Dogs can be trained for a number of reasons, but obedience training is probably the most important one. All dogs should be trained, for their own benefit as well as that of your family; besides, you will develop a stronger companionship with your dog when you do the exercises together.
Training sessions should be tailored to each dog’s needs, and can sometimes take place in your home, an environment that the dog is used to and considers safe, and where the entire family can participate in the training. This way, the dog learns to obey each family member, not just the trainer. In-home obedience classes are particularly suitable for dogs with behavior problems. In dog obedience classes, the dog will learn to listen to basic commands like sit, stay, and come when you call, stop jumping on you whenever he sees you, barking uncontrollably, chewing things he’s not supposed to, digging your backyard. The goal of the training is that the dog sees you (not himself) as the leader of the pack. Obedience classes can save a dog’s life, considering that the handler (you) will have complete control over the dog; for instance, when the dog learns to stand still and allow hands-on examination by a veterinarian, or when the dog responds instantly and correctly to his handler’s call even in dangerous situations. Go right here if you are looking for an appropriate dog training for your puppy.
Other benefits of obedience training
From dog obedience classes in Sydney, you and your dog can go on to compete for titles and certificates; for example, a dog that is familiar with basic training exercises should be able to pass a Canine Good Citizen test or similar tests, and receive a certificate. A well-behaved dog can also compete in obedience trials, aside from the usual agility and tracking events. Note that classes alone are not enough, though; to be eligible to take part in specific competitions, dogs must be over 6 months of age and registered with certain canine organizations, clubs and programs. In some obedience trials only dogs belonging to a certain breed can participate, so it’s important to check in advance the requirements of each canine club.
There are several levels in a competition, starting from very simple exercises for beginner dogs; these include heel on and off leash, coming when called, sitting and laying down for longer periods (up to 3 minutes at novice level). The most difficult is the utility level, which tests the dog’s ability to follow commands based solely on hand signals from the owner, as well as his ability to detect an article belonging to his handler from several other articles.