The choices we make can have a profound impact on our lives. When you think about your own life, you may look back on the decisions you did – or didn’t – make, and how those may have influenced where your life has taken you to this point. Your current situation was dictated, to varying degrees, by the choices you made.
In a similar way, your dog’s life will be heavily influenced by the choices that you make on their behalf. While domestic dogs are certainly capable of making some decisions by themselves, the vast majority of the major choices in their life will be made by their guardians. This covers everything from their home environment (Where does your dog sleep? How much space do they have? Which toys are they allowed to play with?), to their diet (When does your dog eat? What are they consuming?), to their exercise regimen (How often do they undertake vigorous exercise? What activities do they partake in?).
Of all the choices you can make for your dog, those surrounding dog training can often have an outsized impact on their quality of life. Dog training is all about choices – and as much as many of us would like to simplify things and wish otherwise, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The choices we make in every aspect of our dog’s life have consequences, and that’s especially true when it comes to their training. There are several factors to consider – and even if you decide not to get your dog trained, remember that not making a choice is a choice in itself.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common decisions you’ll face as a dog owner when it comes to your dog’s training.
Choice 1: Do I need to get my dog trained?
The word “need” is playing an important role in this question. Do you “need” to get your dog trained? Well, do you “need” to eat a balanced diet, or do you “need” to be active for 45 minutes each day? In isolation, you could argue that you don’t “need” to do those things. Over time, however, there are obvious dangers associated with neglecting our physical wellbeing or eating a poor diet.
To establish whether or not you should get your dog trained, it is useful to consider the following questions:
- Do I have specific goals I want to achieve with my dog?
- Did I acquire this dog with an intended purpose in mind (ex: training for a dog sport, or for service dog work)?
- Is my dog’s behavior causing me and my family undue stress, or is their behavior affecting my/our quality of life?
- Do I have any behavioral concerns that I worry could escalate into bigger issues if they are not addressed?
- Do I dread taking my dog out in public because I am worried about how they will behave around other dogs or people?
If you answered “no” to all of the above, then you are in a select club of very few members – congratulations! You probably don’t “need” dog training. Believe it or not, this isn’t unheard of, and as I think back, my family found itself in that position with our Jack Russell Terrier, Spot. We brought Spot into our home when I was nine years old, and he lived a long and happy life as a pet. He was a great dog for our family – Spot was very loving, was great with visitors, and enjoyed going out on nature walks. But did we have training goals for Spot? Not really. DId we get him for a specific purpose? We didn’t. Did his behavior cause us stress, or did we dread taking him out in public? No. So we didn’t need to get him trained, and aside from the rudimentary obedience and leash walking skills taught by my family, we didn’t invest any serious time in Spot’s training. So, it is possible.
What is crucial is to be honest with yourself when answering these questions. Don’t dismiss what may seem like trivial concerns if they are actually having a drastic impact on your quality of life. For example, if you have a dog who has displayed behavioral issues around younger children – and as a result, your grandchildren now visit less, because their parents are concerned about the dog-child dynamic – that is an issue. If you’re scared of taking your dog out in public for fear of how they’ll react, that is an issue too.
Finally, it is important to note that there is a difference between ‘needing” dog training and “wanting” dog training. The anxious dog who leaves a whirlwind of destruction when left alone for five minutes might seem like they “need” training more than a sweet service dog candidate who simply has no obedience, but no two circumstances are the same; the family with the service dog candidate may be depending on that dog to perform life-saving tasks for their eventual handler. Everyone’s threshold and understanding is different, and it can also descend into an argument over semantics if we’re not careful. Essentially, if you think your life would see a noticeably positive change as a result of dog training, then it is probably quite likely that you need it.
Choice 2: What type of dog training is right for me?
