DOGTV is all about dogs, canine enrichment technology and the human-animal bond. We also know that a well-trained dog is a happier, healthier dog. Why? Because many dogs are surrended because of behavior issues and we know that can be avoided.
Three Things You Didn’t Know About Training Your Dog
I admit that because I have tiny dogs (a toy and a mini poodle) that I assumed, “they don’t need to be trained — they’re so small!) That thinking has gotten me chewed computer cords, uncontrollable barking and not coming when I call. My poodle, Henrietta, who passed away recently didn’t chew anything, but she barked all the time, she was a resource guarder (and I was usually the resource she guarded) and if I called her she would come… if she felt like it.
Thankfully, Henrietta didn’t bark in public — she was amazingly well-behaved. Because she was always on a leash when we were outside, if she didn’t come when I called, I figured I was pretty secure in her not running away.
Now with my rescue poodle, Hazel, who has a lot of fear issues from whatever happened to her before I rescued her and my new eight-week-old poodle, Archie, I want to have them trained. Hazel is learning by watching Archie and Archie is well on the road to being well trained — house training is my first goal!
Here are a few things you may not have considered when it comes to training your pup.
- They enjoy the training. Why? Because they are spending time with you AND they are doing things that earn them praise from you. Our dogs want to please us. If they “sit” when we ask them to and we reward them with a treat or a “good pup!” they are happy.
- Dogs thrive on routine. When you are training your dog or puppy on a schedule a few times a day, he is in a routine and will come to anticipate the training sessions. Whether you’re teaching your pup to walk in a leash, come when called, sit, stay or roll over the repetition of the training is soothing to her.
- It enhances your bond. I used to believe that if I trained my dog, she would “hate me” if I ignored a bad behavior and only praised the good. I know now that she would have welcomed the time we would have spent in training sessions to not have her resource guard, for example. When I work with Hazel and Archie right now, they gaze up into my face and seem to smile at me when I praise them for a job well done.
Here are a few things you may not have known about NOT having trained your pup.
- He could be a menace to society. If you have a dog who is hard to control on a leash he could drag you and hurt you or he could get into a scrape with another dog.
- You may get frustrated with her and surrender her. Don’t let that happen.
- You’re missing out on valuable bonding time.
- Your dog will not be welcome at hotels, campgrounds or your family’s houses on holidays because he may ruin something or bark a lot.
- You won’t be able to take a road trip if your dog isn’t trained to safely ride.
- Your dog’s life could be saved if he is well-trained. If your dog understands and responds to, “drop it” or “come” or “stay” you could literally save his life.
- You won’t have to keep buying new shoes, carpet or furniture because your pup won’t be chewing and destroying them.
What is the first thing you trained your dog to do? Share a photo or video with us on our DOGTV Facebook page or tag us on social media!
If you want a great way to bond with your pup, spend some snuggle time watching a FREE trial of DOGTV!
