The Many Health Benefits of a Well-Trained

By Anita DeLelles, LMT

Why does my dog need training?

Although this question is asked frequently, the answer seems obvious and is quite simple. Training creates a bond, a friendship, and mutual understanding between the dog and its guardian, leading to a lifelong, healthy relationship. When you have this harmony, it reduces stress for both dog and owner, eliminating small aggravations that can grow into unmanageable nuisances.

Too often, training is requested only after bad habits have been formed and are making a dog difficult to manage. It’s basically a communication problem, and the good news is that it can be fixed! Starting early with good quality training is the ideal plan.

Create a healthy bond and mutual understanding.

Studies show that having a well-trained, happy dog that is relaxed and responsive means more pleasure from dog ownership. Training strengthens the dog-human bond and establishes a close, enjoyable relationship. And there’s the added perk of impressing your friends with a dog that loves to show off its perfect manners!

Manage Behavior.

Positive reinforcement training teaches basic commands through a reward-based training technique. Shock collars, choke collars, and other punishment-based techniques utilize fear and break down a dog’s emotional well-being. This actually weakens the bond with your pet.

Good training enables you to manage and enjoy your dog at home and in public. With good manners, your dog can become a part of the family, knowing how to greet someone politely at the door, coming back when called, and walking safely under control on a leash without pulling. These are skills that develop with clear, calm communication between owner and dog.

Build Social Skills.

Socialization is one of the most important skills a dog should master early in its life. Learning how to respond to other dogs and knowing what is acceptable and not acceptable in dog language are essential life lessons both owners and dogs need to understand. Social skills will allow your dog to cope and behave during everyday occasions, such as encountering other dogs during walks, attending veterinary visits, boarding, and participating in play groups. Knowing how to read your dog’s signals of stress, discomfort, and anxiety will allow you to manage situations that arise and will help you avoid confrontations.

Socialization from puppyhood is ideal. After a puppy’s second set of vaccines, he will be ready to join a guided puppy social class. In these classes, puppies will be introduced to new sounds, other puppies and people, distractions, and smells. A trainer will introduce these new experiences in a positive, healthy, and rewarding environment.

With older, adopted dogs or your current family dog, it is never too late to retrain and manage your dog’s responses to external situations. You can actually teach old dogs new tricks! Doggie daycare or dog parks are not places where dogs can safely learn to socialize, and one bad experience with another dog and/or owner can have life-long emotional repercussions.

Attend Training Classes.

Training classes are fun for both you and your dog. The exercises taught are stimulating and engaging. Even if your dog has perfect manners, training classes are available at all levels to teach new skills and to reinforce current skills.

If your goal is to prepare your dog to be a service dog (trained to do specific tasks for you) or a therapy dog (one that visits nursing homes or hospitals), it all begins with basic obedience training and learning real-life skills. Dogs with advanced training can get their AKC Canine Good Citizen certificates and so much more.

Whether your dog is old, young, or somewhere in-between, it is never too late to refresh skills, learn new ones, or just hang out with like-minded dog and pet owners in a healthy training environment.

WOOF! Wellness Center & Training Academy offers puppy socials, basic obedience, and beyond basic obedience classes all the way through to the AKC Canine Good Citizen class. Group and one-on-one options are offered. Loose leash training classes end in an interactive group hike through a scenic local state park. The opportunity to consult your trainer while on a hike with real-time obstacles is invaluable. This can also help address your own training difficulties.

For more information on health and training for your pet, visit woofcenter.com, stop by WOOF! Wellness Center & Training Academy in Santa Clara, or call 435-275-4536.

About the Author

Anita DeLelles, LMT, is a certified equine and small animal acupressure practitioner with accreditation from the Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute and a member of IAAMB. Her Tallgrass training has included two consecutive summers in Bath, England, near where she lived as a child, as well as coursework in Colorado and northern California. Additionally, Anita is certified in animal massage from the Northwest School of Animal Massage as well as human massage in the state of Utah and is a graduate of UNLV. In 2013, Anita and her husband, Ron, opened WOOF! Wellness Center & Training Academy to serve pets and their health-conscious pet parents. WOOF! is dedicated to improving the quality of life for companion and competitive animals through fitness and conditioning, education, and proper nutrition. Anita shares her life with Ron and their overly-pampered cats in Santa Clara, Utah.

3199