Apr
Dogs are extremely intelligent animals and they can learn skills and tricks more than you realize. Through dog training, you will be able to help your dog adopt more desirable behaviors, how to act appropriately in different situations, and establish a stronger bond with you.
It is essential to begin dog training early so that habits can become ingrained deep into your dog’s routine. While you can do the training yourself, it’s important to note that training requires time, patience, effort, and consistency. If you can’t commit to training your dog or you simply don’t see the progress, you might need to hire a professional dog trainer.
But isn’t it just an additional expense? In this article, we will discuss the top five reasons to invest in puppy training.
Socializing Your Puppy
Before we dive right in to discussing the reasons to invest in puppy training, it is important to understand that there’s some sort of a time limit on how long your puppy can be easily socialized.
There’s just a 16-week window to socialize your pups. During this period of development, they are like a sponge that simply absorb and accept all experiences. Beyond that, it becomes more difficult as they will tend to become fearful of unfamiliar people and situations.
Through puppy training you can introduce your furry friend to new things in a safe, controlled environment. This should make them less fearful of encountering different situations even outside of training and have a more positive experience with people, reinforcing the idea that humans are safe.
1. Puppy training can develop a strong, positive relationship between you and your pet.
It is easier to establish a strong bond with your puppy when you know what to expect. Through training, you will be able to somehow communicate with your dog, understand it better, and know what motivates it during the sessions.
Effective puppy training can also make your pet happy and satisfied. The short-term rewards such as tasty treats, verbal praises, belly rubs, and their favorite toys can make the entire process smoother and more enjoyable.
2. Puppy training teaches essential life skills.
Puppy training doesn’t merely involve teaching obedience commands but also helping your pup learn how to act appropriately in various situations. Just as they explore how to do things during this crucial developmental stage, it is your job as a dog owner to teach your puppy all they need for independent survival.
These may include potty training your dog so it knows the proper place to relieve itself, how to walk on a leash and interact with other dogs, as well as not jumping on other people even if it is highly social.
3. Puppy training can improve its social skills.
Enhanced social skills can help your puppy adjust to various social situations. For instance, when you’re taking it out for a walk, your pup must know how to behave properly as it encounters unfamiliar people or dogs.
Having a friendly dog that behaves pleasantly in the presence of strangers can make your trips to public places much more relaxed and satisfying. So give your puppy a good experience during training to set it up for a whole lifetime of positive behavior.
4. Puppy training can prevent your dog from adopting problem behaviors.
It is normal for your dog to develop problem behaviors such as chewing on your personal belongings, becoming aggressive towards other people or dogs, and excessive barking.
When things go out of hand, these behaviors can become increasingly challenging to manage and eliminate. However, with puppy training, these issues can be avoided as you will be able to effectively set rules and boundaries that your dog will be able to follow.
So if you want to reduce the risk of problem behaviors and foster a strong bond with your pet built around mutual trust and confidence, better hire a professional dog trainer who has relevant experience in dogs with various temperaments.
5. Puppy training can establish loyalty.
Training your pup early can promote trust and strengthen your bond with your pet. Once you manage to establish this, your dog will surely give you its loyalty, companionship, and unconditional love.
Always remember that a well-trained dog is a happy dog. By forming a relationship with mutual respect and understanding, your experience as a dog owner will be much more rewarding.
Final Thoughts
Being a dog owner can be a lot of responsibility, but it can also be rewarding. If you want to build a solid connection with your pet and avoid problem behaviors in the long run, it is essential to start puppy training within the recommended 16-week window of socialization.
If you don’t have the time and skills, you can always work with a professional dog trainer such as Delaware K9 Academy. Aside from puppy training, they also offer 2-week bootcamps and private lessons. Ready to explore your options? Get in touch with us today!
