Animal behaviorist, dog trainer

Many people are under the impression that dog training is only for German Shepherds and Border Collies or similarly “intelligent” dogs that have a natural aptitude for this kind of work. Others believe that it is only necessary to train large breed dogs and still many more sadly believe that early puppy classes are sufficient training for the rest of the dog’s life. Before I explore why training is so beneficial for all dogs, I would like to address these misconceptions:

Firstly, modern reward-based training methods mean that any dog can be trained in basic obedience if given the opportunity. Training is no longer the exclusive domain of the “super-intelligent” and driven working dog - in fact any dog that likes food or playing with toys can be trained very easily!

Secondly, many of the worst behaved dogs I have come across are little dogs. Just because a dog is small, doesn’t mean it is incapable of learning or that it should get away with being un-socialised and having atrocious manners. When assessing a little dog’s behaviour my question is: “How would people react if my Rottweiler did what that dog is doing?” The answer is usually pretty obvious - they would not be impressed!

Thirdly, while puppy classes are a good start to socialising and training, they are exactly that - just a start. Many problem behaviours develop when dogs reach adolescence and owners who have left puppy classes with no follow-up training are ill-prepared to deal with a more mature dog.

These are some of the benefits of obedience training:

1. Basic good manners - exercises like “sit”, “down” and “stay” are not only appropriate for dogs in obedience competitions, they are very helpful for pet dogs who share our lives and our homes. There are times when a dog needs to sit or lie down so that we can groom them, put their leads on (without being bounced on!) and give them their meals. It is of course vital that dogs come when we call them, so that we can let them off-lead on walks and it is important that they learn to stay in one place while we are trying to do something we don’t want them getting involved in. A dog that cannot comply with simple commands can be impossible to handle and difficult to live with. Learning comes with repetition and four puppy class lessons (length of most puppy courses) are not enough to cement basic training into the dog’s mind.
2. Ongoing socialising - While it is true that the optimum period for socialising is between 6 and 14 weeks of age, dogs continue to learn through social experiences for the rest of their lives. Most puppies are automatically friendly to other people and dogs, but even well-socialised pups can become suspicious of strangers as they mature. If dogs are not socialised during this period as well, they may still develop fears in certain social situations which may develop into aggression. I once heard it said that socialising is like exercising a muscle - the more you do so the stronger it gets, but if you neglect to do so, it wastes away!
3. Utilising and controlling natural drive - some dogs have very strong prey drive i.e. the instinct which causes them to chase a cat or dig up mole-hills. Learning to retrieve or using a ball or game of tug as a reward in training provides a natural outlet for prey drive. Focusing the dog’s drive onto an appropriate object, like a ball, means that the dog will be far less likely to chase birds instead.
4. Mental exercise - Much like us, dogs do not want to sit around all day staring at the walls. They like a challenge! (If you don’t provide one, they may make their own e.g. digging under the fence or trying to get into the rubbish bin.) Training provides an opportunity for dogs to “work” for rewards. Dogs will usually sleep after training as they have used up some mental energy and are content to relax for a while.
5. Establishing and developing a bond of trust between dog and owner - it is of the utmost importance that a dog trusts its owner and will cooperate with him/her. Reward training helps the dog to see that the owner is relevant (he/she is the one who has  all the good stuff like food and toys!). Please note that training with force has the opposite effect, breaking down trust and causing the dog to see the owner as something to be avoided whenever possible.
6. Access to helpful information - I seldom have to do a consultation with any of my dog training clients, because if a problem arises I am usually able to discuss it with them after class and give advice. Also, the more time the owners spend in class, the more they learn about dog behaviour and the better they understand how to deal with their dogs at home.

Most of the advanced dogs in my training classes are there for one reason alone - because they and their owners enjoy it!

                                        Making use of natural drive -  Emily and Judah completely focused

                                                 on the ball  on an outing to the beach