Pet Safety & Wellness

Pencils, Notebooks, Erasers, Leashes? Back to Dog Obedience School!

Choosing a Dog Obedience School

Choosing the right dog obedience training program for you and for your dog depends on a lot of factors unique to your dog/owner relationship, the type of dog you have, and your lifestyle. In order to make positive changes in dog behavior, it’s really important that both of you are comfortable with the training program. This may mean you need to do a little research and self-evaluation to figure out what is going to work for you.

There are many options for dog obedience schools and training styles. You can enroll in a basic 8-week training program where you and Max will learn the tricks of the dog obedience trade alongside other dogs and owners. Some things to consider before enrolling in group training are your dog’s temperament and his needs. Is Max a social dog or is he prone to aggressive behavior? If he is social, group training will be a good option, but if he’s got special needs or has been aggressive with other dogs, private lessons may be the best way to begin. **Remember that you can always start with one-on-one sessions and work to overcome problematic and anti-social behaviors so that you can eventually integrate with a group training program.

Next, consider your schedule. Consistency is one of the pillars of dog obedience training so you will want to find a school that has a class schedule that compliments your own. Make sure you set aside the time for each training session because if it becomes too burdensome to attend, you will find yourself skipping sessions—and that’s not good for you or Max.

Also, think about who in your family is the logical choice to be the primary obedience trainer. Eventually, you will want to get the whole family involved—learning the proper commands and how to encourage positive behavior and discourage negative behaviors—but one person is really going to have to take the lead (no pun intended) in the training. To make this decision, ask these questions:

Who spends the most time with the dog?
Who has the most time to devote to training?
Who does the dog favor, or perhaps, mind better?

Keep in mind the person that has the most fun with the dog may not necessarily be the right choice. Proper training is going to require some patience and stability, and the family members that have the closest bond with the dog may have to really spend some time learning how to be good obedience trainers—with the help of someone who comes by it more naturally. Sit down with your family and have an open and honest discussion about the best person for the job. Successful dog training really does come from a family-supported initiative.

Accreditation and Training Philosophy

Chances are that you are going to be presented with several different options for an obedience school in your area—and knowing which one is the right one may be a bit overwhelming. Some things that are helpful to consider as you make this decision are the accreditations and training philosophy of the particular schools that interest you. There are several organizations that certify dog trainers at both the state and national levels. These programs are generally fairly transparent about their training style and philosophy and adhere to a high-level of professional standards within their programs. Certified trainers and schools offer the benefit of training methodologies that have been proven effective.

When you think about training philosophies as a decisive factor in what school is going to be best for you and Max, you are going to have to think about what you personally feel are the best training methods—and how Max might feel about them, too. Some schools are deeply interested in animal psychology and base obedience training solely along those guiding principles. Other dog obedience schools have their own training protocol they have developed based on a combination of behavioral theories, traditional modalities, and field-tested exercises. In the end, you have your own very valid opinions on the subject and are best positioned to make the right choice for you and Max.

Dog vs. Puppy Obedience Training

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? You bet. It’s never too late to teach your long-term pal new behaviors. Dogs can learn obedience training at any age, and the age of the dog doesn’t really have anything to do with the level of difficulty associated with training them. Any and every dog can pose obedience training challenges; it’s your reaction to those challenges that ultimately determines the course—smooth sailing or turbulent waters—of the training.

That being said, puppy obedience training earns a very unique and specific focus in the realm of obedience schools. Puppies are a blank slate, a wriggling and adorable bundle of curiosity and, sometimes, mischief. They steal our hearts with inquisitive glances and inspire laugh-out-loud moments with their endearing clumsiness. It’s easy to get caught up in that excitement and forget that your pint-sized companion is going to grow into a full-size Labrador that might not fit so snugly next to you and hubby in bed. Enrolling you and puppy in dog obedience training is a good way to start out on the right foot (or paw) in your dog/owner relationship. It gives you the opportunity to set some very important boundaries before it’s too late—is this puppy pee on the quarterly sales report?

During Your Training

Some good advice as you begin your dog obedience training course is to reflect on the old adage patience is a virtue. There are going to be times when you and Max just won’t see eye to eye on what is in the best interest of your relationship. This is especially true if your dog or puppy has grown accustomed to some bad behaviors—barking, growling, chewing, house accidents, jumping, etc.—because habits are hard for anyone, even your dog, to break. Be prepared for the learning curve and remember to relax and have some fun in the process. This training opportunity is also a bonding experience that can help you reach a rewarding balance in your relationship.

What you will learn in your training course will vary depending on the school in which you enroll. But most schools do follow standard formats and teach you to control your dog’s behavior with various commands:

Quiet or no-barking
Calm down
No jumping
No chewing
No biting
Sit
Stay

Heel
Lie down
Walk
Roll-over
Play
Fetch & retrieve

Whether your school is using positive reinforcement, dog-whispering, clicker or marker training, or collar and leash methods, the ultimate goal will be the same: getting your dog to obey your commands. It takes some time and negotiating to change behaviors, but, in the end, having a well-behaved dog that respects your authority, is well-socialized, and sincerely wants to please you is a worthy reward!

Graduation and Beyond

The fall leaves are still on the trees, but you’ve just progressed through a training that will serve you well in all four seasons. Congratulations, and welcome to your future as a happy dog owner with an equally happy dog. What’s next for you and Max? Well, as you can probably imagine the possibilities are endless. The two of you will have to spend countless hours at the dog park showing-off your new sit, stay, heel, and turn routine to other dogs and owners. And don’t forget to include the rest of the family in on the fun. After Max has become used to your commands, it’s definitely time to teach everyone the appropriate boundaries and behavior commands to fully integrate dog obedience training within the entire family.

Prepare for, but don’t anticipate, some setbacks—and don’t get too upset when they happen. Obedience training for dogs is just like any other kind of training that has its ups and downs accompanied by temporary lapses of judgment (yours and Max’s). Remember too, the sky’s the limit with dog training. If it’s something that you and Max take to naturally expand your repertoire and learn some other fun tricks for you and him. You’ll surprise yourself with what the two of you can accomplish!

Tip: Give yourself permission to take a much-needed time-out. Having a dog comes with some unpredictability—like walking in the door from work and finding your favorite designer-blazer shredded and strewn about the house. In a challenging situation, stay calm and keep your cool. Yelling at or spanking your dog really isn’t going to help the situation. Your dog has really no idea what he did wrong, and losing your temper can mean losing the most valuable part of your relationship—trust. Take it easy, take your time, and take a step back when you feel yourself getting angry. You’ll be a better person for it.