Jill Rose’s Puppy Training Blog

The Top 8 Reasons To Consider A Puppy Obedience Class

Posted by Jill Rose on September 24th, 2006 — Posted in Obedience

There are a number of reasons to take your puppy to obedience training classes. Some of the best ones include:

1. You’ll be strengthening your relationship with your dog. When you first bring your puppy home, it’s like someone from another country who speaks no English has moved in with you. The inability to communicate puts a strain on your relationship. Obedience classes can help you and your dog start speaking the same language. Your bond with your puppy will be much stronger once the lines of communication have been opened.

2. You’ll have a well-mannered puppy. If you practice what you’ve been learning in class, you’ll soon find many of the problem puppy behaviors are becoming a thing of the past. What could be better than sharing your home with a well-trained dog?

3. Classes can take the worry out of providing your puppy with proper socialization. In Chapter 2, we discussed the importance of socializing your puppy during the critical period of development he goes through up until the age of about sixteen weeks. During this period your puppy should be exposed to as many new people, animals and experiences as possible, all in a positive environment. You should also be working on handling exercises and possession exchanges. All of these things will be covered in a good obedience class.

4. It provides an outlet for your pup’s excess energy. If you have a high energy puppy, you may have been finding it hard to keep up with him. Obedience training is a great way for your puppy to burn off both physical and mental energy.

5. It helps you set standards for acceptable behavior for your puppy. Dogs are happiest when they know their role in your household. If you aren’t taking the lead then your puppy may start to feel like it is his job to lead. Obedience classes can help give you the skills to show your puppy that you have things under control and can lead your “pack.”

6. You get to commiserate with other new puppy owners. After spending the day picking up puppy messes, listening to demand barking and fending off sharp little puppy teeth, you may start to wonder if something is horribly wrong with your sweet little puppy. Talking to other puppy owners who are having the exact same problems can help. Sometimes venting to someone else and finding out that your puppy is completely normal is all you need to dive right back into training.

7. If you’re a renter, a certificate showing that your puppy graduated from obedience class can help smooth the way with your landlord. As those of us who have attempted to rent apartments with pets in tow can attest to, finding housing that allows pets can be difficult. The reason for this is that many property owners have faced losses when a tenant’s pets damaged an apartment. Many times, however, landlords and property managers can be swayed when faced with proof that your pup is well-trained. An obedience class certificate and a letter of reference from a trainer can, literally, open up a lot of doors for you.

8. Obedience classes are fun. During puppy kindergarten you get the chance to play with lots of puppies, talk to other puppy owners, and watch your pup begin to love learning. All of these things are a lot of fun, and many people decide to continue on to more advanced obedience and dog sports and competitions based on the experiences they have in puppy kindergarten.

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