A well behaved dog makes a perfect companion and pet and is a pleasure to have, however your dog isn’t born with this inbuilt good behaviour it is something which is taught to them preferably from an early age. The owner of the dog can take classes or read up on how to teach their pet obedience or the owner may prefer to take on the help and advice of a professional trainer instead.

Why is dog obedience a necessity?

Many times it is not just the dog who needs training it is the owner too, a dog is always willing to learn and eager to please its master and this doesn’t just apply to puppy’s it also applies to older dogs too. The old saying you can’t teach an old dog a new trick is so wrong, any dog regardless of their age can learn it just makes it easier if you start teaching your dog at a young age. Training is not only essential for safety reasons but it will also help to form a bond between dog and master.

What to look for in a trainer

The number one thing to look for in a trainer is that they teach obedience humanely, they should encourage your dog to respond by using techniques such as play, praise, food and attention on learning. Training techniques should never involve shaking the dog by the scruff of the neck, tugging on the lead, forcing the dog into submission or any other tactic that can frighten or inflict pain on your dog.

How do I find a suitable trainer?

It is always a good idea to ask around, you could ask friends, relatives or your local vet for advice on suitable trainers or classes for obedience training. Important questions you should ask a trainer are how long they have been training obedience for, where they learnt the techniques they use and what techniques they actually do use for training.

What kind of class gets the best results?

In a group class your dog will learn how to interact with other dogs as well as different handlers, self help training, private lessons and dog only lessons from which the owner is excluded miss out on this aspect. Another disadvantage to you not being involved is that your dog may perform well for the trainer but then not for you. Wherever possible all the members of the family should have a hand in the training of the dog as this will then help them to bond with their pet.

What to look for in a class group

* A class that is limited for individual attention.

* Separate classes for puppy’s and adult dogs.

* Different levels of training for example beginners, intermediate, advanced.

* Are the dogs and humans enjoying the training.

* Is praise given frequently.

* Is information given on handling your dog, grooming and problem solving.