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If you have brought a dog home then the first thing you should do is train the dog. Training is important so that the dog can stay with you comfortably in your house and knows the right behaviour to demonstrate. Training also strengthens the human-animal bond and gives mental stimulation.
Importance of dog training
Dogs have different personalities. Those who are anxious and timid can refine their behavior through proper training. You will be able to communicate with your dog more comfortably once you take it to dog training classes.
While you train your dog you also learn a lot of things about them. Many dog behavior that you may think of as ‘bad behaviors’ are normal; for example, chewing on things, digging, barking, and other actions. If these behaviors are not demonstrated in the right way then you can get into trouble. Dogs don’t know what is right and what is wrong. We have to teach them and that’s why training is essential. If you can train them consistently, you will get the result you want.
Methods of training
There are many methods of training a dog. Positive reinforcement is the most popular one as it gives desirable results. In this training, you reward the dog for showing the right behavior. Rewards can be in the form of a toy or tasty treats. If you use punishment as a training method then it can have negative impact on the dog’s behavior.
Choosing the right trainer
You should choose the right trainer for your dog so that it learns the desired behaviors properly. You should consider the reputation of the trainer and get recommendations from your friends and colleagues. The trainer must have the right education and many years of experience training dogs. If the trainer has an association with any dog training association then it’s an advantage as the trainer will know about the latest research and approaches in dog training.
The trainer you choose must communicate well with your dog and you as well. You should learn about the improvements in dog behavior from the trainer. The trainer must be able to identify any issues with your dog and inform you about them. You can get your dog enrolled in different classes like puppy class, basic obedience class, therapy dog training, agility class, conformation class, and others.
You should start dog training classes as soon as you bring the dog home. Make sure that the dog completes the vaccine series. The ideal age to socialize is 6 to 16 weeks. So, make sure you start looking for a good dog trainer when you plan to bring a dog home.