Most people do not take their pets to a professional dog trainer to learn basic commands. Many pet owners don’t even engage their pets in fundamental obedience training.
Both these situations are sad as the owner and the pet miss out on an excellent opportunity to bond and advance their skills to improve animal behavior.
Once you appreciate the skills of dog trainers and what they do, maybe you will change your mind about dog training. If you do, know when to recognize the signs that your pet needs training.
It would help if you also understood when a dog trainer is necessary, the best age for training your pet, and how aggressive dogs benefit from expert training classes.
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What Does A Dog Trainer Do?
Dog trainers are valuable for teaching positive pet behaviors in and around the home. Dog trainers also specialize in specific dog breeds or focus on training dogs for appearances in movies or special duties as working animals.
Dog trainers must love animals and follow up this passion with professional education.
Trainers learn animal behavior and teach dogs special skills, so they must have at least 300 hours of practical training before teaching pets new behaviors.
People who follow a career in dog training should typically have lots of patience, maintain consistent routines, and possess the appropriate communication skills.
These communication skills are necessary to communicate with pets and their owners to reach set goals.
Dog trainers will usually focus on teaching dogs the following skills:
- Obedience training.
- Modifications in animal behavior.
- Controlling or eliminating aggression or bad behavior.
- Service or therapy training.
- Training puppies.
Teaching dogs new tricks. - Specialization training includes searching for survivors of disasters, narcotics, cadavers, and training in other areas.
Dog trainers may work for themselves or a larger company or training school. Trainers also work at the following places and offer a variety of services, including:
- Home pet training.
- Private dog training lessons.
- Group classes.
- Puppy classes.
- Offering their services at animal shelters.
- Providing services at boarding kennels.
- Using their skills to assist at veterinary clinics.
- Working for organizations where specialized dog training courses are required.
Dog training methods to teach a new behavior or modify existing behavior include the following:
- Operant conditioning, which links new behaviors with rewards.
- Positive reinforcement, which focuses on rewarding obedience.
- Clicker training to learn new behavioral skills using a clicker.
- Hand signals, which instruct the dog to follow specific commands.
- Voice commands to learn new skills by following verbal instructions.
- Reward systems to reinforce desirable behaviors.
Dog trainers are well-educated and skilled in their profession, and dog owners and their pets benefit significantly from their expertise.
Does My Dog Need A Trainer?
Dog trainers train pet owners and their pets. All dogs and dog owners need training if they want a good dog that behaves appropriately, is properly socialized, and obeys commands.
Simple obedience training in and around the home and local environs ensures that you and your pet get to enjoy more freedom within specific parameters.
Also, if you have a massive pet like a German Shepherd, it is safer for everyone if you take them to a dog trainer from a young age.
The best way to know if your dog needs a trainer is when you notice the following issues.
#1 Your pet doesn’t listen to you
If you have given your pet some home schooling and it continues to ignore your commands, you need a dog trainer.
#2 Behavior problems
If, for any reason, your pet is anxious or aggressive, they need training. Anxious or aggressive pets create problems, making it unsafe to be around them.
You can rectify other dog behavior issues such as constant barking, howling, whining, biting, separation anxiety, and similar problems by taking your dog to an expert dog training program.
#3 Animal behavior skills
If your pet follows some commands and not others or obeys you in a familiar environment but becomes anxious in foreign environments, there may be another problem at play.
Dog trainers are animal behaviorists and can tell when your pet is misbehaving due to other reasons. Your pet may be overly anxious or suffering from a trauma, which causes misbehavior.
An animal behaviorist receives training to pick up on specific details and recommend a veterinary checkup for anti-anxiety medication or other reasons that will help train your pet properly.
#4 Safety reasons
Dog training classes help owners manage their pets appropriately, especially when it comes to training them to obey in situations that promote human and animal safety.
Also, a dog trainer can take pet obedience up a step and train your pet to know how to protect you, your family members, and your property under controlled conditions.
