Highland Lakes Veterinary Clinic
Obedience Training
Obedience training can help you and your pet develop a solid foundation for confidence, communication, patience, and respect for one another.
Overview
There are many benefits of obedience training including building a closer, positive relationship with your dog, teaching them life and social skills, and helping prevent them from developing unwanted behaviors.
Like people, dogs have different strengths and weaknesses and different ways of learning. Their dog training should be tailored to meet their individual needs. We’re here to help you and your dog develop the respect that is needed for a healthy relationship while increasing confidence and understanding.
Why should my pet go through obedience training?
The primary goal of obedience training is to produce a companion animal that bonds with and respects its guardian with the ability and desire to please.
At completion of obedience training, you will have a better understanding of dog behavior, how to guide your dog to make right choices, and how to correct bad behavior.
When should my pet start obedience training?
You’ll be training your puppy from the moment you bring them home. Pets quickly adapt to their environment and surroundings. According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, “puppies generally can start classes as early as 7-8 weeks of age.”
Beginners or puppies should start with the basic level of obedience training. The duration of basic and intermediate obedience training varies by pet. If your pet already knows basic obedience skills and you want to build upon those skills, intermediate or advanced training is an option we offer as well.
How do you conduct obedience training?
It is beneficial to be present during sessions so that you can better understand canine behavior and how to effectively communicate with your dog.
Our trainers influence the dog’s behavior in a natural way, allowing them to make right and wrong choices. Our first job is to educate your dog. Once your dog understands what a command means (and they make a correct choice), they will receive love and praise. When they make a wrong choice, they’re guided to do what is expected of them. Our trainers work with both verbal commands and hand signals so that your dog can make a decision without relying on the leash to guide them.
Training your dog requires patience and commitment. During training, it’s beneficial to keep up with the learnings at home, so practice with your dog for a couple of minutes every day.