Nov
11
Dog Training Advice That Works for Your Dog And You
November 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment
If you’ve got a dog and you don’t have the energy, time or patience to train him yourself, you may want to hire a trainer. This is an activity that requires a lot of all three qualities, if you want to have a safe, happy, well-adjusted dog and be happy yourself, too.
When it comes to hiring a trainer, quality and cost are going to vary as with any profession. Training philosophies are also probably going to differ significantly depending on the trainer, too, especially because it involves interacting with animals. Therefore, take the following things into consideration as you make your selection.
Take a look at your budget and what you need in terms of obedience training services. In some cases, training may even be free, supplied weekly by volunteers who work in shelters or parks. In other cases, you may pay up to $100 or more per session. A “reasonable fee” will vary, depending on where you live, the trainer’s experience, how long the program is, and what goals you have for your pet.
Take a look at your schedule. Some training programs happen every week, while others happen more often. Some training programs have you leave the dog at the facility, while others will want you to stay and participate in the training. Regardless, though, most trainers will want you to spend some time training your dog every day, either at the trainer’s facility or at home.
In some cases, you may want to consider a “boot camp” facility for your dog. In this case, your dog is going to go away to a special facility for a period lasting up to several weeks. This type of training is very intensive and regular. However, don’t be worried about your dog. Most dogs love this type of regimentation. Toward the end of the program, you’ll usually be asked to participate so that focus of obedience is transferred from the trainer to you.
The results of these programs are truly amazing much of the time, though. For those dogs that graduate, they become disciplined and are very eager to follow your instructions. This is true even when they’re not special service dogs. Seemingly contradictory, though, these dogs usually don’t show any ill effects or signs of repression. Instead, they are enthusiastic and play happily.
What are your goals? Do you want your dog to be entered in shows, or do you just want a dog that doesn’t chew on your favorite shoes or pick on other pets? Whatever your goals, you’ll need to train your dog — and do so on a regular basis — to get the results you want. How much training is required will depend on your dog, his age, breed, and temperament.
Take a look at your dog’s temperament; for example, is your dog fearful, either because he was mistreated before or just because it’s submissive? Or, your dog may be assertive, either because it’s been abused previously and has had to fight back, or simply because it wants to be “leader of the pack.” The training you choose is going to depend on how you want to influence your dog and the characteristics you want to mold.
Whatever goals you have, and whatever your commitment or budget, you’ll want to choose a trainer who has endless energy and patience, and who loves dogs deeply. Most trainers choose their careers precisely because they have these characteristics in great measure.
Beyond the basics discussed, you’ll also want a trainer whose philosophy matches your own and makes sense to you, and who will respect and match your goals. Some trainers have a viewpoint that “dog” training is really about training the owner, not the dog, and there may be some truth to that a lot of the time. Some dog trainers are more permissive, friendly, lenient, and focus on emotionally “connecting” with your dog, while others are much more commanding and demand respect and obedience. Still others use a mix of these two schools of thought.
It’s probably true that no one training style suits everyone, but it’s not absolutely subjective, either. Even if you disagree on some points, there are a few principles that almost everyone can agree with. That is, consistency, patience, and persistence, as well as the need for the human to be in the “alpha” role, are just a few of the common guidelines.
When you look for your own trainer, ask for recommendations from friends and family who share similar philosophies, and shop around. You may have to change trainers at least once if you aren’t happy with whom you’ve picked at first. Don’t change on a whim, though. One of the most important parts of obedience training is that consistency is key, and a regular environment is necessary so that the dog can integrate what’s being taught.
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