Dog Obedience School

Finding the perfect dog obedience school for you and your dog can be a somewhat daunting challenge. Dog owning has become such a popular and sometimes controversial occupation that there are hundreds of different obedience schools to choose from, many of them offering varying and seemingly contradictory methods of training your dog. The simple days of a plain collar and six foot leather leash are gone; the caring dog owner is now presented with a cornucopia of training equipment and an often confusing range of training philosophies.

Finding the Perfect Dog Obedience School for Your Needs

Your first consideration in selecting a dog obedience school should be precisely what you expect to achieve with your pup. If you simply want to socialize a very young dog, you will want to check out the puppy classes offered in most locales. Petco and Petsmart offer puppy classes on site, and there are usually good programs available through local shelters or at a specialized obedience school. The goal of these classes will be to give your young dog some experience in playing with and interacting with other dogs. Puppy classes are especially valuable for urban dog owners who plan to spend a lot of time hanging out at dog parks.

If your dog is older than nine months, s/he is probably ready for a basic obedience class. Again, there are excellent basic programs available through Petco and Petsmart, or even the local parks and recreation department, but this is the point at which you probably want to do some research before choosing a dog obedience school . Talking to dog-owning friends and fellow dog-lovers you meet at the dog park, asking if you can observe a class at a particular dog obedience school , and doing a bit of research into the different methods of modern dog training will all help you gather enough information to make an informed decision about the obedience school you want for your dog. Read up about reward-based training and the clicker classes which have largely replaced old-fashioned jerk and yell methods.

You should also check out the accreditation and experience of the trainers. Lack of certification does not necessarily equal a poor trainer, but a trainer who has graduated from a reputable certification program may have a broader-based more up to date approach. Make sure you select a training program which uses humane training methods. Look for a trainer who seems to genuinely enjoy working with the dogs. Be wary of programs which guarantee they will take your crazy out-of-control pup and return him to you as a trained dog in 30 days; a dog needs to be taught by the person who will be handling the dog, and that means you.

Dog Obedience School – Conclusion

Behavioral issues are the number one reason many dogs end up needing rehoming, and a good dog obedience school will help you anticipate and nip any potential behavioral issues in the bud. Successfully completing an obedience training program will also help build a wonderful bond between you and your dog. There are many benefits to carefully selecting the right dog obedience school for your dog.