Go Back to School With Your Dog!

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You and your dog did puppy kindergarten and then graduated with honors from an obedience class. Now he’s all grown up. He’s housetrained, knows all the basic commands, and is well-behaved at home and in public.

You’re done training him, right?

Wrong!

Doctors, lawyers, and teachers don’t stop learning after they graduate and get their degrees. They take “continuing education” courses throughout their careers to keep their skills sharp and up to date. Training beyond puppyhood is like continuing education for your dog — and it has incredible benefits.

“You’re never done training,” said Penelope Milne, CPDT- KSA, CBCC-KA, owner of DubDubDog Animal Behavior Services in Laguna Beach, California. “But that doesn’t mean you and your dog need to keep attending the same classes and rehearsing the same stuff.”

What to choose

Choose something that you and your dog will enjoy training for together.

“When is your dog the happiest?” Penelope said. “Even if he is being naughty at the time! Is it when he is chasing a squirrel? Or grabbing your bathrobe cord? Pulling and sniffing on your walk?”

Beagle on agility course by Shutterstock.

Dogs who live to chase might love lure coursing (chasing a fake “rabbit” across a field) or disc dog (fun with a Frisbee). Dogs who like running, climbing, and jumping might be in heaven with agility (an obstacle course for dogs) or flyball (a team hurdle-jumping event). Terriers go nuts for Earth dog or barn hunts (simulated rat hunts — no rats are harmed!). Water-loving dogs will adore dock jumping (leaping off a dock into a lake or pool of water). Herding dogs can put their instincts to the test with competitive herding.

Even if your dog is of the less-athletic variety, plenty of fun options challenge his brain more so than his body. Competitive obedience, including the less-formal rally obedience, takes the basic commands to the next level.

If your well-behaved dog loves people, train to become a pet therapy team, visiting people in hospitals and nursing homes. Trick training classes are great fun, and you’ll love showing off your dog’s new skills.

Any dog can do nose work, a sport that teaches dogs how to sniff out specific odors, much like bomb-sniffing dogs. “Nose work gives you the chance for enrichment, problem-solving, and time together,” Penelope said.

Training safely

It’s always a good idea to have a veterinary exam to make sure your dog is fit to participate in a sport. Dogs need to be fully mature for activities that involve repetitive jumping (like agility) — wait until at least 1 year old for small dogs and up to 2 years old for giant breeds. No matter what sport or activity you choose, keep it positive and have a good time doing it. “If your dog is not having fun with the training, neither will you,” Penelope said.

Dog at vet by Shutterstock.

How to find a good trainer

Search online for a training class in your area. Before signing up, ask if you can watch a class (without your dog). Stick with trainers who use positive methods — not force or fear — to get results.

“You should see happy dogs and happy people,” said Penelope Milne, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, owner
of DubDubDog Animal Behavior Services in Laguna Beach, California. “The trainer should be a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.” Also look for certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, which offers the only dog trainer and behavior consultant certifications accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

If you’re thinking about competing, look up the trainer’s record competing in that sport. “Training your own dog and coaching clients to success are two different skill sets, but you do want to ensure that your trainer can walk the walk,” Penelope said.

Back to school

Does your dog have an issue like barking or pulling on the leash? Maybe he’s reactive toward other dogs. Don’t just keep on living this way — send your dog back to school!

“Life is a training session,” Penelope said. “Every time your dog interacts with you or his envi- ronment, he is getting input that steers his behavior, increasing or decreasing it.”

For instance, when you take your dog-reactive pooch for a walk, and he lunges at other dogs, barking and growling as you desperately try to drag him away, he’s being trained! It just so happens that he’s being trained to do the exact behavior you don’t want. “Training is inevitable,” Penelope said. “You will be doing it whether you plan to or not, so you might as well do it well.”

Finding a great trainer who can help you reduce or even eliminate your dog’s hot-button issues can make a world of difference in his life and yours.

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