Basic dog obedience: boundaries and fun
PET BULLETIN
‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society
By Gloria J. Towle
Everyone wants to enjoy his or her dog and to do that we must learn how to communicate and work together.
Basic obedience classes establish rules and boundaries while having fun with your dog. Your dog will learn basic commands and you will learn how to teach them. You will learn how to be a confident and consistent leader. Your dog will learn self-control, how to work and focus with plenty of distractions and much more.
If you are interested in making your dog the best they can be, classes are being offered Wednesdays, March 9 through April 27, from 6-7 p.m. in Presque Isle at the VFW Hayward-Frazier Post 2599 on Parsons Street, and in Caribou, on Mondays through April 25 from 6-7:00 p.m. at the Caribou Rec Center’s downstairs game room.
Contact Chris at 551-8201 if interested in these classes.
Dog obedience training is important for many reasons. It keeps your dog safe. It ensures your dog will not adopt unwanted behaviors like tugging on the leash, jumping on people and begging during dinner, not to mention destructive tendencies. It gives your dog structure and expectations, which make them feel secure.
It also provides you and your dog quality time and a positive owner and dog relationship. Whether your dog is young or old, large or small, calm or hyper, obedience training is a positive step toward lifelong dog and owner happiness.
Don’t punish your dog for bad behavior! This may seem contrary to how training should be handled; however, punishment like yelling, hitting or time-outs in their crate actually can cause more harm than good. These punishments can cause your dog to be fearful, stressed and destructive. Instead, fix bad behaviors by rewarding good behavior. It may take them a little longer to catch on, but the rewards are worth it and the training will last. You won’t have to retrain and retrain and retrain.
I think when people pick up a new dog or bring a puppy home they envision taking that dog everywhere they go and having great off-leash obedience skills. But off-leash obedience takes a lot of hard work, consistency, patience and training. Off-leash obedience is not a skill or a step that is successfully easily taken; it is advanced obedience. If you don’t have great basic obedience at home and when he is on a leash, and your dog doesn’t listen to you 95 percent of the time or more, you probably aren’t ready for off-leash obedience.
Bad habits are much harder to fix than teaching your dog correct principles and not allowing these bad habits to start. It is not impossible to change bad habits, but it takes a lot more work. Teaching your dog correct principles and working on obedience is much easier and faster than trying to fix issues and problem solve.
Be patient and be kind, and work toward your goal of having a dog that is well trained.
If you are looking for a friend for life, stop by the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We are located at 26 Cross Street, Presque Isle. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., closing for lunch 12-12:30. Please be responsible — spay and neuter your pets.
Gloria J. Towle is the secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Aroostook Humane Society.
