Training your dog ---or let them do their own thing
By needtoiron
@needtoiron (82)
Australia
October 5, 2007 4:52pm CST
hi everyone
Just wanting your thoughts on whether it is better to train your dog or let it do it's own thing? I myself like to have dogs who are polite and do as they are told and don't runumuck. i take my dogs to an obedienc school at least once a week. I myself enjoy these outings abd they socialize my dogs as well. i have now become a dog instructor so I can help other people train their dogs as well
1 person likes this
3 responses
@DesigningLife (903)
• United States
6 Oct 07
Dogs learn (and thus "are trained") whether we control their learning environment OR leave them to form their behaviors based on chance and circumstance.
The former option is of course the preferred method of training. Unfortunately, too many dog owners do not get enough training themselves.
Good for you on being responsible and proactive in your dog's obedience AND for becoming an instructor yourself! I owned a dog training biz for several years also and there is ALWAYS something to learn.
Beautiful pic by the way!
1 person likes this
@needtoiron (82)
• Australia
6 Oct 07
Hi.
Being a shar pei breeder one thing I stress strongely to all my buyers is that they take their pei to puppy school and then obedience. Shar peis can be very headstrong and if they are not taught who is the boss early in their lives they will not be very pleasant to live with. yes I agree no matter how much you learn there always something new out there.
Thank you for the compliment
1 person likes this
@tintin7978 (102)
• Philippines
5 Oct 07
Having a trained dog is better. Although dogs are smart it is still better if they are taught properly. You could spend quite a sum of money but I think it's really worth it. And it's you who would benefit from this decision. It could be fun for the dog too. ^^
@needtoiron (82)
• Australia
6 Oct 07
yes bot only fun for the dog as it makes new friends but for you to as learning to train your dog could lead to a great hobby like trialing and agility. Both my husband and I participate in these areas and we not only are spending a lot more time with our dogs but we are meeting some very interesting people.
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@crazed_moma (1054)
• United States
6 Oct 07
Well I put mine thru obedience training (not totally happy with the results, they're great on leash....) and the instructer made a great point. If you treat your dogs like humans then they'll treat you like a dog. Not what I want from my dogs. That and I can't have them terrorizing the neighborhood. My kids have that job. ;)
@needtoiron (82)
• Australia
6 Oct 07
hi,
maybe you didn't take them to training for long enough and did you practice what you were taught at training at home? 5 mins a day is all it takes to train a dog and if you have enough patience you can teach them all sorts of things. my daughter taught her dog to wave, very cute when a little dog does this.
And to the chidren may a little time at obedience training will do them the world of good too.
1 person likes this
@crazed_moma (1054)
• United States
6 Oct 07
lol yes the kids could use obedience training too. (really they aren't too bad) I do practice with them and they're great on the leash. My Rat Terrier just likes to chase joggers and I didn't realize he was getting out under the fence and doing it! The other day he jetted out the front door when I opened it and attacked the neighbors dog (twice his size btw) and that's how I heard about him breaking out of the yard when we're gone. I guess I need to find something to do with him when I open the door... I've tried making him sit but then he pees on my carpet. I pick him up but then my Boston runs out and I have to chase him down, usually out of some one's garage.
OH and when we go on walks my rat barks and growls at HUGE dogs.