Having decided to get your dog trained, you will find there is no shortage of options available when it comes to the structure of the training itself. For pet dogs, you’ll often see dog trainers offer individualized private lesson packages, group class curriculums, Board and Train programs, and more. Behavior modification is reserved for dogs who are exhibiting potentially troubling behavioral issues that need to be rectified. These programs are available over varying durations at varying costs in varying locations, with some trainers even offering virtual training options. If you require specialized training (such as for service dog tasks), the training will typically take longer and be more complex to complete.
It can be difficult to know which type of dog training is right for you and your dog, but a useful framework to consider this through is the following question:
- What is the outcome I am hoping to see as a result of my investment in this training, and is the proposed solution the best one to help me achieve that outcome?
We’ll use an example to demonstrate why it is important to crystalize the outcome that you wish to see as a result of the training. Let’s say that you have a dog who shows all the telltale signs of resource guarding their food inside your home, and you speak with a trainer who suggests a Board and Train program where they will work on resolving the resource guarding issue. While it is possible that the trainer could stage some scenarios to replicate the issue, they will never be able to fully copy all of the context of the dog’s home – the family members, the smells, the dog’s bowl, the location in the home where they eat, etc. Dogs are contextual learners, and changing their behavior would be almost impossible if the context changes. Of course, a knowledgeable and experienced trainer should be able to steer you towards the optimum solution for your circumstances – which brings us to our next choice.
Choice 3: Which dog trainer should I opt for?
Just as there is an abundance of training options available for you to select from, there are just as many dog trainers out there looking to provide those services to you. It can appear overwhelming at first, but it is worth taking the time to research dog trainers you are thinking of working with – this is a big commitment. You want a successful outcome that will achieve your training objectives, and not only that, but you are dealing with another sentient being, and you want to give them every opportunity to thrive.
We recommend making a list of three to five dog trainers who offer the services you are interested in at the price point that you can afford. Make a list of questions before you call anyone – you’ll want to provide a brief summary of your situation, and then ask them those questions. Generally, you’ll want to ask about their experience and background; their training philosophy and approach; if they have worked with similar dogs in the past; and how they would intend to work with you and your dog to achieve your training goals. As with any service, you should always do your due diligence – look for customer reviews and research their qualifications. Check and verify at every stage.
Choice 4: How much of a priority is it to maintain my dog’s skills?
Once you have selected a training program with your dog trainer of choice, your choices aren’t over! In fact, the completion of the training program is just the beginning of the rest of your life with your dog – and again, your decisions will have consequences for them.
Remember, dog trainers are not engineers who will transform your dog into a machine that will perform every instruction without fail for the rest of their lives. Life doesn’t work like that. If I work with a personal trainer for three months to help get in shape for a half-marathon, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to be able to run half-marathon distances for the rest of my life if I stop going on training runs, don’t eat an appropriate diet, and so on. It’s the same with your dog! You can’t work with a dog trainer for a couple of months and expect that your dog will automatically retain that information for the rest of their life.
Maintaining your dog’s behavior requires an investment of time from your family – it has to be a priority in your family’s schedule. If other things begin to take priority, or there isn’t enough time to work with your dog regularly between work and social commitments, or if you simply adopt the mindset that the dog “already had their training”, then you will notice their good habits start to fade.
The good news is that, as with everything, you have a choice. You can make it a priority to maintain your dog’s training through frequent small sessions. You can ensure those good habits remain in place. Think back to your original choice to enroll your dog in a training program, and don’t let all your decisions subsequent to that be wasted ones.
In conclusion
Choices in dog training don’t just lie with the dog owner – the dog trainer has choices to make, too. Dog trainers have to think deeply about the approach they take to training. They must consider the investment in their own education, and how that knowledge can be applied to enrich the lives of dogs, pet owners, and their families. Every interaction with a dog is a choice, guided by the experience and education they have obtained to that point.
We know that many of these choices can be overwhelming, particularly if you are unsure of the best path to take for your dog! Please feel free to call our Lead Trainer, Stasia Dempster, who will be happy to help you navigate through these tricky questions to guide you in your decision-making process surrounding your dog’s training. You can call or text Synapse Canine at (336) 947-9240, or email us at info@synapsecanine.com.