If we ask many dog owners the question: what have you taught your dog, the reactions will be very different. Many will make big eyes in surprise, others will tap their heads, and yet others will ask: Why should I train my dog? I didn’t buy him for this purpose! I want a family dog or a guard dog, so why should I teach him tricks? Only a few, and those most aware, will start to tell what they have already managed to teach their furry friend.
Why train a dog?
The truth is that we train dogs not to show off in front of friends. Not to show the neighbor that my dog is better than his because he already knows seven tricks, and his only knows three. Training a dog is a very important aspect of its development. Research shows that a dog builds self-confidence through training, develops its intelligence, and builds and strengthens the bond with its guardian.
Training a dog means continuously stimulating and developing its intelligence, which can positively influence its development. Dogs trained from a young age are also more self-confident and communicate better with other dogs in their environment.
What forms of dog training do we know?
The simplest form of dog training is learning commands. We can start this as early as the youngest years of the dog’s life. We obviously start with the simplest commands and, as time goes on, we move on to more complicated ones. One of the easiest commands to teach is “give a paw” or “speak.” These are very easy commands and ideal for beginners.
Of course, learning commands is not the only form of dog training. Let’s remember that dogs experience the world through smell. Therefore, a great form of activity is scent work called nosework. It involves searching an area and finding the scent of cinnamon, orange, and clove. Nosework is an ideal and very interesting form of training. Searches can be conducted both indoors and outdoors. Essentially, this training requires only minimal training for the guardian. Currently, there are many nosework courses available in both online and in-person formats. A variant of nosework is mantrailing, where the dog has to find a decoy by following a scent trail.
A very spectacular form of training is Agility. This is a sport designed for breeds that love to move. It involves overcoming an obstacle course in the order indicated by the handler. However, one must remember that this sport can lead to injuries.
What does training a dog give to the guardian?
Does dog training also benefit the guardian? Of course, as you might guess, the answer is affirmative. It is obvious that through such joint training, we strengthen the bond with our dog. Going through the successive stages of training gives the owner immense satisfaction and pride. Research also shows that during the moments spent together with your furry friend, we release happiness hormones, and it can be a kind of escape from everyday problems.
Is it worth training a dog?
IT IS WORTH IT! Moreover, it is necessary for the dogs and for us – their owners. In the whirl of everyday duties, it is an escape from the all-encompassing electronics, smartphones, televisions, computers, tablets, and other time thieves. A dog sees us with its eyes and we are its whole world. By training your dog, you create and strengthen the bond between you and gain a loyal and selfless friend for life. Can there be anything more beautiful and more worth our time?
Author: Tomasz Pabis – Dog trainer, Psinosek.pl