Dogs are an owner’s best friend, but if they aren’t properly trained it can negatively affect your lifelong friendship. The benefits of training your dog will positively impact your happiness as an owner and that of your furry companion.
Basic Training
There are a few basic training milestones that every dog owner should aim to achieve. House training can be tricky, but teaching your dog where to go to the washroom, and where not to, should be your first priority. No one enjoys cleaning up accidents, and dogs don’t enjoy upsetting their owners, so it’s important to be diligent and start this training early.
Some people think keeping their dog in a crate can be cruel, but proper crate training has many benefits. Crate training can help with the housebreaking process, but it’s also a great way to keep your pet from damaging your home or eating items that could be harmful to their health while you’re out. In most cases, dogs only need to be left in their crate until they are old enough, and well behaved enough, to have free roam of the house. Crate training is also a great way to give your canine companion a space of their own where they can feel safe when you’re away or during events like thunderstorms.
Leash Training
There are a lot of benefits to taking the time to leash train your dog, but it’s important to start this step early, so your dog doesn’t develop any bad habits. If you spend the time to teach your dog to walk properly on a leash it allows you both to enjoy your walks. Dogs that aren’t leash trained can damage their necks because they are constantly pulling and lunging towards every interesting scent. Walking is one of the best ways to bond with your furry friend, but it can quickly become stressful if you don’t take the time to properly leash-train them.
Advanced Dog Training
Even if your dog has all the basics down, you should continue to take the time to teach them how to do various tricks and follow advanced commands. Most dogs enjoy learning new things – yes, even the old ones – because it’s mentally stimulating, and they see it as quality bonding time. A mentally stimulated dog is a happy one, and a content canine is less likely to get into trouble while you’re out during the day. If you combine training with frequent walks, your pup will be mentally and physically tired, and they will likely use your absence as an opportunity to take a much-needed snooze. Being able to show off how smart your dog is makes for just one of the many benefits of training your pup to obey advanced commands.
Unfortunately, even the most well trained dogs can run into health issues or accidents, so it’s important to be sure your pup is covered by dependable pet insurance!
With Pet Insurance coverage from Hudson’s Bay Financial Services and Petline Insurance – Canada’s largest pet insurance company, dog owners can be reimbursed for up to 80% of veterinary costs, including X-rays, hospitalization, surgery, dental care and prescriptions. Additionally, owners can also earn up to 4,000 Hudson’s Bay Rewards points.¹
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