The Benefits Of An Educated Dog

Dogs are in danger every day. They contract diseases, are seriously injured, or are killed in traffic accidents. Many of those dogs are lost or abandoned, with nobody to take care of them. However, an alarming number of those dogs are owned and loved...but not trained. Many are allowed to roam loose. Some are high-energy dogs whose people have given up on leashed walks and allow their dogs to “run off” that energy...often “running off” into the path of a car. Others are yard dogs, banned from the house because of bad manners. Some are dogs allowed to pick up and eat anything interesting they may find, resulting in serious (or fatal) damage to their systems...nobody told them otherwise. Nobody taught these dogs alternatives to their “bad habits”.

Your dog can live a longer, healthier life than these unlucky dogs. When you are frustrated by your dog’s behavior, remember that someone must teach a dog what is acceptable behavior and what is not. A dog who has been given no instructions, no training, and no boundaries by which to live is an unhappy dog...and an unhealthy one! By providing those needs to your dog, you will have not only a saner household but a healthier dog for a longer part of your life.

• An educated dog allows you to handle every part of his body, to check for injury or illness and to give him medication. The staff at your veterinary clinic will love you!
• An educated dog has good manners, so he can spend most of his time indoors with his people. That means more supervision, less boredom, and fewer opportunities for dangerous mischief. More time with you also means that you KNOW your dog and will be more likely to notice when something is wrong...a limp, a cough, a sensitive area, a loss of appetite. By recognizing such irregularities early, you can seek medical attention immediately and help your veterinarian help your dog.
• An educated dog wants to stay near you, listening for instructions (and praise!). That means that he has fewer hazards in his path and less opportunity to stray into danger.
• An educated dog will walk or run beside you on leash -- without pulling, dragging, or strangling. You and your dog can get more exercise and spend more time together.
• An educated dog knows that DROP IT and LEAVE IT ALONE are phrases that mean business, so he will have fewer opportunities to swallow dangerous objects. An educated dog can also be taught what things and places are out of bounds (it’s tough but it can be done), like hot stoves, heaters, anxious cats, or the kitchen counter. However, you must still limit access to dangerous places when you cannot supervise and instruct.
• An educated dog will SIT immediately, simply because you say so. No matter what danger may be imminent, a dog who is suddenly still is suddenly safe. And a dog who knows how to STAY in that position is even safer.
• An educated dog is under less stress. He understands his boundaries, knows what is expected of him, and has fewer anxieties. And we all know that less stress is healthier.

BUT...even an educated dog needs supervision, instructions, and boundaries -- sometimes physical boundaries. Allowing any dog to walk, run, or roam outside of a fence or off of a leash is putting that dog in danger. By training your dog you can help prevent tragedy and develop a better relationship with him. Training will keep that relationship going strong for many years...with a healthy, happy dog.