Dog Obedience Schools - How To Pick The Right One For Your Dog
Anyone with a new dog knows that sometimes they need a little bit of guidance before he can be the perfect pet. But where do you look to find dog obedience schools that are a perfect fit for your pets personality? One place to start is local newspapers and shopping guides where you will probably find a variety of choices.
You will find that there are several different approaches for dog training from using punishment techniques to a more positive, rewards based approach.
Most trainers will have chosen their own method to fit themselves and their clients. Positive approaches are becoming more and more common and this is probably what you will run into when looking for obedience schools.
Another factor is your dog, and it’s background. Is it a puppy, or a rescue dog with their inherent concerns? What is your desired outcome from training–basic obedience, as a pet for the family, show, tracking, or any other dog activities?
After giving thought to your dog’s personality and what you want out of training, peruse your newspaper and make a list of the local dog obedience schools. Find their contact information and visit their websites. Talk to other dog owners and ask where they have had success training their dog. Local kennel clubs and vets may also have trainer recommendations.
When reviewing trainer choices, use referrals and references for the best results. Then, attend one of your choice’s beginner classes to see his techniques. Positive methods are best. If he’s dragging a dog around by the collar, move on! Before asking for training at your home, remember that socialization skills are important for your dog, so it may be best to train elsewhere.
It is a great a idea to sign your puppy up for a play group to ensure it has proper socialization. However, if you have a rescue dog with aggression issues you may need more than just a regular trainer. In this case, you may need a certified animal behaviorist. Be extra cautious with aggressive animals!
In some cases training collars may be appropriate for some dogs. Training instruments like pinch collars may work with a few dogs, but a “Gentle Leader” head collar is far more likely to be productive with most.
Don’t let it come as a shock to you if you find that the instructions for the first class state you shouldn’t bring your dog. This is a good thing! Good training, and especially training with a clicker, require “train the trainer” sessions to inform you how to communicate well with your dog, and instructions on utilizing tools for this purpose.
These are some ways to tell if the program is a positive training class:
1. The all-around atmosphere of the of the whole school will be upbeat and positive.
2. Training is based on rewards for a desired behavior, as opposed to punishment for unwanted behavior.
3. When a dog is misbehaving, sharp noise is typically enough for the dog to realize he’s done wrong. Punishment is kept to a minimum and the actions are usually suppressed.
4. The method of dealing with undesirable behavior is to give the dog a command that he can not achieve while engaged in said behavior. For example, command him to “sit” to stop him from jumping up on guests when they first enter your home.
5. Patience is a key element in any training session.
In addition to dog obedience schools, you will find many good books and websites demonstrating how to properly train your dog. One of the most effective animal training methods used is the “clicker training”. The non-human Hollywood stars learn their tricks this way and so can your pet!
Source: Dog Training
