They are so easy to love. With their wildly out-of-control tails, slobbery kisses, and that endearing excitement when we walk in the door, it’s just too easy to love a dog. Of course, because we love them so much, we like to think they love us back. And they probably do, in whatever way animals feel love. We love them so much that we are likely to overlook a few of their less endearing habits, which can make them slightly less lovable—even if only for a brief moment. One of the most loving things we can do for our four-legged companions is enroll them in dog obedience training classes.
The Importance of Dog Obedience Training
Why is this a loving action? Because dogs need certain things from their humans. When we agree to bring them into our homes and make them part of our families, we commit to providing them with what they need. Our responsibility to them means we pledge to give them food, shelter, medical care, companionship, and a place in the pack. If we want to give them a place in the pack, we need to choose what that place will be. If we don’t, they will take it upon themselves to choose their own place—and, of course, they’ll aim for the top. Offering them a clear place in the pack gives them security. Choosing their place for them not only provides peace of mind but also helps ensure we have a reliable, well-behaved dog.
A good dog is priceless. When your dog can be counted on to be around someone’s child, your own child, or walk down the street without terrorizing the neighborhood, you’re definitely going to enjoy him more. But when your dog needs to be constantly crated when there’s company or must be walked late at night just so he won’t threaten anyone, you still love him—but you’re slowly becoming less of his biggest fan. The tough part about this realization is that it’s not his fault.
Dogs respond to what the humans give them to respond to. They have a very small “thinking brain” but a very large “reaction brain.” When you tell your dog to sit, he responds. He doesn’t think about it. When you tell him to sit and he refuses, he’s still responding—he’s responding based on his long-term knowledge that he doesn’t have to listen because there’s no reason for him to. This is frustrating, to say the least. So, when your dog decides to take himself for a walk around the neighborhood, he isn’t expecting consequences, and who knows what those consequences might be? He feels like the leader because you haven’t given him leadership.
As humans, we are quick to blame the dog. We assume that because we did everything the book said, and he’s responding accordingly, something must be wrong with the dog—or the book. We rarely look at ourselves. Enrolling in dog obedience training forces us to evaluate ourselves as leaders when our dog isn’t responding properly.
Not all dog training classes will work for every dog. In fact, some dogs are naturally more pliable and will respond positively with little effort. Other dogs are more stubborn by nature and may require a different approach. Just like humans, not all dogs learn at the same rate or respond to the same type of training. I don’t know that there’s anything more frustrating than sitting in a class with ten other dogs, watching their perfect behavior, while your dog is tangling himself up at the end of the leash, rolling on his back, and playing his own game when he’s supposed to be sitting. They have a way of making us feel downright incompetent.
Your main goal in training classes is to learn to communicate effectively with your dog. If one class isn’t doing much more than frustrating you and making you feel incompetent, you might need to reconsider the instructor’s style. Most large chain companies will allow you to either request a refund or switch to a new set of classes with a different instructor. How you proceed is entirely up to you.
Don’t forget to evaluate yourself. If things aren’t going well in class, ask the instructor to observe your interaction with your pup. Give him several commands. In fact, classrooms should install mirrors so that participants can see themselves. You might think you’re standing tall and straight while giving an order, but without the ability to watch yourself, it can be very difficult to discern what your body is actually doing. Having someone who can correct you will help you correct your dog much more than you might realize.
Dog obedience training is one of those unspoken promises we make to our furry friends when we adopt them into our homes and hearts. It is part of the responsibility of owning these precious animals. Because owning a dog has become so commonplace, many people forget the unique grace, intelligence, and majestic beauty that these gentle creatures bring to our over-complicated world. Our promises to them are sacred.
