"A dog is man's best friend." I don't know many people who'd disagree with that statement. The companionship, love, loyalty and enjoyment they bring are indeed gifts, and many people look at their dogs as members of their family. And as with other family members, dogs need to know how to be polite and behave themselves, how to listen to whomever's in charge and how to deal with humans and other animals outside their immediate family ... and that's where obedience classes come in.
What will you and your dog learn in obedience classes? Of course, you'll learn basic commands like "come", "sit", and "heel", but you'll also learn much, much more. The first thing you'll learn is how to make your dog focus on you. Obviously, you can't teach your dog to obey even the most basic of commands unless s/he's paying attention. Getting your dog's attention - and keeping it - builds a very strong bond between the two of you, and reinforces your position as "pack leader"; it will ensure that your dog looks to your for direction rather than taking its own initiative. This means they'll check with you for an "ok" before going to investigate that trash can or chasing that squirrel, and you can redirect their attention in a positive way.
Socialization is another thing your dog will gain in class. This is especially important for pups - they need to understand at a young age that other dogs and people are okay, and learn how to behave around them. Lack of socialization can make a dog suspicious or fearful of critters and people s/he doesn't know; that can make going to the vet, the groomer, the dog park or even on a walk around the neighborhood a stressful and potentially hazardous situation.
Classes are also a lot of fun. You and your dog will have quality time together, you'll get to meet other like-minded dogs and people, and gain the satisfaction of knowing you're laying the base for your dog to become a good canine citizen. And who knows, you might become inspired to pursue further training with your dog, like rally, agility or dock diving. If your dog shows an aptitude, you could go for the Canine Good Citizen certification, Therapy Dog certification, or even Search and Rescue training. The possibilities are amazing!
Here at Whitman's, David Stacco offers obedience classes every Monday and Tuesday nights (except during December). The classes run for 9 weeks, and each class is about 45 minutes long. Beginner classes are on Monday nights, with intermediate/advanced classes on Tuesday. The next session begins on Jan. 5, 2015, and dogs and pups over 12 weeks of age are encouraged to attend. Cost is $95 for the beginner classes (includes training collar and lead) and $85 for the intermediate/advanced classes. Give David a call at (802) 442-2851 or email dave@whitmansfeed.com for further info.
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