The Benefits of Dog Training You Might Never Have Thought Were Possible

Making sure that dogs are properly trained isn’t just about teaching them to obey commands. Dog training also provides a number of important benefits that go beyond basic obedience, especially when dogs and owners receive guidance from a professional dog trainer. These are some of the advantages you can expect when your dogs have proper training.

Improved Safety for Your Dog

Dogs that know how to listen to commands such as “stay” or return to you on command have a lower risk of running off and being hurt. Whether you’re walking your dog down the streets of your Chicago neighborhood or visiting a local dog park, you don’t have to worry about your dog suddenly taking off and possibly getting into trouble or getting hurt. If your dog does start to run off or approach something dangerous, you can give the appropriate command to have her return to your side or stop where she is until you reach her.

Stronger Bond

Taking the time to train dogs help strengthen the bond you have with them, as long as you maintain a positive atmosphere. You’ll find that you will also end up learning more about a dog’s personality when you work on teaching them to follow commands. This can help you understand your dog more, which makes it easier to adapt training as needed. For example, you’ll know that you need to be more patient and allow for more training time if you have a dog who doesn’t learn as quickly as others or a dog who is easily distracted.

More Social Opportunities

When you have dogs that are well-trained, you’ll be more willing to bring them to your local dog park or take them out in public. You won’t have to worry about them embarrassing you or upsetting others with poor behavior. This means that you and your dogs will be able to enjoy more social interactions with others.

These are just a few of the extra benefits that come with dog training. Keep in mind that undergoing training provides several other advantages for both you and your dog.

Basic Dog Training Tips

One of the most important responsibilities of having dogs is making sure they’re trained. When your dogs have gone through obedience training, they’re more fun and less stressful to be around. You don’t have to worry about them running off on you or jumping up on other people. When you’re ready to begin dog training, the following tips can help you out.

Build a Positive Association

How can you train dogs to obey commands like “sit” or “stay?” One of the most effective ways to do so is by setting up a positive association between verbal commands or hand signals and the correct behavior on your dog’s part. When dogs follow the commands you give, offering them a reward right away builds up positive reinforcement. This makes them more likely to repeat the correct behavior the next time you give the same command. Rewards can be in the form of treats or praise.

Stick to a Routine

When you work on dog training, make sure that you’re being consistent when teaching your dogs a certain command. Don’t use different words or hand signals for the same command, or your dogs will end up being confused and not knowing what to do. Try to use the same tone of voice as well if you’re using verbal commands. Being consistent makes it easier for dogs to learn to follow commands.

Ignore Negative Attention Seeking Behavior

If dogs do things they’re not supposed to in order to get your attention, such as jumping on you or barking excessively at you, be careful with the way you respond. Giving dogs any kind of attention, even if it’s negative attention such as a stern reprimand, reinforces the unwanted behavior. Instead of giving them attention, turn away from them and wait for them to settle down.

Practice Patience

Dog training isn’t something that takes place quickly. Think of it as an ongoing process instead, and learn to be patient with your dogs. Staying patient helps them stay calm and prevents training sessions from becoming stressful, which can help dogs learn to follow commands faster.

Dog Training is as important for you as it is for your dog.

There’s no doubt that dog training is an important part of a dog’s life. Learning to follow commands makes dogs less likely to cause trouble with their owners or with other people and pets. However, training is beneficial for dog owners as well. These are some of the reasons why obedience training is just as important for you as it is for your dog.

Reduces Stress

Pets bring a lot of joy to our lives, but untrained ones can be stressful to deal with on a regular basis. When you have a trained dog in your home, you don’t have to be concerned about facing behavioral problems, such as inappropriate elimination, excessive barking, jumping or other issues. Dogs who have been through training are generally calmer and easier to deal with than dogs who have not been trained. This can help you enjoy your pet’s company even more without having to find ways to ease pet related stress.

Encourages Social Interaction

When you have a poorly trained dog or a dog who has not had any training, you might find that you’re reluctant to go out in public much with your pet. This might mean limiting walks to short ones in areas where you’re less likely to run into other people or pets. When you have a dog who has been trained, you can count on having more pleasant social interactions with others. This can encourage you to bring your dog out in public more, whether that means going for longer walks in busier areas or heading to dog parks.

Keeps Your Dog Safe

One of the biggest reasons for dog training being important for dog owners is that it helps keep their pets safe. When your dog knows how to obey commands, you don’t have as much to worry about when it comes to potential dangers. For example, if your dog dashes into the street, you can call him back with a command, so he won’t get hurt. Knowing that your dog is safer provides you with more peace of mind as a dog owner.