When Are You Finished Training Your Dog?

I realize that many peoples’ perceptions of dog training are different then mine.  But regardless of the training approach and expectations, training your dog does not end at the conclusion of your 4, 6, or 8 week training program.  Whether you realize it or not, your dog is always learning something; it is up to us to make sure they are learning the correct behaviors.

Let’s first decide what is training and when are you training.  Yes, training is the formal process of dedicating a certain amount of time to practice and teach your dogs new things, but more importantly it is communication.  Because we don’t want our dogs to ace their training lesson and then turn into complete lunatics when the formal session ends, we must realize that training also happens when you are eating dinner, answering the doorbell, walking them, and watching television.

As anyone who has taken part in any training program knows, you are taught to interact with your dog in certain ways.  Adding or eliminating body language cues, working your dog through confusion, following through and holding your dog accountable are all parts of what you were taught.  Remember, the goal of training your dog is not to have them behave when you are in class with your trainer; the goal of a training program is to have your dog behave in the reality that is your life.  Therefore, it is up to you to apply what you and your dog have learned into your daily lives and interactions, it is up to you to continue to practice and implement these things even after your dog has received their diploma.

So to answer the question posed in the title of this entry, you are never completely finished training your dog; there will always be communication based on the rules they were taught.  Of course as your dog’s behavior improves and he becomes a well balanced pet, you will not be spending as much time giving instruction.  However, in order to keep your dog’s desired behavior current, we do have to always continue to practice, implement and interact with our dogs as taught in class.  That means downing them when welcoming someone into your home, keeping them in a heel or at least a slacked leash when walking, and not allowing them to beg at the table – life is all still just one big training exercise.

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