Dog ownership does not turn you into a whip cracking tyrant, and it is a worthless thought to think that you are the one who must teach your pet who's in charge.

Your problem is that you have the wrong impression of what dog training really is. When we speak about dog training, we are not telling you to try to teach your dog to become human, to abide by human rules. Training is not an exercise to teach your dog that you are superior. What you are trying to achieve through training your dog, is to improve his approachability in social situations, and enhance the bond that you two already share.

You may be wondering, "How will this truly impact my life with my pet"? This is why it matters! The bulk of our lives are spent at work, drinking our lattes, in front of the computer screen. The limited amount of time we are able to spend with our loved ones and pets is often merged with socializing. On beautiful nights after work we go for a stroll in the nearby park, or down the road to watch the latest blockbuster at our friend's house. When our dogs behave badly, we are hesitant to take them along on these occasions. We proceed to leave our pet at home more and more, until finally, it ceases to be a part of our lives.

Much like us, animals experience feelings of sadness, loneliness, and depression when they feel deprived of attention from you and being left to sit alone in the dark most nights.

Although you may think that training will be unpleasant for your dog, you are creating a much worse scenario for your pet by avoiding it. With training, you will be able to bring your pet along so that you can both enjoy the companionship.

Obedience training is a means of letting your dog cope better with it's immediate environment. It grants every dog an easier life and makes them easier to live with. Training your dog will give you more opportunity to spend more time with your beloved pet, no matter where you are going and who you are going with.

Now is the time to give your pet a pat on the head and go out for your first training session. Simply teaching a few key words such as sit, stay, come, heel, and down, can dramatically change your pet's behavior. You will find that as training progresses, so will your relationship with your favorite companion. The best of luck!

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