There are many reasons why people want to train their dogs. Some people want to get off to a "good start" and have a way to communicate with their dogs. Others just want a dog "to listen" to them, while still others want to fix problem behaviors they are having with their dog.

Often people think that dogs only learn when someone is teaching them. Unfortunately this is far from the truth. Dogs are learning all the time, from the earliest of age and whenever they are awake. The environment is an ever-present teacher. Unfortunately dogs may be learning inappropriate behaviors compared to what the owner may want. That's why it is important to train your dog as early as possible. Learning is going on with your dog, so it's a good idea to have the dog learn desirable behaviors.

Early training of dogs is stressed as it is easier to have the dog understand, from an early age, what to do and not do, rather than to try and fix a behavioral problem later. Statistics state that only 1/3 of dogs stay with their original owners. Of the dogs being relinquished the majority (47.7%) were between 5 months and 3 years of age, and 37.1% had been owned from 7 months to 1 year. Hopefully basic, humane training will help lower these statistics and make the human-animal bond more secure. And, it is good to know that it is never "too late" to start communicating with your dog!

Often, people wonder how to find a class that is right for them and their dog, or how to find an appropriate trainer or behavioral consultant. Find out how to pick a trainer.

Carole Peeler with
Cadence and Cayenne