Most people think of obedience training as something reserved for people who are novice dog owners or for dogs who have “issues” that need to be resolved. The truth is that there is no better way to improve communication and “bonding” between a dog and owner.
Whether the training class is held as a “group class” with multiple dog and handler teams or as a private one-on-one sessions with a trainer, the idea is the same – to teach the owner how to communicate effectively with their dog. This education can last a lifetime. It takes a commitment of time and effort, of course – it is not only the weekly hour-long session, but also doing the “homework” assigned by the instructor that the handler must practice with the dog on a daily basis in-between formal training sessions.
There are other options available to dog owners with less time to work with their dogs – “day school” or “boarding school” are great alternatives for today’s busy family. The dog goes to “school” daily, or stays at the training facility for a set amount of time, in order to be worked throughout the day by a professional trainer. Most programs have several levels of training – from the most basic to very advanced off-lead training. Once the program is completed, the owner is brought in on private sessions to teach them how to work their dog properly and maintain the positive behaviors the dog has learned in school.
One of the biggest benefits of obedience training, is that you often prevent unwanted common behavior problems from ever happening in the first place. A dog who is well-behaved is not going to “bolt” out the front door – they are going to come when you call them – and they are going to be confident in the relationship they have with their family. It is a pleasure to be able to go for a walk in the park with a dog who is not pulling you down the trail or jumping on people. And if these behaviors start to happen, you have the tools to be able to correct the problem before it gets out of hand.
So, go ahead, get with the “program” and get your dog into one of the training programs here at Shelly’s School for Dogs. Set up an appointment with one of Shelly’s skilled professionals for a free evaluation and figure out what program is going to work best for you and your dog. And once the program is finished,
you can proudly show off your newly trained best friend – and enjoy the worthwhile investment you’ve made.
