 How long will it take to train my dog? Training a dog is life long process. Your dog is continually learning through observing his surroundings. How long it will take your dog to learn new behaviors or change unwanted behaviors will depend on several factors. First, behaviors that have been ongoing for any length of time can take a great deal of time to change. Second, your dog may learn to perform new behaviors very quickly when he receives a reward each time he performs that behavior. The longer you reward a behavior the stronger that behavior becomes. This is true for both good behaviors and bad behaviors. Third, the more time you put into training your dog the more quickly he will learn, and the better his behavior will be. The reality is that you must work with your dog on a consistent basis in order for him to become well behaved.
That depends on what you want him to learn. Teaching basic obedience commands can be accomplished often in only four or five lessons. Teaching a dog not to be fearful or aggressive can require many more lessons as these behaviors are not easily changed. How much time you are willing or able to commit to training in between each lesson may also have an effect on how many lessons your dog needs to learn new or change old behaviors. A good trainer will demonstrate the technique he or she uses to get a desired behavior and will then work with you so that you can achieve the same results. The rest is up to you!
Private lessons are great for busy individuals who find that attending a class does not fit into their schedule. Private lessons may be scheduled during the day, evenings or on weekends. Private lessons offer instruction on a personal level. Some owners prefer this type of instruction. Private lessons are also recommended for dogs that may be aggressive toward other dogs, or for owners who need to learn how to better control their dog before attending a class. Participating in a group lesson is a great way to learn how to work with your dog when there are many distractions. While a dog may behave perfectly at home he may appear out of control when in public. Group lessons give you the opportunity to learn how to work with your dog when there are other dogs present. If you are interested in participating in performance events, companion animal events or therapy dog work, you should begin working towards your goals by enrolling in an obedience class.
Board and train options may be offered by some kennels and training facilities however we do not offer this service. The service allows you to board your dog, usually for two weeks, and during that time he will undergo basic obedience training. While boarding your dog and having him receive training sounds like a great idea, this option will not solve all behavior problems. It can be a good foundation for teaching the basic commands of sit, down, come and heeling. Your dog will learn what these commands mean but you will still have to work with him on a daily basis once he returns home in order for him to retain this training. There are some drawbacks to board and train programs. Here are some questions you should ask before enrolling your dog in a board and train program:
1) How much time each day will my dog receive training? Board and train programs usually do not address:
Housebreaking problems
Your dog’s training should begin from the moment you bring him home. It is never too early to begin teaching your dog the behaviors you want from him. Puppies are willing to learn and are very impressionable. A puppy should learn to sit by nine to ten weeks of age. To help teach socialization skills puppies should be enrolled in a puppy class by twelve weeks of age if possible. If your dog is an adult you can begin teaching him at any time. The sooner you identify problem behaviors and begin to work toward changing them, the easier it will be for your dog to learn new behaviors.
No dog is too old to learn. Behaviors that have been going on for a long time may take a considerable amount of time and effort to change. Some behaviors, such as aggression, may never go away completely.
Dogs are social by nature and are most happy when they are part of a stable social family. Adding two puppies to a household can be much more difficult than most people anticipate. When two puppies join a household at the same time, most families treat them as one puppy with eight legs. This means that they have plenty of time to bond to each other and it is not necessary for them to bond as quickly to their human family. Housebreaking can be a great deal more difficult with two puppies than with one. You should plan to have two of everything right from the beginning – two crates, two sets of bowls and twice the amount of time to spend on training! The truth is that if have the time to devote to training, socializing and properly housing a puppy, and you purchase the right breed for your family, he should be quite happy to join your family. If you cannot devote the time necessary to insure that he becomes well adjusted and properly trained you should reconsider adding a puppy to your family at this time.
Most people do not realize that biting, barking and growling are all normal during puppy play. While there are some puppies that may be truly aggressive, most biting behaviors are the result of normal canine play behavior. A consultation can help teach you what normal behavior is and can give you solutions on how to minimize or eliminate biting behaviors.
Resource Guarding
Intradog Aggression Does your dog misbehave or need training? Check out award winning author Jean Donaldson's top 10 dog training tips at the San Francisco ASPCA's website.  |
