Probably the most significant issue for every dog owner is dog training. Even if it isn't, it ought to be.
Other crucial questions for dog owners include "who did this to the carpeting," "who ruined my brand-new leather shoe," and "what happened to the cookies that were cooling on the counter." However, due to how simple it is to respond to these questions, they are less significant.
Whether you know it or not, every dog has some kind of training. The research of Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov best explains why your dog is taught.
I am aware of your thoughts. You're asking yourself, "Isn't he the New York Rangers' goalie?" Again incorrect, kind reader. Scientist Ivan Pavlov lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is most well-known for his experiment on dogs.
Pavlov fed a dog while ringing a bell in order to simplify his task. Over time, he saw that the dog would start salivating when the bell was rung, even if there was nothing to eat. Even when the reward (the food) wasn't present, it appeared that the cue (the bell) directly caused the desired response (salivation).
The scientific community laughed at Pavlov when he attempted to publish these findings in a peer-reviewed journal because most dogs salivate almost continuously, they said. I made it up, in actuality.
I simply thought I'd bring up the fact that my dog nearly always slobbers. In fact, Pavlov received the Nobel Prize for his research on what is now known as "conditioned response." It's possible that this was the first Nobel Prize to directly influence an easier training method for dogs.
Response conditioning occurs everywhere. Watch a football or baseball game if you don't believe me.
What happens when the organist begins to perform a certain piece of music?
What do you do when you hear an ice cream truck's jingle?
What did you do when you overheard your mother using your full name?
Please be honest; this is for science! In all honesty, this reaction simplifies dog training considerably.
Although dog training may be challenging, it is an essential part of your connection with your canine companion. A poorly behaved dog is, at best, annoying. Untrained dogs may be very harmful to both themselves and other people.
Although challenging, dog training is essential. You may be better off with a different pet if you're not prepared to teach your dog yourself (or, since this is a capitalist nation, hire someone else to do it for you). like a pet rock, as an illustration.
If you do decide to hire someone to train your dog, there are many individuals who will do it for you. Your veterinarian may suggest them, as can your friends and websites like Angie's List. You'll likely have a lot of questions for the trainer, but keep the following in mind:
What skills do you want your dog to have?
Simple obedience is a long way from therapy dog training, which is a far shorter route than finding and removing bombs. Make sure your potential trainer has knowledge of the result you are aiming for.
Can you participate?
It is far more beneficial to train you and your dog together than to teach them separately and then inform you afterwards.
How does the trainer go about his or her job?
The list of questions is endless: Are Stasi techniques prevalent?, Is positive reinforcement used?, What kinds of collars or other devices are often used?
The Stasi techniques were saved for me in one obedience lesson, primarily because my dog was getting it but I wasn't. It's usually best to look for someone else if you or your dog won't be comfortable.
Will my dog and I be trained alone or in a group?
Remember that dogs eventually need to learn how to interact with other dogs as well.
So, you're probably already persuaded that dog training is important and that the present is the best moment to start. After researching your alternatives for dog training, get started and enjoy yourself. A taught dog is far more entertaining than a leaping, slobbering mess, take it from me.
My dog is still a leaping, slobbering disaster despite having passed his tests with honours and being only one test away from being a therapy dog, but that's an altogether other tale.
