Benefits of Dog Obedience School Training
Advantages of Canine Training Programs vs. Home Dog Training
Sep 15, 2008
Bringing a new puppy home can be a wonderful experience, and one major decision faces all puppy owners, who wonder, “Should I teach my dog obedience training skills at home, or should I enroll him/her in a dog training program?”
An increasing number of dog owners are now opting to enroll their dog in an obedience school training program instead of performing the training at home due to the many social and behavioral benefits associated with dog training programs.
“A dog owner who is experienced in dog training can certainly provide their dog with effective behavior and obedience training at home, but there are several disadvantages to this option,” explained longtime dog trainer and behaviorist Michael Schwartz.
Here’s a look at the advantages of enrolling a puppy in a dog training program.
Social Benefits of Dog Training Programs
A dog obedience school training program provides puppies and adult dogs alike with an opportunity to interact with other dogs before and after the obedience training session. Many dog training schools also offer dog playgroups to provide an opportunity for dogs of similar size or age to interact. Dog-to-dog interaction is vital when it comes to ensuring that a puppy develops social skills.
Learning Amidst Distraction with Dog Training Programs
Dogs who receive obedience training outside a formal obedience school setting will not have an opportunity to fully experience what it’s like to process and perform commands amidst distraction.
“The dog’s obedience school training is more true to life in the sense that the dog is trained to perform certain behaviors while there’s all sorts of other things taking place in the room – the dog is in an unfamiliar place, there are other dogs, there are other people, there’s lots of noise,” Schwartz explained, adding, “When the dog learns in a quiet environment that’s free of distractions, this dog’s training doesn’t tend to hold up well in the real world. The real world is full of distractions and it can be difficult for the dog if he’s not used to performing obedience skills in that situation.”
Owner-Dog Relationship Benefits of Dog Training Programs
Enrolling a puppy or adult dog in an obedience school training program isn’t just a chance to teach a dog new skills; it’s also an opportunity to bond and improve communications between owner and dog.
“Many owners who opt for a dog training program at home often find themselves frustrated if, say, the dog is taking a while to learn a particular skill. This leads to frustration with the obedience training process and the owner’s frustration is mirrored in the dog’s behavior, and you just end up with an unhealthy, unproductive situation,” Schwartz explained.
In a formal dog training school environment, experienced dog trainers are on-hand to offer guidance, to target problem behaviors, and to provide alternative training techniques when a dog does not respond well to a certain training method. This guidance helps to reduce frustration on the part of the owner, allowing him/her to focus on communicating with the dog.
Enrolling a dog in a obedience school training program has many benefits, from providing social interaction with other dogs, to teaching obedience skills in a situation with possible distractions. And lastly, experienced dog trainers can provide owners with guidance and alternative dog training methods that will best accommodate a particular dog’s learning style. This helps to prevent frustration on part of the owner and dog and allowing for the effective communication that’s vital component of basic obedience training.
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