All too often people come to us for training after their dog has persisted with a behavior that has been undesirable to them for quite some time. The behavior can be as innocent as pulling on the leash or as severe as biting people. Like most things in life, prevention is the best medicine even when it comes to man’s best friend.
What do you mean I’m not allowed on the couch! Since when?
The most vital message we can to convey to dog owners is the importance of training. A solid foundation can make all the difference in the world for the life you and your dog will have together. Animal shelters and rescues are overflowing with many dogs that never had a chance because we did not give them the direction they needed to become a well-mannered member of the family.
Some would argue the initial cost of care, food, or even from acquiring a dog is too steep to be able to afford training. Take a minute to think about the following questions:
- The time and energy it takes to chase a dog around the house who steals items repeatedly
- What would you do if your dog ate a sock, rocks, or other items that would require emergency surgery to remove?
- What would you do if your dog ran out the door and was hit by a car?
- What would you do if your dog growled at people who entered your home?
- What would you do if your excited dog jumped up on someone and knocked them down?
- Would you ever want to take your dog to hospitals or libraries as a therapy dog?
- Do you want your dog to be invited over to your friend’s and family’s home?
When you consider those possibilities coupled with the average life span of a dog to be a minimum of 8 – 10 years, how can you afford not to train them?
Ultimately, the goal of training should be to guide both dog and master to find a balance in their lives; where the capabilities of the dog and the needs of the family are met with successful results. Fostering the bond between the dog and its pack is vital and therefore should be in the center of that union.
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