Dog Training and Obedience - 5 Reasons to Take it Seriously

By Adam N Jones

Training a new dog is a challenging and rewarding experience. Dog training and obedience requires patience, and it certainly helps if you love dogs! However, it also requires something else, just as important --knowledge. Dogs are intelligent animals, but, like all animals, they respond to behavior and situations mostly based on instinct. If you want your dog to behave in a certain way, you have to do certain specific things, or he won't respond the way you want, no matter how loving or patient you are. Here are some reasons why you should seriously consider dog training and obedience for your dog or puppy.

1. Keep Your House Clean

A dog that isn't trained will not be housebroken. This is the most basic training a dog or puppy requires. Beyond this, however, there may be other issues, such as chewing on objects or jumping on furniture that you want to keep clean. Without training, a dog will do what he wants and go where he wants.

2. Safety

Another basic reason to have a well trained dog is safety. Not many dogs are "vicious" or born bad, but many dogs are fear biters, or will snap at people in certain situations. This can cause serious physical injuries, as well as legal problems.

3. Dogs are Pack Animals

What this translates into is that dogs instinctively think of themselves as part of a hierarchy. An untrained dog may think of himself as being at the top of the hierarchy --the alpha dog, so to speak. You don't want this, unless you don't mind being a second-class citizen in your home! Training establishes you as the top dog.

4. Barking, Fighting, Pulling

These are some of the behavior problems that commonly occur with dogs that have not been properly trained. They may bark constantly, fight with other dogs or be a nuisance to walk because the pull on the leash. Training can address all of these issues, or prevent them from ever arising.

5. Have A Happier Dog

Some people who don't understand dogs don't like the idea of training, seeing it as authoritarian or even cruel. In fact, the opposite is true. An untrained dog is unsure of himself. Dogs by nature want to please, and they want to know their place in the household. A trained dog is a happy dog.

These are some important reasons to consider dog training and obedience for your dog or puppy.

If you want to try to train your dog yourself I wish you nothing but luck. I was there at one point and I know what you are thinking. If you want to take the easy way to learn dog training and obedience