Max and Cody - A Case Study in Effective Obedience Training

By Wendy Pan

My experience with obedience training for dogs comes through observing two very different canines with very different owners.

A Docile, Obedient Pitbull

My close friend Matthew owns a beautiful, black, male pitbull named Max. Having grown up with pitbulls, and knowing the demands of owning that particular breed, Matthew put Max into obedience training from the beginning. Max gained a level of docility that he never would have possessed had it not been for his schooling. I watched as Matthew worked alone with Max at home, giving orders both verbally and through body language, such as raising his arm as a command to sit. The greatest testimony I can give for obedience training your dog is, perhaps, the hours I have rumbled with Max on the floor, without any kind of fear. I play and wrestle with Max with as much, if not more, abandon than most dogs I know. This may help dispell a myth about pitbulls, but more importantly it shows the value of obedience training your dog.

A Stubborn Puppy Grows Up

My sister Annie was the original owner of Cody, a one-quarter malamute, three-quarter husky mix who came into our family with a dubious beginning. Cody was a biter. He was impossible to house train. But obedience training proved indespensible to his formation and his eventual turnaround. Cody was, according to Annie, wilfull in obedience school; in the beginning. Though he didn't finish at the top of his class, Cody did graduate and the results were noticable. Soon Cody stopped the biting, and he would quickly learn the rules of indoor versus outdoor behavior. Today my mother and father own Cody, who is now proud and strong, even at eleven. I can only speculate as to whether Cody would have made the jump from an ornery puppy to a loving adult without obedience training. My conclusion is that the schooling encouraged Cody to improve his behavior. He is now one of the most loving dogs I know.

Conclusion: Obedience Training Your Dog is for You

We as Americans are obsessed with our pets, especially our beloved dogs. It only makes sense to make them the happiest, most well-adjusted animals they can be. A disobedient dog is an unhappy one. The relationship between owner and pet is only strengthened through the vigorous, challenging, but ultimately rewarding process of obedience training. The opposite is also true. The vital relationship between an owner and their dog can be severed and damaged by doing it "on your own," as it were. Don't miss the unique opportunity to make your best friend the most loyal, well-behaved dog they can be. Obedience training your dog is a process you will never regret.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about Obedience training your dog, please visit Mans Best Friend Site for current articles and discussions.