Our expert trainers at A&T Trained Dogs have put together this guide to explain the importance of training and how it improves every aspect of dog ownership.

What Are The Benefits Of Dog Training? 

Training your dog is essential for a variety of reasons. For example, teaching them obedience-related commands, like sit, wait or recall, can help increase their freedom with you still feeling in control. Most importantly, it can even help protect them from the risk of accidents from situations such as running into the road. 

Training can also help curb negative habits, such as biting other dogs or humans, chewing the sofa or your favourite slippers. 

Similarly, it can help them become suitable for a range of specialised purposes, such as protection. It can even help with long and short term cognitive issues, such as aggression. You can find out more about the types of dog training we offer and why they are beneficial here.

Ultimately, the best thing about training your dog is the bond it helps you to create with them. They will trust you, and you will trust them, and the respect they will have for you and your commands will make outings and day-to-day life run that much smoother.

Why Do Dogs Like Being Trained?

Dogs are incredibly intelligent and love learning and exploring new things. Training allows them to keep safe during new experiences, as well as keeping them entertained. Structured programmes like socialisation training can also work wonders for their confidence, helping them to tackle meeting new people and visiting unfamiliar places with a sense of security.

Additionally, they are incredibly social animals and will be looking to you for guidance, so it is important that there is a sense of trust and authority established between you both.

Also, the more you reward them, the more likely they are to have fun when it comes to learning new skills. Treats and praise go a long way in building trust and a positive relationship with your dog! 

What Happens If You Do Not Train Your Dog?

Untrained dogs will likely have, or develop, behavioural issues. These could range from pulling on their leads on walks to resource guarding, aggression and a lack of recall. 

Additionally, they are less likely to listen to you as their owner without guidance. This is because there will be no sense of authority established through learned commands and behaviours. This may even lead to them trying to become the leader in the family’s “pack” hierarchy when it should be you instead.

Why Should You Not Train Your Own Dog?

Reasons that training your own dog is not a good idea include:

You Do Not Have Professional Knowledge

Ultimately, this means that you do not understand animal behaviour as well as an expert. Most people anthropomorphise their dogs, i.e. thinking of them as people, and treating them as though they are. However, they will not respond to the same kind of training; we know what makes them tick. 

Additionally, training an aggressive dog takes a special level of knowledge and care to keep yourself, your dog and those around you safe. It is the job of experts, such as our trainers, to be constantly learning new techniques for working with different types of dogs. 

That being said, we know it can be tempting to use Google to find all the answers. However, although the internet is full of useful tips and tricks, it does not know your dog. This means that you cannot use it to find the best methods to suit their individual needs like a trainer can.

You Likely Do Not Have The Time

Training your furry friend takes a lot of time and patience. While you may not have time in your busy schedule, we have all the time in the world – it is what we do.

You Are Emotionally Involved With Your Dog

Many people struggle with training their pets, as they are worried about how it will affect their relationship. A lack of structure and discipline in the dynamic leads to ineffective training – we know how easy it is to give in to their big eyes and whining and give them that treat, but we are well-trained to resist!

Incorrect Training Can Lead To Bad Habits

The aim of dog training is to establish a set standard of good behaviour and positive habits that you want from your dog. In the event that you get it wrong, you could end up reinforcing bad habits that are then very hard to break. This could lead to a lifetime of problems with recall, barking, socialisation and other behavioural concerns.

Why Keep Up Your Dog’s Learning

Outside of training programmes such as ours, it is vital to keep up with regular training. This will help make sure all the new knowledge is fresh in your dog’s mind. 

When your dog leaves the capable hands of our experts, they will be trained to the highest possible standards. However, once they go back to the comfort of their own home, these standards can start to slip. As they readjust to your caring, less strict company, they may soon start to revisit old habits, such as pulling on the lead or jumping up in excitement.

How Can I Keep Up With My Dog’s Training?

When your dog returns from training, and appears to have mastered the new tricks they have learned, it is important that the learning does not stop there. Here are some top tips to make sure their new habits and behaviours stay fresh in their minds:

Detailed Training Handovers

After any of our training programmes, our experts will be on hand to give you a full one-hour handover session. In this session, we will give you all the knowledge you need to keep control of your dog, using the commands we have taught them. We will also give you advice on how best to continue their training positively, so they remain obedient and well-behaved.

Refresher Training 

If you feel your dog is starting to slip in their behaviour, you can always come back for a refresher course. This will remind your dog of what is expected and help you to correct any small issues before they become big problems. By the end of the refresher dog training course, your dog will be back to being as well-behaved and obedient as they were when they first came to us.

Ultimately, we want you to get the most out of your relationship with your dog, and we want your dog to feel happy and secure with you. 

So if you can see your dog’s behaviour starting to slip, get in touch, and we will soon help you set them straight again.

Practise Basic Commands At Home

When reinforcing commands, it is important to do so in an environment that is as free of distractions as possible. 

You should also split any sessions up into shorter, more regular sessions to avoid overwhelming your pup.

Ultimately, patience is vital – repetition will give your dog the best chance at cementing new habits and commands. We also recommend ending each session on a command your dog knows well for a positive finish. 

What Are Some Basic Commands For Dogs?

Basic commands that it is important for your dog to know include:

  • Sit 
  • Lie down 
  • Recall commands 
  • Wait 

These will help you feel more in control in a wide range of situations, both indoors and outdoors. 

Choose A&T Trained Dogs to Train Your Dog 

So, if your dog requires some training, at A&T Trained Dogs, we have a range of situational training programmes, which involve teaching commands and behaviours that can help solve lingering issues or increase the trust in your dog-owner relationship. For more information or to book our services, contact us online or call us on 01524 587315.