The Benefits of Training Your Dog

There are different (and often cute) names for puppy training: puppy kindergarten, obedience school, and our own Manners Daycare and Canine Training Camp.

Regardless of what it’s called, training your dog has benefits—for both the dog and the owner.

Training should start as soon as possible when someone gets their dog. This helps the dog and owner learn how to work well together and bond with each other.

A dog well-trained has the freedom to go just about anywhere; more stores or businesses may allow the dog inside and the dog also won’t have to be hidden away when company comes to visit. The well-trained dog knows that you are the leader and will listen and behave better.

In addition to being better behaved, going through obedience training is good for both the dog and you. Training can promote the following:

·         Stress Relief

·         Exercise

·         Improve your mood (and the dog’s mood)

·         Higher quality of life together

·         Build a better bond with each other

·         Entertainment

Many people consider dogs to be part of their families. Just as children are taught about life and how to navigate through it through the use of rules, dogs too can be taught. It will make for happier and less chaos all around, for both the dog and the people who love it. 

COME. SIT. STAY. Does Your Dog Listen?

Some of us give up on our dogs when they develop or continue a bad habit... This outcome can be a better one if we provide our pups the proper training. 

Morris Animal Inn's Trainer Nancy works with 3-month-old Newfoundland Little Four.

With today's busy schedules, sometimes we need a little help to get the training started or to keep our dog on the right track. When we choose to be a dog owner, we owe it to our lovable furry family members be well behaved and have great manners. 

It's National Train Your Dog Month, so start the New Year off right  with a Canine Training Camp.

For more information on our dog training at Morris Animal Inn click here or give us a call at 973-539-0377. 

Back to School: Training Tips that will help you and your pup get an A+

It’s that time of year again – smiles and waves as we drop our little ones off at the bus stop, and tearful goodbyes as we send our teenagers off to college. Amidst all the excitement and chaos of a brand new school year, don’t forget that your furry little one has some learning to do as well! After all the backpacks and binders, dorm rooms and textbooks, take some time to focus on obedience training with your dog. Here are a few fun and helpful tips to get you and your four legged student a perfect score!


Positive reinforcement
Just like kids in school, dogs should be rewarded when they do a good job. In elementary school it may be a gold star for the right answer or a smiley face sticker on a quiz well done. For our scruffy scholars, food is the best way to reinforce positive behavior when training. Does your dog have a favorite treat? Does he wag his tail at the sight of a jar of peanut butter? Does he slobber at the sound of bacon cooking? Make sure you have a stash of the most scrumptious food you can find, so your pup has something to look forward to when he does his best work. When he sits as soon as he hears the command...A yummy sausage link! When he comes when called...A chewy piece of cheese! The more your dog receives a positive reward, the better he will perform. 

                                                               Repetition 

How many times have you told your child, after they struggle with an assignment or can’t seem to figure out a difficult math problem, “Practice makes perfect"? In order to succeed, we have to give our full attention and greatest efforts, no matter how many times it takes to get it right. The more we practice, the better we get. Well, the same applies to obedience training with your dog! The more you practice a command with them, the more familiar those words will become to your dog. Try spending 5-10 minutes at a time focusing on one command. If you tell your dog “down”, and he doesn’t respond the first time, TRY TRY TRY AGAIN. Don’t give up. He may not get it at first, but after a few repetitions your dog should be able to respond correctly to the command. Much like children would spend time practicing their multiplication tables, repetition helps our dogs learn and remember what we teach them.

 

                                                                      Recess

Do your best to make learning fun for your dog. In a school setting, recess is used to break up the monotony of the day. Recess allows kids to get some fresh air and play some of their favorite games. Apply the same concept to training with your dog. Take a break and spend some time outside, allowing your pup to release some energy. Play fetch with his favorite toy or go for a quick walk. This gives both you and your dog a chance to let loose and have some fun. Utilizing recess will break up your dog’s learning time and ensure that obedience training is something your dog enjoys and actually looks forward to!

 Attendance is Mandatory

In order to make obedience training a successful endeavor, both you and your dog must want to be there. Your dog has a natural desire to please you. If you are excited to teach your dog, he will be happy to learn. So make sure to consistently train your dog, and enjoy it! Don’t just work inside your home. Be sure to change the environment every once in a while, so things don’t get boring. Have class in the park one day! Most importantly, this should be a bonding experience for you and your dog, so the more time you are able to spend training, the more you are able to spend with your loved one.

Bring your canine collegiate to Morris Animal Inn! We offer dog training programs designed to teach and reinforce basic obedience, and we provide detailed instructions for reinforcement at home. For more information click here.

Check out our Mini Canine Training Camps 

starting in September!