Training Our Dogs is Essential.

I want my dog  to be well-trained and cultivate a good habit for him to be a great companion.  I don’t want to train him to instill fear but I want him to do as told  because he feels good about it and wants to please me.  But dog training has to go beyond the very basic level of safety or avoidance of property damage and physical harm.  Dogs are by nature pack animals and they recognize heirarchy.  As an owner, I have to be at the top of that heirarchy.  This may sound dictatorial but I believe it to be essential.  From one of my research it says, a labrador retriever will be compelled by his instincts to assume the role if you don’t.   This explains why some of you might  see labrador retreivers that are rude and disrespectful.   They’re not. He is carrying out his role as pack leader. He figures that since YOU haven’t assumed the role, HE has to do it.’

I took obedience training very seriously.   It is interesting to note, that  dogs have behavioral differences even if they are of the same breed.  It was important for me to do a bit of research to make sure he is given the right training and get the most out of it too.  My dog is a labrador retriever breed but not  all labrador retreivers are alike.  He is the energetic one, sweet natured and loves everyone.  He is cheerful, steady-tempered, and is eager to please and very responsive to training.   He’s hyperactive and aggressive though, that’s why he has vigorous exercise requirement to vent his energy otherwise he become hard to control and bored which he usually express by becoming destructive.   He doesn’t want to be left alone either and express his unhappiness through destructive chewing. 

I started early on obedience training for my dog.  I did the training myself not because I am qualified but because I know my dog more than anybody else so it’s easy for me to control him.  After all, I am his mistress and I want to establish that leadership. Confidence and dominant body language is important when interacting with your dog because he views you as a fellow pack member and to be able to get his respect, he must be able to see me above him in the dominance heirarchy. 

A follower dog is a happier dog.  They instinctively know that you are in control. They know their behavior bring praise and reward. They are also smarter because their brain has been developed.  Teaching him anything causes his brain to build connections and work faster which makes him very smart.  They also become very confident because he knows that you are in control and he can relax.

An educated dog is also a thinking dog.  A “thinking” dog listens carefully. He looks at your face, reads your expressions and body language, and tries to piece individual words together into complex actions.

The real benefit of not having to deal with obedience issues is the fact that you and your dog can put all of your energy into making your relationship a fulfilling one.