Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Many pet owners add a furry friend to their family to enjoy an adorable puppy for cuddles, playtime, and companionship. They may take their pet to all necessary veterinary appointments and hire professional dog walking services to help with exercise. However, they may need to remember an important part of care giving: signing their dog up for dog training classes.
As a professional dog walker in San Francisco, I see dogs of all ages and personalities daily. I can tell you that trained dogs, compared to untrained ones, have better walks, safer interactions, and more fun overall. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is dog training worth it?” these four reasons might convince you to enroll your furry friend in a class today.
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1. Correct Unwanted Behaviors Before They Get Worse
- Without proper guidance, dogs can develop problematic behaviors that worsen over time. For example, your dog might growl or show possessiveness over toys, food, or even people. Other common issues include excessive barking, destructive chewing, and jumping on guests. These behaviors don’t just make life difficult for you—they can be stressful for your dog as well.
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- Dog training helps address these problems in a structured environment. For example, trainers teach owners how to redirect negative behaviors and reward positive ones. Suppose you’re like many San Francisco dog owners; balancing work and pet care can be challenging. Attending training classes can make your life easier by teaching your dog how to behave in everyday situations. From my perspective as a dog walker, a well-behaved dog is more enjoyable and safer to handle.
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2. Improve Control and Safety for Your Dog
- Pet safety largely depends on controlling your dog’s actions indoors and outdoors. Whether I’m walking your dog through a busy San Francisco street or letting them play in an off-leash park, it’s essential to have them respond to commands like sit, stay, come, and heel.
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- Dog training classes lay the foundation for this control. Once your dog masters the basics, you, your dog walker, and anyone interacting with your pup will have a much easier time navigating potentially hazardous situations. For instance, a solid “stay” command could save their life if your dog tries to bolt into traffic. These commands are particularly important in crowded environments like San Francisco’s parks, where distractions are everywhere.
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- If you’ve been asking yourself, “Is dog training worth it?” consider the peace of mind that comes from knowing your dog is safe, no matter the situation.
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3. Socialization Helps in Many Different Environments
- Dog training also includes socialization. If you have a well socialized dog, then every outing is more fun since your dog is more relaxed with other animals as well as many other people. Training classes are great because you get to take your dog somewhere new, and they learn that crowds, loud noises, and strange environments are no big deal to them.
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- For a dog walker, socialization is important for your dog from a mental perspective. Unsocialized dogs then act nervous or aggressive when they see strangers in public. Instead of a time to spend quality time while exercising, this can make walks a stressful encounter.
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4. Good Leash Etiquette Makes Walks Safer and More Fun
- It’s an opportunity for fun, exercise, and bonding whenever you snap on your dog’s leash and head out for a stroll around the block or an adventure at a local park. The same applies when hiring an expert dog-walking service like mine. The last thing you want is for a walk to feel stressful, frustrating, or unsafe.
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- Dog trainers train many puppy skills best in dog training classes — leash manners are important as a priority. When paired with the “heel” command, these lessons help your pooch hone its impulse control and lack of pulling, lunging, or darting erratically on walks. Not only does that help to make walks more fun, but it can also help to keep you and your pup safe.
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- Good leash manners are especially important in busy areas like San Francisco, where sidewalks and parks can be crowded. As someone who spends hours walking dogs daily, I can confirm that trained dogs are less likely to injure themselves or their handlers during walks. Better leash manners should be at or near the top of your list of reasons to train your dog if you have ever wondered what the advantages of dog training are.
