A dog obedience school is just a phone call or click of the mouse away. Being a responsible dog owner means obedience training. While some people can conduct the training all on their own, an expert can do so much more.
You have probably observed other dog owners with disorderly dogs, or maybe even have reconciled yourself in thinking that your own dog will never obey your commands. Perhaps newspaper and shoe chewing has become such a habit that you come to expect it from your dog. Or maybe you've given up walking your dog because you cannot control him or want to be embarrassed by his behaviors while on the street in public.
Don't give up on your dog. You owe it to yourself and your dog to do everything you can to get him trained. Trouble and a number of crises can be avoided when you have a well-trained and obedient dog. An untrained dog could bite someone, risking a lawsuit. Or your barking dog could result in someone calling the police to report a disturbing of peace. A dog that will not respond to you or come to you when called is not only a potential hazard to the public, it is also a nuisance to you and is just courting a potential injury if left unattended.
With the guidance of an obedience school instructor, you will learn how to effectively communicate with your pooch so that he will listen. Your dog will learn the basic commands such as sit, stay, down and heel. He will also learn how to integrate into a social setting and figure out how to behave with other dogs and animals around. And guess what? Your dog will love obedience training because he gets one-on-one time with you, his master!
You would approach choosing a dog obedience school as if you were choosing the right college to go to. You want to be meticulous and select the right option. Plus, this obedience training is not just for the family pooch, it is also for you too. After all, you will be there leading your dog and listening to the obedience dog trainer's suggestions. You should be able to get along with the instructor. Do a little research into the obedience schools in your area and "interview" the instructor before making a decision.
One idea to finding the right obedience school is asking your veterinarian. Either with his own dogs or testimonials from other clients, the vet may know of some reputable dog obedience training schools. Ask your network of friends and family. Who has a dog that went through training? Where did they go?
You also want to prepare a list of questions to ask. If you have to select a school from the phone book rather than a recommendation, you want to ask those prepared questions. Talk with your local Better Business Bureau and make sure there are no complaints against any potential dog trainers you narrow down to. Ask the school for references and actually follow up with them. You want to talk with other people who have had success with their own dogs.
Finally, find out about the philosophy of the trainer. Make sure that their views about dogs and training resemble your own. You want to feel comfortable about the situation. And don't forget to tour the facilities before you start a training program. By dropping in unannounced and observing training sessions, you will be able to get a feel of the school. You owe it to your dog to find him the right obedience school. With a well-behaved dog, you will enjoy him that much more.
