Obedience training can be one of the most useful and rewarding experiences for you and your dog. Obedience training is useful in many ways including the following:

• Gives you tools to communicate with each other and establishes a stronger relationship.
• Makes everyday life more enjoyable for you and your dog.  A well-trained dog will be more welcome in society.  Also, having your dog always come when callled means more off-leash fun and exercise.
• Provides opportunity for bonding between you and your dog.
• Provides mental exercise for your dog.  This is extremely important for dogs - most dogs love to think and learn.
• Builds confidence in your dog.
• Gives you tools in case you have a problem down the road.  Should your dog ever have a behavioral issue, the more tools you and an animal behaviorist have to work with, the better.

There are many ways to provide obedience training for your dog including books, videos, personal trainers, and group classes.  It is highly recommended that you and your dog take a group class.  Just because s/he listens in your home is no guarantee s/he can transfer those behaviors to new, more stimulating environments.

• Choose a business that uses positive reinforcement such as praise, treats, toys as reward when the dog does something right.
• Ask if you can observe a class - make sure you feel comfortable with the class and the methods being used.  Owners and dogs should be having fun!
• Ask if family members can attend.  It's important to get the whole family involved.

If you are adopting a puppy, socialization classes are very important.  These are classes that combine obedience (no, they're not too young to start training!) and playtime so that puppies love other dogs and people.  Besides, it's fun to show off your cute, new puppy.

You don't need to stop at one class - there are tons of different classes to choose from including agility, fly ball, tricks training classes, and tracking.

One final note - sometimes group classes may not be the best learning environment for your dog.  A new environment with lots of dogs and lots of people can be too much for some dogs.  Ask your veterinarian or other animal professional if this may be the case with your dog.

A Few Training Tips

Here are a few training tips to help you get started while you are waiting to take a class:

• Use positive reinforcement as opposed to punishment.  The technique of positive reinforcement rewards the dog when he does a desired behavior so that the chance he will do the behavior again increases.
• Time reinforcements so that your dog gets the reward the second she does something you liked.  If your reinforcement is late, you may accidentally reinforce the wrong behavior.
• Make sure your dog decides what is motivating to him or her and then use this as the reinforcement.  Reinforcements can be treats, toys, petting, going outside, going for a walk, getting to play, etc.
• Be consistent - make sure that everyone in the family knows the rules and follows them. Also, make sure the entire household knows the tricks your dog understands and how to ask for them appropriately (i.e. Does she know "down" or "lie down").
• Ask for commands in a manner that you would like them to be carried out: calmly and confidently.

Why use positive reinforcement vs. punishment

• Positive reinforcement rewards the good things your dog does and teaches them what you want them to do.  Dogs are motivated by making good things happen!  Punishment may stop a "bad" behavior but doesn't teach them what they should do instead.
• Punishment may only suppress a behavior...so it may present itself later in a much more dangerous fashion down the road!  For example, never punish your dog for growling...s/he will learn to suppress the growl which may lead to a bite with no warning later!
• Positive reinforcement helps you establish yourself as a respectful leader.  You give a command, your dog does it, then she gets her ball.  This sets up your dog to work for you. Punishment (especially hitting, yanking your dog's leash) can teach your dog to fear and distrust you.
• Positive reinforcement promotes a fun relationship - this is why you got a dog, right...to have more fun in your life!