Pet Parent Question:
“I took my dog to puppy kindergarten and he seems to be doing fine. Do I need to do any more training with him?”
Yes. Basic obedience training for dogs is like school for human children. Basic obedience behaviors like sit, stay, come, leave it and more can be the difference between a dog who remains in a forever home and one who is surrendered to a shelter for “behavior problems.” Training helps dogs know what is expected of them, gives them structure and sets limits for them. Most of all, it makes living with a dog a positive experience for everyone. It is never too late to start. There are so many training options. You might pursue basic obedience training, canine good citizen training, therapy, sports-like agility and nose work—to name just a few. It is also important to transfer the learning from classroom to day-to-day living by asking your dog for the newly learned behaviors like “sit” until they become part of his daily routine. A trained dog is a joy to live with!
Donna Chicone is an award-winning author, TEDx speaker and advocate for dogs. She lives in Woodbury. You might find her engaged in pet-assisted therapy work.
