Why should I train my dog?

There are many people who get a dog and just expect it to know what to do. Afterall, dog is man’s best friend, right? This unfortunate assumption leads to frustrated owners and sometimes to dogs being relinquished to shelters.

Reason #1 – To establish communication with your dog

Just as you might have to learn all the nuances of the rules and etiquette at a new job, so does your dog need to learn what is expected of him in his household. The dog has it even harder because he is not born with the ability to understand spoken language.

Reason #2 – To give your dog mental stimulation

Dogs who live in the confines of our households and yards get much less exercise and stimulation than dogs running at large. Besides getting a daily walk, a dog needs to use his brain in challenging activities that you present to him.

Reason #3 – To redirect a dog’s focus from undesirable behavior

If your dog is destructive, excessively barking or acting nervous or aggressive then you can train him to do something else that is incompatible with the undesired behavior.

Reason #4 – To keep your dog out of the shelter

One can easily get frustrated when a dog seems to have an incurable behavior problem. A trainer can guide and support you through your dog’s rehabilitation so that he may remain a permanent member of your family for his entire lifetime.

Please visit our Training Guide pages to learn more about training your dog.

Janine Allen

Dog Trainer

Tags: dog rescue, man's best friend, rescue me dog, shelter dog, training guide, why should I train my dog