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Train your dog to be the ENVY of the neighborhood

As your dog PULLS you down the sidewalk, aren't you a little jealous of the calm dog walking beside your neighbor?  There’s going to be a theme to this post…………...every dog needs training. Every dog. Everywhere. Every time.

Okay! You just brought home a new puppy or adult dog. What’s the first thing you do? Get them fully vaccinated (see my post on the core vaccines your puppy/dog needs). What’s the next thing you do? Go to training classes. Yep, there is an “s” at the end of the word classes. Don’t just take your dog to one class and think that you are done. Nope, this is a lifelong endeavor.

The best way to train your dog is to take him/her to group classes. Not only do they learn how to respond to you in a situation full of distractions, but they also get socialized with other pets and humans at the same time. Puppy classes should be started around 4 months of age when the vaccine schedule has been completed - don’t forget that Bordetella vaccine! Adult dog classes can be started immediately (again with vaccines on board). This is a great chance for your puppy/dog to meet dogs of all sizes and personalities. And, it’s a safe setting with other dogs on leashes with trained professionals to alert the group of questionable dogs, and to step in before injuries could happen (unlike the dog park per se, where someone wants to “socialize” their mean dog who may also have a questionable vaccine history). Don’t get me wrong, dog parks are a fantastic way to socialize and exercise your dog; it’s the humans who don't care about their dog's behavior that I worry about.

Dog training classes start all the way at the beginning with puppy classes and continue to Canine Good Citizen classes, to Therapy Dog classes. At each step of the way, your dog will receive valuable lessons on how to be a good member of society, and he/she may receive some extra certification that may allow you to take them into businesses, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. The possibilities are endless. But, you need to put the work in. Many people bring a new puppy home because they are cute and think that magically they will have perfect manners. Nope; it takes a lot of work life-long to teach good manners and to keep good manners.

Having a well trained dog also makes Veterinary visits easier and faster. It allows us to better diagnose your pet should they be sick, and makes for a much more pleasant visit for you as the pet owner as well. While I love having dogs come in that are excited to see me, having a dog repeatedly jump on me when I was 7 months pregnant was not enjoyable. And, the dog who needs to be muzzled and held by 3 technicians is no fun for anyone. How about those sedated nail trims because you can’t get near the dog’s feet without sedation (see related blog post on nail trims).

Starting early and being consistent with your training makes life easier every day. Think about those walks…..wouldn’t it be nice if your dog stayed at your side, rather than trying to pull you over to run after the dog on the other side of the road. How about when your 80 year old grandparent comes to visit the family…..wouldn’t it be nice to not have to worry about the dog knocking them down and breaking their hip? How about when your kids have friends over…...your well socialized and trained dog wouldn’t dream of biting one of their friends. 

Did you know that "training" can also be fun for your dog?  Dogs of all breeds can really enjoy and benefit from the enrichment of Agility training. 


Many towns have canine-friendly businesses that provide agility classes, and some dog parks even have agility equipment.


Training, yes, lifelong training, benefits every dog. Doesn’t matter if you’ve had dogs your whole life, if you are a Veterinary professional, or if you’ve paid $3000 for a dog. They are all different, they all learn differently, and they all benefit from training. Make those daily interactions be positive. Let your dog be the envy of the group!
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