Why take a puppy training course?
Why should you take a puppy course and is it necessary?
There are many different opinions when it comes to taking a puppy course. Many dog owners who have had multiple dogs often find it unnecessary to take a puppy course because, for example, they believe they can raise their puppy themselves, don’t have the time, or have taken a puppy course before. Some owners also think their dog breed is not suitable for training because their dog is too small, too large, or too scared.
However, we believe these arguments are not correct. There is a lot involved in getting a puppy. Not only are there many costs, but a lot of time must also be invested in raising your puppy. You should take this into account when considering bringing a puppy into your home.
What are the benefits of puppy training and what does a puppy learn?
Working together with your dog, strengthening the bond between dog and owner, socializing your puppy, and actively getting to know and understand your dog. In short, puppy training is good for both owner and dog. Additionally, you and your puppy learn many things during the training sessions, such as the following points:
- Getting used to a collar and learning to walk on a leash.
- Various agility training exercises, doing agility tasks together.
- At different dog schools, training is done with fireworks and how to react to them to prevent fear of fireworks in your dog later in life.
- Various basic commands are explained and taught, such as sit, come, drop it, follow, and responding to their name.
- During puppy training, your puppy often comes into contact with other dogs of various breeds, allowing both you and your puppy to learn about different breeds and their characteristics.
- Consistent correction, as puppies are masters at challenging and testing their owners.
- What to do with unwanted behavior and how to handle it.
- How to best potty train your puppy.
- What to do when your dog whines and barks at night. A good instructor can assist you in all aspects of raising your puppy. Also, an instructor often recognizes early on if your dog shows ‘abnormal behavior’ that could cause problems later, allowing you to address it under guidance.
What are the costs of a puppy course and where can I take one?
The costs of puppy training vary per dog school, so it is advisable to check several dog schools in your area. Generally, the cost of a single puppy lesson ranges between €10 and €15.
Usually, a dog school is never far from you, so we recommend thoroughly researching a dog school nearby. Your veterinarian can often also recommend various dog schools.
What is the best dog school?
It is important that the dog school where you take lessons is recognized and that the instructor providing the lessons has the necessary qualifications and regularly attends courses and refresher training to stay informed.
Additionally, it is especially important that you feel comfortable with the dog school. We recommend visiting several dog schools to see how the lessons are conducted and what the teaching style is like. Consider, for example, the size of the training groups, whether the instructors are certified, if theory lessons are offered alongside practical lessons that you can attend, how dogs are rewarded for good behavior and corrected for unwanted behavior. If there is an option to take a trial lesson, we always recommend it, as this allows you to experience which teaching method suits you best.
Puppy course: yes or no?
We hope this blog has provided you with more information about the benefits of a puppy course and why we advise always taking one.
In any case, we wish you lots of fun raising your puppy!
