Whether you are a new pet owner or you have had a pet in your home for some time, you know how delightful, and frustrating, owning a pet can be.
Bringing home a brand new puppy or full grown dog is a great joy for most people. The relationship between an owner and a dog is like no other. After all, you brought your dog home to enjoy as a pet – Right?
Dogs often provide unconditional love and affection, hours or exercise and entertainment, and real friendship. On the other hand, your dog may create random messes, afternoons of destruction and cleaning, and become a real nuisance!
How do make sure your dog behaves in a manner that is rewarding and enjoyable? If you think your dog’s behavior is based on breed, you are partially correct. Breed does play a role in a dog’s behavior. However the most significant factor is primarily the training your dog receives. Good dog training resources can go a long way toward helping.
The Benefits of Training
Many pet owners don’t account for the time required to train a dog. Most people are very busy and there is never enough time in a day to take care of yourself, let alone a dog! The time invested in training your dog will benefit you and your relationship for years.
There are five main benefits of training:
- It builds a relationship: Your dog is your friend – Right?
- It corrects behavioral problems: Do you want your dog to behave?
- It stimulates intellect: You want a smart dog – Right?
- It encourages inclusion: Do you want your dog to feel included?
- It saves time: Do you like to spend time cleaning or time with your dog?
Let’s dog into each benefit a little bit:
- Training Builds a Relationship.There is no better way to create a bond with your dog than through the process of training. You may think that training begins at the time you decide to try new tricks, but it actually begins at the very moment you acquire your dog. Your dog is constantly watching you and learning from your actions. He learns from the way you react to his actions. He looks to you for guidance, for food, for warmth, for comfort, and for playtime.
- Training Corrects Behavioral Problems. Barking at anyone who passes by the front window, chewing up your favorite pillows, digging through your freshly planted garden, bolting out of an open door…do any of these actions look familiar to you? When you have developed a trusting bond with your dog, you can teach him how to correct these behavioral problems. He will learn by your reactions whether or not his actions are acceptable to you. No doubt, he will test his limits!
- Training Stimulates Intellect.Yes, it is true that dogs are very curious creatures. With exposure to so many unusual smells, sights, and sounds, dogs can’t help but want to explore. It’s in their nature! Most dogs have the capacity to be very intelligent. But, they need to be stimulated first, and then they will be motivated to learn. Training is a huge benefit for stimulating your dog’s intellect.
- Training Encourages Inclusion.The sense of “inclusion” is very important to a dog’s security. From the earliest days of being a part of a litter, your dog feels comfortable being a part of the pack. That includes the pack of your household. You may be the primary dog trainer, but everyone in your family or household should take the time to train your dog. When he receives this undivided attention from everyone, he feels like part of the pack.
- Training Saves Time. Another huge benefit of training your dog is that it saves you time. Taking the time to train your dog now, will actually save you time in the long run. For example, if you take the time to train your dog to behave properly inside the house, you will actually be saving time cleaning up mischievous messes that he could create in the future-if he didn’t have the training.
For more dog training help and advice visit the DIY Dog Training Website.
