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Training helps owners establish proper bond
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FarkYour spouse may not want to please you, your teenage daughter may not want to please you, even your best friend may not want to please you. But your dog does.
“Most dogs want to please you,” said Robyn Wass, a pet training instructor at Pet-Smart in Rapid City. “They are called ‘man’s best friend.’ Training is a way for them to please you and make you happy.”
Wass and fellow pet training instructor Sharon Holt know just how eager most dogs are to do what their owners want. But just as in any relationship, communication is key.
“Dogs are really pleasing creatures,” Holt said. “But they don’t always know what we are asking of them.”
Most pet owners know what they are asking ” they want their dog to be potty trained, come when called, sit or stay on command, walk nicely on a leash, not jump on people and not be a constant barker. The problem, according to both Wass and Holt, is many owners don’t know how to ask or they ask in a way sure to fail.
“People believe they have to use force and intimidation to get what they want,” Wass said. “Puppies aren’t born speaking English.”
On the other hand, people also can fail to establish good communication by treating a dog like a baby or a human child.
“If you treat it like a human, it is not going to know how to act like a dog,” Wass said. “Dogs are pack animals and need to know their place in the pack. The way humans show affection and leadership is different than how a dog would show it; therefore, the dog perceives the human differently.”
Training allows the bond between owner and dog to be properly set. “We love our pets,” Wass said. “We don’t want a master/slave relationship; we want a bond forged in love and respect. People want to have a good relationship with their dog, but they don’t know how to go about it. Training helps people learn techniques to talk to their dog in an effective manner.”
Dogs are ready for training at about 10 weeks old, according to Wass. At Pet-Smart, dogs must have had two sets of vaccinations from a veterinarian to participate in a class. Older dogs are just as amenable to training as puppies, according to Wass.
“Age isn’t as much a factor as personality,” she said. Wass also believes that motivation is a bigger factor in training success than is a dog’s level of intelligence. In fact, “smart dogs require more work, because they like to overthink situations. Smart dogs may try to predict what you want and get frustrated.”
The beginner training class is a “basic manners class,” according to Wass. The class also covers potty training. Another benefit of the beginner class is that it offers socialization for the dogs. “Socialization is preferable when young, so that they learn other dogs are good and people are good.”
Training at the store allows dogs to experience a “real world” environment. Dogs need to perform commands in different environments so that they understand that rules apply wherever they may be. It is also important for them to learn how to focus on their owner regardless of any surrounding distractions.
Both Wass and Holt emphasize that, unlike some training regimes, their classes emphasize positive reinforcement. “We use positive reinforcement, treats and praise,” Wass said.
While dog response to their training methods has always been positive, owner response can be a little more complex.
“The hardest thing is the commitment from people,” Holt said. And according to Wass: “Trainability goes to the owner’s willingness to work hard and apply new techniques. There are so many things you can make better if you put the time and effort into it.”
For owners who are willing to learn in the classes and then spend time at home reinforcing the lessons with their dog, the payoff is rewarding for everybody.
A trained dog is a happy dog, according to Wass. “He is doing what is wanted. He has ways to succeed, and he will know his place in the world.”
To find out more about the various training classes available at PetSmart, call 341-4488.
Contact Laura Tonkyn at 394-8405 or laura.tonkyn@rapidcityjournal.com
Micheal Fish leads Gracie Lou around a chair as the two make a figure 8 while doing an exercise during dog obedience classes at PetSmart. (Seth A. McConnell/Journal staff)
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