Do you have a Marley at your house?

Whether you are a new dog owner or you have had a dog or multiple dogs in your home for some time, you know the joy and challenges owning dogs can be. And if you are new to being a dog owner, you may need help to keep the harmony.

Many pet owners will agree, bringing home a new dog is almost like having a newborn in the house, especially those first few nights away from mom, siblings and environment.

One of your main concerns after learning general health care for your dog should be your dogs’ behavior.

How do you ensure that your dog behaves in the manner of you expect?

If you are thinking that the answer is “breed” you are partially correct. Indeed, breed does play a role in a dog’s behavior.

But an even greater factor in the dog’s behavior is based on the training he receives. Good dog training resources can go a long way toward helping both you and your dog.

The Benefits of Training

If you are like most people, you are extremely busy. Some days, there just doesn’t seem like enough hours to take care of yourself, let alone a dog or two!

But, the time that you spend training your dog in the beginning will reap huge rewards with your  relationship for many, many years to come.

There are five main benefits of training:

1.Training Builds a Relationship.

There is no better way to create a bond with your dog than through the process of training. You may think that training begins at the time you decide to try new tricks, but it actually begins at the very moment you acquire your dog.  Their routine is established by you.

Your dog is constantly watching you and learning from your actions. He learns from the way you react to his actions. He looks to you for guidance, for food, for warmth, for comfort, and for playtime. Can you see the different body language reactions?

Although dogs may not be able to reason, they react to different tone and volume in your voice in different ways.  Pick up the dog bowl, what does your dog do?  He wags his tail, barks, etc. because he relates your body actions to what his reward is going to be…food!

2.Training Corrects Behavioral Problems.

Barking at anyone who passes by the front window, chewing up your favorite pillows, digging through your freshly planted garden, bolting out of an open door…do any of these actions look familiar to you?

When you have developed a trusting bond with your dog, you can teach him how to correct these behavioral problems. He will learn by your reactions whether or not his actions are acceptable to you. No doubt, he will test his limits!

3.Training Stimulates Intellect.

Yes, it is true that dogs are very curious creatures. With exposure to so many unusual smells, sights, and sounds, dogs can’t help but want to explore. It’s in their nature!

Most dogs have the capacity to be very intelligent. But, they need to be stimulated first, and then they will be motivated to learn. Training is a huge benefit for stimulating your dog’s intellect.

4.Training Encourages Inclusion.

The sense of “inclusion” is very important to a dog’s security. From the earliest days of being a part of a litter, your dog is comfortable being a part of the pack. That includes being a member of your household now.

Although there is usually a primary dog trainer, everyone in your family or household should take the time to train your dog in one way or another. The undivided attention he receives makes him feel like part of the family and adds to his social skills.

5.Training Saves Time.

Another huge benefit of training your dog is that it saves you time. Taking the time to train your dog now, will actually save you time in the long run. For example, if you take the time to train your dog to behave properly inside the house, you will actually be saving time cleaning up mischievous messes that he could create in the future-if he didn’t have the training.

Begin training as soon as possible, give lots of praise even for the little steps.  Remember, your dogs’ time with you is very short, be patient and your reward will be well worth your time invested.  It doesn’t take a dog long to know what is expected from him and provide you with unconditional love and devotion.

Training is a joint effort with your pet and family.  Sharda Baker has published several excellent dog eBooks and audios. If you need more dog training help and advice, I highly recommend getting one of Sharda’s guides.