Pet Corner: Training your dog can be fun and productive
Owning a dog can be a big responsibility and it's not only important for owners to ensure that their dogs are sterilised, but it's also important that dogs receive some form of obedience training.
This can be as basic as teaching the dog its name and rewarding it, when it comes when called – to teaching the dog to walk easily on a lead; and to sit and heel when requested.
According to the Boksburg SPCA manager, Maggie Mudd, training a dog can be a lot of fun for both the owner and the animal – and there are a number of reputable dog schools where owner and dog can go and socialise/train with other owners and their dogs, on a Saturday/Sunday morning or afternoon.
“It’s very important that dogs aren’t abused in any way at these schools and any misuse of choke chains, hitting or dragging of dogs, should be reported to the nearest SPCA or animal welfare organisation, as that’s not acceptable,” said Maggie.
If an owner and dog find that they really enjoy training together, then there are even dog shows that can be entered into, where dog and owner ‘compete’ against other dogs and their owners for first place.
These shows range from real beginners (elementary beginner’s class) right up to very well trained dogs (C class) and, as an owner and his/her dog improve, so they move up through the classes.
Dogs are evaluated by a ‘judge’ on how well they heel, sit, retrieve articles and do scent work alongside the owner.
Training a dog can save its life – a dog that perhaps escapes from its property and is running in traffic, is more inclined to return to its owner (or allow itself to be caught by a stranger) if it’s received some form of training and is used to coming when called.
“And everyone should agree, that a dog that has been trained not to jump up when it meets a new person, is much better than the one that almost knocks a person over – and leaves muddy paw prints/hair all over clean clothes.”
