Dog Training
Dog training teachers canines and their owners how to communicate with one another. Through training, dogs learn to understand various verbal and non-verbal cues and respond to these cues with an appropriate behaviour. Whether you want Rover to bring back the frisbee you throw, or to stop jumping on guests when they arrive, you're going to need some form of dog training to accomplish these goals.
Twenty or thirty years ago dog training was primarily for the working dog. These were dogs that helped in our daily lives with things like hunting, herding animals and guarding our property. Today, dogs can often be seen helping the visually impaired, assisting with police searches or jumping through hoops at a local dog show.
As more people decide to keep dogs as pets, dog training is also focussing on getting control of your dog. This may involve training the dog to be properly socialized around other dogs or small children, quieting an outside dog's noisy barking, or preventing an inside dog from ripping up the furniture. Dog training can also focus on a dog's emotional needs; teaching owners how to calm down an aggressive dog, helping dog's adjust to having a new baby or pet in the house, or reducing the dog's loneliness while its owner is away from home.
Most people start out by training their dog on their own. To do so you will need a few items like a dog training collar and dog treats to offer as a reward. For those who aren't quite sure where to begin, there are a variety of dog training manuals and instructional videos available, some are even tailored to certain breeds of dogs. Many dog experts also post training tips online or host forums where dog owners can discuss their training strategies together.
Training classes are offered in many communities through local pet organizations or community centres. Your vet or the phone book can probably direct you towards classes in your area. There, a teacher helps dog owners to work one-on-one with their pet. Often the entire family is encouraged to attend these courses, making dog training a family activity where children and parents can both learn positive ways to bond with the new canine in their lives. Professional dog trainers are also available to handle the training process and can assist with difficult dogs or ones that need to be taught specific or complicated behaviours.
Whether your choose to use a training manual, take a class, or employ a professional trainer, it's important to ensure you're comfortable with the method of teaching that will be used. Understand how the dog will be rewarded and punished during the training process. Talk to instructors, trainers and even the veterinarian about your dog's health problems or anything else that you feel may impede training. Find out what special skills your breed may possess and which activities it may have trouble mastering. After all, there's a reason why pit bulls are more likely to be trained as guard dogs than terriers, or why golden retrievers make better guide dog's than dalmatians.