The famous Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas was right when she said that. Understanding what our dogs need is challenging, but all humans who love dogs know it is worthwhile.
The easiest way for a dog owner to spend time and communicate with their canine companion is through basic training. You may already know that exercise is necessary for all dogs, but what if you need more time or guidance?
As fully certified breeders of purebred white Labrador puppies, Snowy Pines can help you reap the benefits of having a fully-trained puppy in your family. Training can save a lot of stress and anxiety for you and your new friend when done correctly. Before looking for your next pet, let’s review the basics of dog training and why you should consider choosing a trained dog as your new family member.
Basics: What exactly is dog training?
Dog training involves teaching a dog specific skills and behaviours, usually related to obedience and socialization. Training can be done through a variety of methods, including
Positive reinforcement
Scientific training
Clicker training
Electronic training
Mirror training
Alpha dog training
Relationship-based training
Regardless of the method chosen, the goal is to completely mitigate bad behaviour through positive experiences and the creation of good habits. There will come a time in training when, with patience and practice, your puppy will become a well-trained dog.
What is dog training?
As you know, training your dog can mean many different things.
For example, you can focus on obedience for good manners. You can concentrate on socialization skills so that he goes safely to the park, to the vet, and with other people.
You can also focus on mastering commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “remember.” Or, of course, most people rely on all aspects of training, which may also involve the help of a behaviourist.
Whatever your goals, training your puppy is about helping him master these key practice areas:
Socialization exercises
Family time
Travel Preparation
Socialization with the vet
Socialization with older dogs
Leash training
Crate training
Command training
Storm training
Housebreaking
Pet Owner’s Guide: Why is it worth buying a trained dog?
Pet owners spend more money on food, shelter, toys, and training yearly. In 2019, spending on pet care reached a record high of nearly $100 billion.
This may seem extravagant to those who don’t own pets, but for those who have an unconditional love for their furry companions, it’s an integral part of pet ownership and maintenance.
This information shows us that there is no doubt that people love their four-legged friends and often consider them family members. However, the benefits of training go beyond just having a friendly dog. Puppies depend on discipline and training to feel secure.
Although pet owners know this, they only sometimes have the time, energy or resources to meet their puppy’s needs.
That’s why it’s a good idea to buy a puppy that is already trained. Your dog’s life will be better when he can, for example, go to public places and knows exactly what is expected of him. In addition, bringing trained puppies from a breeder into your family and your life will also help you form a closer bond with your new family member.
Benefit #1: A trained dog saves you time
One of the most common questions prospective dog owners ask is, “How long does it take to train a dog? Unfortunately, there is no clear answer. However, these questions can help you learn more about training times:
What is the desired outcome?
If you want to train your dog in basic obedience to stop jumping on guests or begging for food, this simple task will only take a few weeks. However, moving on to observation, socialization and commands will take a few months.
Who trains the dog?
While training your dog can ensure a closer bond and better mutual understanding, it is also necessary to practice being a handler to maintain consistency in certain situations. In addition, running with an expert instructor can prevent time and accelerate the education process.
How much time can you invest?
Training is a long process that must be done every day. Every behaviour or action needs to be addressed so you can spend more than just a few hours a week on training. At this point, it’s a 24/7 job to determine how your puppy will behave as an adult.
How old is your puppy?
You may know the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” but that couldn’t be further from the truth. You can teach older dogs new skills, but it may take longer.
For example, an eight-week-old puppy who attends training classes every week will probably understand obedience and basic commands within a few weeks. On the other hand, an older dog used to a particular lifestyle may take months to relearn obedience.
What is your dog’s temperament?
Your dog’s temperament is how he reacts to people, situations and stimuli. Therefore, your chosen training method will depend on how your dog sees the world and his personality.
Generally, it takes 12 to 16 weeks to cover the basics such as attention and concentration skills, commands such as walking on a leash, “sit,” “stay,” and basic tests.
But you can put all these concerns aside if you decide to buy a pre-trained puppy.
Trained puppies receive between 100 and 200 hours of training before they arrive at their forever homes.
That means you’ll save months searching for handlers, attending training sessions and practicing your puppy’s skills while trying to fit into your busy schedule.
Benefit 2: A trained dog saves you money
When looking for a new member of your family, one of the first things you’ll probably notice is that a trained dog is more expensive than an untrained dog. Breeders invest hours of training, resources and money to ensure the dog is ready to go home.
If you buy a puppy with no previous training experience, you should consider the time and money you will invest over the next few months. For example, while purchasing a trained puppy means a higher initial outlay, an untrained dog will require more work. In the long run, you may also spend more.
How much does it cost to train a dog?
While exact prices vary depending on where you live and the type of training you are looking for, here are some basic costs:
The average cost of group dog training ranges from $30 to $80 per class.
Private, one-on-one training with a certified trainer can cost between $100 and $130 per hour.
Dog obedience schools cost $200 to $600 per week. Dog training camps cost $500 to $1,250 per week.
Pre-trained puppies receiving 100 hours of training cost about $2,500. For 200 hours of training, the price is about $7,500.
When you break down and compare the costs, you’ll see that 100 hours of private training costs $13,000. Similarly, 100 hours of group training costs $8,000. So buying a pre-trained puppy for $2,500 is worth every penny.
Advantage 3: You can avoid problem behaviours.
Did you know that problem behaviours and aggression are the most common reasons people kick their dogs out? A great way to keep away from elevating a risky person is to socialize and educate him while he’s young. This is because lack of exposure to people, objects and other dogs at a young age can fuel aggression and fear in adults.
Whether a dog has problem behaviours, such as excessive barking or separation anxiety, prevention is the best way to avoid them. Until the puppy is adopted, the breeders must ensure that it experiences early stimulation practices, such as socialization with other young dogs in its litter.
If you acquire a well-behaved dog, your puppy will receive 100 to 200 hours of obedience, socialization and command training to be ready to enter your home and become a healthy, well-adjusted adult.
Advantage 4: Increased safety assurance for your puppy
Dogs will be dogs, which means curiosity is an important motivation when they are still young. However, curiosity can sometimes be dangerous, so puppies need to know commands such as “come,” and “stay” and respond to name recall.
A puppy that masters these commands can save your life and help you in otherwise dangerous situations. For example, if your puppy escapes from the leash or the yard, he will know to stop when you call him. This could prevent him from serious harm, such as getting lost or hit by a car.
Advantage 5: You can create a close and lasting bond.
When you buy a new puppy that is already housebroken, there is automatically less frustration on your part. You can save time and effort trying to communicate with your puppy on a new level. Plus, you can skip the hard part and focus on spending more time together.
Having a pre-trained puppy allows you to play together and get to know each other better. You’ll be able to walk effortlessly, visit public places and even go to the vet or dog park without any problems. Your puppy will learn to rely on you for comfort, safety and friendship, which is the best thing for any dog owner.
For a relationship to flourish, we must cement a bond with our dog based on trust, mutual respect and eye contact.”
Of course, puppy training never ends. Even if your puppy knows all there is to see, it’s essential to keep practicing those same skills and commands at home. Applying these training techniques can also help strengthen your relationship.
Conclusion
When it comes to adopting a new furry friend, a well-trained puppy will save you time and money in the long run. You also want your new little friend to be so well socialized that problem behaviours, such as chewing furniture or being aggressive with other animals, are no longer an issue. A well-trained puppy can also feel more protected through simple but effective practices, such as recall and leash walking.