It is comforting to learn that dog trainers possess high levels of expertise that support training you and your dog. But what age is best to take your pet for professional dog training?
Best Age To Train A Dog
The perfect time to begin dog training is when the animal is still a new puppy. Ideally, you can start puppy training your new dog from around two months by teaching them basic behaviors such as:
- Their name
- Potty training and housebreaking
- Crate training
- How to socialize
- Stop biting and nipping
- Simple commands including sit, stay, and heel
Although it is best to train a dog at the puppy stage, owners can also train adult dogs. Unless your dog is in its mature years, dogs and owners will benefit from expert dog training at any age.
Circumstances may change when someone didn’t train their puppy and later decides to start a family.
New parents may feel uncomfortable having an untrained pet around a new baby, which is an excellent reason to take their pet to a dog trainer.
Even if your pet has been manageable and obedient for up to three or five years, they can still exhibit behavioral problems later in life.
If you don’t have experience coping with strange behavioral changes, a dog trainer can help resolve the matter for you and your pet at any age.
Should your pet begin to behave aggressively at any life stage, dog trainers can also manage this type of problem.
Essentially, any dog training is beneficial and leads to a harmonious relationship between owners and their pets, encouraging good behavior which is essential for a quality life.
Do Aggressive Dogs Need A Trainer?
Dogs become aggressive for several reasons, causing trouble for themselves and their owners.
Dogs become aggressive when bored, stressed, fearful, possessive, traumatized, or want to display dominance. In cases like this, they need the help of a dog trainer.
A dog trainer will help owners display appropriate pack leadership characteristics, which help provide aggressive dogs with boundaries.
Dog trainers help rehabilitate owners and their pets, giving both controls to avoid potentially nasty situations.
If you aren’t prepared to take your pet for professional training (not recommended), there are some training tips to manage aggressive dogs.
- Take your pet for at least one or two expert dog training sessions and follow through with this learning.
- Create and sustain a routine for play and training to engage your pet positively. Tired, happy pets are less likely to become aggressive when receiving adequate attention and training.
- Stay calm when training as your pet picks up on your frustrations, stress, and aggression.
- Reward your dog with treats when it gets commands right initially, and then gradually issue commands without treats. Instead, praise your pet when it is obedient to your orders.
- Avoid punishing your pet with hitting it or shouting as negative owner behavior adds to the animal’s fear and aggression.
- If your pet is exceptionally aggressive, consider purchasing a dog collar with prongs or one that gives electric shocks to stop incessant barking.
If none of your efforts work, take your pet for regular dog training sessions until it is completely rehabilitated.
Other Reasons To Take A Dog To A Trainer
There are many reasons why you and your pet can benefit from expert dog training. Professional training produces a dog that is confident, well-rounded, and socialized.
When your pet is well-socialized, boarding it when you go on vacation is a cinch. Friends will willingly take on a dog they know well and will get along with their pets if you’re reluctant to board your pet.
A simple matter like taking your dog for a veterinary examination and vaccinations is easy when they behave appropriately. Training is also a healthy outlet that maintains your pet’s interest in life and prevents anxiety and depression.
A dog trainer also helps ensure your pet is manageable, safe for you and other people to be around, and gives you confidence that it won’t harm other animals.
Lastly, a dog trainer can teach your dog new tricks, which helps stimulate his intelligence. Overall, dog training is beneficial to owners and pets, offering them a healthy way of living and being around everyone else.
Conclusion
Dog trainers are highly qualified and experienced. Taking your pet for dog training presents you with new opportunities to bond with your pet.
Training your dog also ensures your pet is safe to be around and produces a healthy, confident animal that makes for a fulfilling owner/pet relationship.
Do yourself and your pet a favor by taking them for a few introductory animal training sessions if you are not yet convinced of the benefits of this course of action.
We are confident that you will consider dog training to be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make for your furry companion and yourself.
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