Sit. Stay. Come. Heel. Down. Leave it. Dog obedience trainers teach the basics that most people are familiar with. The commands dogs learn help them be less unruly and can keep them safe. A dog that will sit quietly when asked, walk politely on a leash, and return to you when called at the dog park is what most pet parents want.
But did you ever think that maybe your pup could learn to do so much more?
Professional dog trainers understand canine cognition and behavior and know what motivates dogs. Pairing that knowledge with most dogs’ natural desire to please allows trainers to teach them some pretty cool–and helpful–stuff.
Complex commands take some thought in order to break training down into individual steps in order to create a behavior chain. Once all the steps are reinforced and put together in the right order, dogs can do complex things.
If you’ve seen videos of dogs flying through agility courses or competing in canine freestyle–long, intricate performances involving a dog and handler–that’s how the dog has been trained: one link of the chain at a time.
But even if you’re not interested in competing with your dog, it’s great to provide lifelong training. It’s good for your dog to stay engaged and learning, and training together grows your bond and keeps it strong.
Take Your Well-Trained Dog Anywhere!
Well, maybe not anywhere, but today, there are more and more places that welcome dogs, from coffee shops and bars to stores. If you like the idea of being able to take your dog with you in public, think about working with a professional trainer on impulse control in public or at home.
To be sure, self-control is hard, even for us humans! Impulse control can be tailored to override a dog’s natural urges to bark, chase other animals, jump up on people, or eat food that falls on the floor. You wouldn’t think it possible to teach a dog not to go after dropped steak, but it is!
In fact, impulse control in public is one of the main goals for a service dog. A service dog must be trained to remain calm and focused on his or her job in the face of any distraction in public. Reactive or fearful dogs cannot work as service dogs.
The American Kennel Club has a Canine Good Citizen test you might want to work toward if you plan to take your dog out in public. After all, who doesn’t want to spend more time with their best friend?
Tailoring Your Dog Training
Sometimes, there are behaviors you just want to teach your dog to make life easier.
Does your dog crowd the doorway ? Does he remain too close when you’re playing fetch? Teach him to back up.
Would you like your dog to learn to bring you a particular item while you’re sitting comfortably on the couch? Teach her. How awesome would it be to have a dog who can open the fridge and fetch you a cold drink or a bag of cheese puffs?
Want to impress your friends? Teach your dog parlor tricks like the shell game or, if you’re really dedicated you can teach your dog to do a handstand, which builds upon the “back up” cue!
Interested in Dog Training Professionally?
If you love working with dogs and would like to pursue a career as a professional trainer, schools like Animal Behavior College can help make that happen! Their ABC Dog Obedience Program gives you a foundation in training and then provides the real-world experience you’ll need to practice your new skills and gain confidence.
With a personal program manager team available to assist you any time and a local mentor to guide you, you’re never alone! To learn more, contact them at 800-795-3294.
