Ask any dog owner and they’ll gladly tell you that their pet is the perfect pooch. Just like people, however, dogs each have their own personality, and with puppy personality also comes canine imperfections. Although you may not be able to see it yourself, since love is blind, there are probably any number of friends, family and neighbors who secretly question why you let your four-legged companion get away with such bad manners. Even if your beloved doggy knows the basic obedience commands of sit, stay and come, there are still a few reasons to take Fido to school.
Consistency
You can teach your dog all the basic commands, but if your dog will not follow them consistently, you will soon become very frustrated with the situation. Dogs are quite clever, and they will soon learn to tell the difference between when it’s in their best interest to obey and when what ever else it is that they are doing is much more fun than what you want them to do. You can’t always go around with a pocket full of kibble, so you will need to work on having your dog respond for the simple reward of love and praise. Making sure your dog will listen consistently, will help you keep Fido under control when he would rather chase the neighbour’s cat or eat the baby’s breakfast off the table.
Table Manners
There’s nothing more convincing than a dog’s soft eyes staring up at you while you are trying to eat dinner, and it’s very easy to give in. Reward your dog’s begging once and be prepared for a lifetime of sad eyes and puddles of drool. Although this may be fine when it is just family around the table, not everyone you invite over for dinner will be a dog person. Dogs instinctively know who the weakest link is, and they also have an uncanny ability to beg from the person who doesn’t even want to be in the same room. Having a dog trained to ignore delectable temptations will save you from all kinds of embarrassment and guilt when you have to lock them away in the laundry room so Aunt Mabel can eat her Thanksgiving dinner in peace.
Safety
There will come a time when you will need to give a command that could very well save your dog’s life. You could be talking to the neighbor across the street and a brusque “Stay!” will keep Fido from running out into traffic, or an immediately obeyed “Come!” will keep your dog from being sprayed by a skunk. Having the confidence of knowing your dog will listen to you, will also give you comfort in knowing that you can keep them safe.
Having a well-mannered dog is much like having well-mannered children; they are a treat to take out in public and a source of great pride. Knowing that your dog will consistently respond to all of your commands, regardless of the temptations before them will give you peace of mind whether you’re at home, visiting, or at the park. You may already have a mild-mannered pooch, but taking the time and making the effort of taking Fido to obedience school will ensure that your canine companion is fully aware of doggy etiquette in the human world. Guaranteed, you will be beaming with pride as you watch other dog owners frantically try to reel in their dogs while yours sits stoically by your side.
