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There are lots of great benefits to having a well trained dog. Here are five, in no particular order!
The more your dog gets rewarded for performing a task, the more likely they are to repeat it. When faced with a few options, your dog is likely to choose the one they think is going to be the most rewarding. It's your job to make sure the most rewarding choice is the one that you want them to pick!
You need to teach your dog how to behave in the human world - they aren't born understanding our social norms.
Whether in your home or out in public, having a ‘dangerously’ out of control dog is an offence. This is not just limited to your dog attacking someone. It also an offence if someone feels that your dog may hurt them.*
This means it's particularly important to teach your dog calm greetings, and not to jump up at people. If your dog has problems with aggression, please consult a qualified behaviourist.
*Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 amends the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Some dogs are naturally more confident than others, but it is important to maintain and improve the confidence of all dogs. A confident dog is more likely to cope well in novel situations such as going to new places or meeting new dogs.
But how does training help?
Similarly to humans, when dogs do well at something they feel good. But when they fail at something it can have a negative affect. This is why it's always important to set the dog up for success. We want to make it as easy as possible for them to do the right thing!
Set your dog up for success!
If you find yourself avoiding certain places or leaving your dog at home for fear of them misbehaving, then you're not alone. However it does not have to be like this, and nor should it.
Once you've got a happy, confident dog who's readily listening to you, you will be able to explore more places together. The more positive, new experiences your dog has, the more confident they will become.
Dogs don't only need physical exercise, but mental stimulation as well. This can be achieved in a variety of ways including puzzle toys and sniff walks, but training gives them a brain workout whilst also strengthening your relationship.
Learning a new trick can be difficult, so make sure you keep it fun and achievable. Spending time training your dog is a great way to improve your relationship.
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If you need help with any training issues or if you would just like to improve your dog’s basic obedience, why not book a 1-2-1 with Gemma?
