When you bring a puppy into your home, you’ll both have a lot to learn. Establishing routines and boundaries is healthy and necessary whether you’re enjoying playtime or setting up a sleep schedule. Bestfriends.org encourages puppy parents to “be proactive by teaching your dog to perform the behavior you want!”
That’s why experts suggest enrolling your pup in training classes as early as 7 weeks. Dogs should have their first set of vaccinations and an initial deworming at least one week before the start of class. Then they’re ready to begin the life-enriching process of training. Here are some of the benefits you and your pup can experience through puppy training classes.
BONDING
“Training has been shown to be the single most important thing that keeps a dog in his or her “forever” home.” Trainyourdogmonth.com lists this as one of the top reasons to train your puppy. They agree that training creates a bond between dog and owner that enriches the relationship on both sides. A dog that is trained is more likely to bond and stay with an owner for their entire life instead of ending up in a shelter after a frustrating or hurtful relationship.
SOCIALIZATION
Trainyourdogmonth.com also asserts that “puppy socialization has been found to be critical to the psychological health of adult dogs.” Acclimating your dog to interact well with other dogs and humans from an early age allows for a dog to be more confident in social situations instead of turning to aggression or fearfulness. The American Kennel Club shares that “inadequate socialization during the first two or three months of the puppy’s life can result in behavioral issues (including fears, phobias, avoidance, and aggression) that extend well into the dog’s life.”
POSITIVE DISCIPLINE
Letting your dog know who is in charge may sound tough, but it’s essential. Basic commands for sit and stay as well as a response to authority will help when different circumstances arise. This is not only helpful for social situations but can save a dog’s life. Imagine a dog who doesn’t listen and runs out into the street.
If you plan to take your dog anywhere beyond the confines of your home, training for basic social commands is necessary. This not only builds trust between dogs and owners, it establishes a well-ordered forever home environment. You can continue to reinforce good behaviors learned in class by calling attention to them and offering rewards while ignoring or minimalizing the attention given to bad behaviors.
WARM WELCOMES
Trained dogs are more welcome in social situations with humans as well as other animals. From sidewalk cafes to dog parks, trained and socialized dogs are better prepared to interact with four-legged and two-legged acquaintances. Obedient dogs are better at greeting other dogs and humans and are better received in most environments.
Looking for a place to train up your pup? A Ruff Day Bark Club offers classes for puppy socialization from 8-14 weeks and obedience training from 12-22 weeks. We focus on providing a clean, safe environment for pups to overcome early fears as well as learn basic and advanced commands and positive behaviors. Our trainers are highly skilled and ready to lovingly guide your little fur baby. Learn more from our website here and register for the next session of training classes online.