If you have the time, patience, and knowledge to train your dog, you can accomplish goals for a well-behaved pet. However, different obedience training options are also available.
There is plenty of information online and in books about training your own dog. But owners must be willing to put in the time and research to do it properly.
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Your success in building the confidence of your dog to improve its behavior may depend on your abilities as well as the dog’s specific behaviors. Dogs are as different as people and it may have specific needs.
An inexperienced dog owner will benefit from taking the dog to training with a professional, whether one-on-one or in a class setting, which has the additional benefit of helping your dog learn to both socialize and focus while distractions are going on. These classes don't just teach the dog, but the owner, too.
Classes for puppies under five months deal with housebreaking as well as such issues as excessive barking or chewing. Basic dog obedience training will teach your dog commands and signals to follow. Advanced training improves your dog’s behavior in more complex situations to follow your commands and directions with distractions and from a distance.
Classes can vary in costs from $40 to $125 for four to eight weekly sessions of an hour in group classes to up to $600 or more for six sessions involving a private trainer.
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Some owners prefer to let the professionals handle training and send their pet off to a "doggy boot camp," where the dog stays away from home for a few weeks while learning from a professional trainer. This may also be an option for people with dogs who have behavioral issues that need additional attention.
Dog obedience boarding schools can cost from $1,000 to $2,500. The dog stays at the boarding kennel or trainer’s home for two to four weeks and receives one-on-one care, attention and training.
Getting to know your dog and seeing how its behavior improves can determine which route you should take. Whatever option you choose, make sure your dog enjoys what he is doing. Dog obedience training should be fun for the dog and the pet owner.
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