Dog Obedience Schools - How To Pick The Right One For Your Dog
Is your new dog having trouble adapting to your home? If you look through local newspapers and shopping guides, you will see numerous advertisements for dog obedience schools. Are you able to pick the best one out of this group for you and your dog?
You will find that there are several different approaches for dog training from using punishment techniques to a more positive, rewards based approach.
There still remain many schools of thought when it comes to dog training, and a great many veteran trainers will use a specific system that suits them as well as their customers. The current trend is a move towards more of a rewards based method.
Also, you need to think about your individual dog. What is his life history? Have you had him as a puppy or just recently acquired him as an adult? Also consider your training goals. Do you want him to be more family-friendly, a good hunting or show dog? Beyond basic obedience, consider what you're hoping to get out of training.
Once you have established your training goals and you have your dog's personality in mind, make a list of all the local dog obedience schools information that you can find. Then check out their web pages. You can check with other dog owners to see if they have a good dog trainer. Also contact your local veterinarian or kennel for suggestions.
Trainers who use positive methods are your best bet. Always check references of the trainers. Some trainers do work with you and your dog in your home, however your dog will be missing out on important socialization. You may want to observe one of the beginner classes. Do not go if they use any harsh techniques, such as, choke collars.
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.
If your dog isn't required for his first training session, don't be shocked -- it's a good thing! Clicker training (or any positive training) needs a training session for owners so you learn to properly use the tools and to communicate effectively with your dog.
These are some ways to tell if the program is a positive training class:
1. The schools tone will be happy and upbeat.
2. Training is based on rewards for a desired behavior, as opposed to punishment for unwanted behavior.
3. A slight whisper or shush noise is the only thing necessary to distract the dog and get the message across that his behavior is unacceptable. There isn't much punishment, and unwanted actions will be stopped.
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!
About the Author
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