Q. Can Dog Training Save Your Dog’s Life?

A. Yes, it can! Two basic commands taught in almost every obedience class, Come and Leave It, can possibly mean the difference between life and death for your dog.

Picture this: you’re playing fetch with your dog in the yard. You throw the ball a little too far and it goes into the street. A car is coming just as your dog goes to chase the ball. This situation could end in disaster if your dog doesn’t have a solid Recall or understanding of the word Come.

So how do you make sure your dog always comes when called? Well, when you call your dog to you, it should be the most exciting event in your dog’s life! Make sure you always reward your dog with lots of praise and pets and never call your dog to correct him for doing something wrong or for something he doesn’t like such as nail trimming, giving medicine, etc. This could create an aversion to the cue to Come, so you should always go to your dog in situations like those. If you think your dog already has an aversion to the word Come, try changing the command from Come to Here.

Leave It are also two words that can save your dog’s life. Imagine that you are opening a bottle of prescription medication and you accidentally drop the bottle and pills spill on the floor. A dog with a solid understanding of the Leave It command can be told to leave the pills alone. When teaching your dog to Leave It, make a trade.

Offer him something that he absolutely loves such as a special treat or a favorite toy. When your dog drops or ignores the unwanted object, give him the treat or toy and then shower him with praise. Your dog will quickly learn that he will receive something much better when you ask him to Leave It. Remember to never scold your dog after he drops the unwanted object, but to praise him for letting it go and listening to your command.

Training your dog has many benefits. Not only can it strengthen the bond between you and help ensure your dog is a well-mannered part of the family, but it can also prevent problem behaviors. One of the most common reasons dogs are surrendered to the shelter is because of behavior problems like barking, jumping, chewing, digging, house soiling and unruly behavior — and, sadly, not all shelters are “no-kill.” What’s more, even those shelters that strive to save lives sometimes must euthanize dogs with behavioral issues. Good training can help prevent many behavior issues, keep your dog at home with you and, most importantly, literally save your dog’s life one day.

About the Experts

Who Wants to Pawty, LLC offers both group classes and private in-home sessions for basic obedience training and the elimination of common behavior problems like jumping, barking, digging, chewing, begging, puppy nipping, potty training, unruly behavior, counter surfing and more.

A graduate with honors as a Certified Dog Trainer from Animal Behavior College, Anne VanderMeulen is very passionate about dog training and helping people learn how to make their dogs better mannered members of the family. Heather Hummel received instruction in dog training through both a national pet store chain and independent study.

To learn more about training with Who Wants to Pawty, LLC, visit the website at WhoWantsToPawty.com or call 815-372-9002.