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Obedience as Prevention
By Devene Godau, CPDT

When adding a new dog or puppy to your family, one of the best things you can do is attend an obedience class. Teaching obedience, using methods based on positive reinforcement, has so many benefits, including:
 

Teaching the rules in a way that the dog will understand. We often expect our dogs to live in a human world without teaching them our rules. For instance, one dog was returned to its rescue group, with the owners claiming that the dog was too "dominant" with the children in the family. The dog would often snap food right out of the kids' hands, sometimes making contact (which was seen as aggression). In reality, this has nothing to do with dominance. This has everything to do with a dog that wanted food, and had never been taught a more appropriate way to earn it. Some simple obedience would have fixed their problems! An obedience teacher can help you set up and enforce rules so a dog can "ask" for food (or access to the outside, coming inside, other dogs, playing, petting, etc.) in a more acceptable manor, using basic obedience.
 

• It builds confidence in both the dog and the owner. Obedience gives owners and their dogs a means of communication. When dogs know what is expected of them, they are much more confident. A solid obedience class will help you control your dog using only dog-friendly methods,
  while building your dog's confidence in your leadership. A dog that is confident in their owner will look to them for guidance.
   

• It builds control. The more you work with your dog, the more responsive your dog will be. For instance, let's say you see your dog in a situation where he or she does not look comfortable, maybe it is protecting a bone from another dog, or a child. Being able to call your dog out of that circumstance could save the situation from becoming more intense.
   

• Socialization with other dogs and people. Although adult dog classes do not include playtime, working with your dogs around other dogs and people will help them connect strangers to a positive experience.
   

• It offers a family resource. Obedience class will not only help educate you on the basics of dog behavior, but it will help you develop a relationship with a dog care professional. So in the future, if your dog shows signs of a behavioral problem, you have a resource where you can get some answers to your questions.
   

• It strengthens the bond with your dog. The more activities you do with your dog, the deeper the bond will be.
   

• It paves the road for other activities that will enrich your dogs' lives. With obedience training, your dog is more prepared to engage in a variety of canine sports, or may even be a great therapy dog.

A bonus: pet tricks and obedience skills are GREAT crowd pleasers at family reunions and/or Meet and Greets!!

One word of caution: If your dog is fearful, class may be too much for him. He may benefit more by starting with private training or a consult. If you have questions about what would best suit your dog, e-mail us at trainersacademy@aol.com.

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