Back To School Special: Behavioural Classes For Puppies And Adult Dogs

By DogDialog Team on 04 September 2017

For responsible dog owners, turning pooches into good canine citizens is important. Those well-trained dogs that you see walking to heel were not born that way – they had someone invest time and dog training in them to get them to that point, so that both four-legged friend and owner can enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship based on trust, obedience and understanding.

Although it is possible to do this all by yourself, lots of people find that the easiest way to help their dogs develop these skills is by taking them to dog training classes, whether they’re a small, sweet puppy or a big, bounding adult.

There will usually be a number of these hosted in your local area, so you should have plenty to pick from. If you’re wondering whether they’re worth exploring, here are just a few of the benefits to think on:

 

1. They’ll help teach your dog social skills

One of the primary benefits of attending behavioural classes is that there will be lots of other dogs and owners there, too, providing the perfect opportunity for your pooch to develop some essential social skills. Most dog training classes will be set up to provide you with plenty of opportunities for interaction, so that your canine learns how to act not only around other dogs, but also in new environments and when meeting new people. The earlier you begin to socialise your puppy the better, to help mentally and behaviourally prepare them for the world around them, allowing them to develop important social skills for successful interactions with people, dogs and other animals. A well socialised puppy is far more likely to integrate easily into your life, therefore making your life together easier and more rewarding. This important puppy socialisation window occurs during the 1st 14-16 weeks of a puppy’s life. Your vet may be able to advise you on puppy classes to take your new puppy to or advise of dog training classes if your dog is older, it is certainly never too late to start.

 

2. They’re good for a dog’s emotional well-being

Here at PetDialog, we know that every owner wants their dog to be happy and content, and the social skills mentioned above are essential to this. Dogs are thought to be pack animals and are social and like to interact with people and other dogs, so it’s important that they’re able to interact with other dogs when they meet them. These opportunities to interact and with other canines are essential to their psychological health, making behavioural classes and the lessons they teach very beneficial to your beloved pet.

 

3. They’ll help you to build a happier relationship

It’s fair to say that owning a well-behaved dog is far easier than owning one who is destructive. Behaviour classes are as much to educate you as an owner as they are to teach your pet, and a good professional will be sure to outfit you with the skills and knowledge necessary to deal with common issues that dog owners encounter, such as how to prevent chewing and how to house-train your pet.

 

4. They’ll help make your pet a more well-mannered and sociable canine citizen

Of course, you’re not the only one who will ever have to deal with your pet, so dog training is very important for outfitting pooches with the necessary skills to go out into the world. All dogs should have basic good manners, such as being able to walk on a lead, greet people without jumping up, and come when called. This is especially vital for dogs who may one day be walked by somebody else or placed in doggy day care; in such instances, it is not the professional’s job to teach your dog how to behave, but yours.

 

5. They will make your relationship more mutually beneficial

At the heart of it, a dog is a member of your family, so most owners want them to be able to fully participate in their lives, accompanying them to see friends and relatives, going with them on hikes and swims, and generally spending plenty of time together. This is much harder to do with a badly behaved dog than an obedient dog who knows how to behave around other people and animals and has the skills to change how they act – all behaviours which good classes help teach your pet.

The types of classes available

The points explored above provide only a brief overview of the many benefits of dog training, and there are more that we could have touched upon. However, we thought it better to devote the rest of this article to exploring the types of classes that are available.

These are numerous, and, chosen with your pet and your goals in mind, they can set your dog up for any activity, behaviour, or job that you want them to learn, no matter how old or young your pooch is when you get started.

 

They include:

Obedience training

Obedience training is essential in order to outfit your dog with the skills it needs to be a good canine citizen. Teaching the basics such as ‘sit’, ‘stay’, and ‘down’, it provides a fantastic foundation to work from, giving both adult dogs and puppies plenty of opportunities to socialise and learn how to behave around other people and dogs.

Behavioural training

You can also attend classes aimed at addressing a more specific behavioural problem, such as aggression towards other dogs, separation anxiety, or a lack of recall. By sharing your issues with a canine behaviourist, you will have the opportunity to receive expert advice on how to fix it, so that your dog not only becomes easier to handle, but is happier in themselves.

Agility

Even when a dog has mastered the basics, there are some owners who choose to progress their training, either for enjoyment or because it helps to keep an active mind busy. A lot of these individuals pick agility as their next step, which involves teaching their four-legged friend how to pass through tunnels, weave around poles, negotiate ladders and so on. This not only requires absolute obedience, but can be a really fun way to keep your dog fit and healthy whilst you spend some quality time together. Those who choose to pursue this may even find that it turns into a full-time hobby that they and their pet can enjoy in tandem.

These are only a few of the many behavioural classes on offer, which means that for those in search of professional advice and assistance to help progress their training, there really is something for every pet and owner combination. Why not have a look at classes close to you and consider signing up for one today?

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