fbpx
Home » Blog

Doggy Training Yes or No?

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Powered by Mom Blog is curious do you think doggy/puppy training is worthwhile?

Zeus tofino 2

 

When my then boyfriend (now husband) and I got our first puppy a german shepherd/rottweiler cross Zeus (who is pictured above) we didn't even think about puppy training. Zeus was an adorable fluffy puppy with huge paws, seriously huge paws. He started to quickly grow into those paws and while he was a loyal friend, he was also extremely smart, stubborn, big on chewing everything and he very much considered himself to be the alpha dog in our pack.

Zeus was as mentioned chewing on everything which included our coffee table, shoes and well everything. On top of that he was hard to walk on a leash as he wanted to go where he wanted to go and he not only kept trying to be our top dog, he would do the same with any dogs he met. It was driving us crazy and we were at our wit's end so we decided to finally at 5 months of age that we need some alpha dog training. Our alpha dog seriously needed some training or as we found out his owners need some training so he could better understand the rules.

I'm not joking when I say that after our first puppy training (where our Zeus was the biggest puppy by far lol) class we saw immediate results! Yes seriously we did as the first thing "our" trainer said to us was that she wasn't there to train our dogs she was there to train us. Huh? Yep it turns out that one of the most common problems with "dog training" are the owners. We confuse our furry family members with inconsistencies and more things they just don't understand as we humans are kind of confusing sometimes 🙂

We implemented her advice immediately such having me feed Zeus as my husband as Zeus considered me to be the lowest in the pack so he had to see the hand that fed him so to speak. We got chew toys and scented them with the same scent so that he knew those were his toys only. We patiently and consistently always took him out at the same times of the day whenever possible as consistency is important to canines. There were other tips and things she had us implement for the duration of our training and we went from being frustrated to having a dog who understood our commands, protected us, played with us and knew what we were trying to tell him.

Sadly Zeus has been gone from us for a few years but we had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful canine family member and have always utilized what we learned at owner/puppy training with all our subsequent dogs and have taken a few refresher courses as well. As you can see in my opinion whether you have an alpha dog or not we could all benefit from owner/puppy training to have a happy life with our canine friends.

Disclaimer

free e-book
Free E-Cookbook

Sign up for our emails and get our free Simply Sweet E-Cookbook?

I was compensated for this post but as always all opinions are 100% my own.

By on February 22nd, 2013

About Powered by Mom

I’m Michelle aka Powered by Mom. I’m married with one daughter, my hubby was my high school sweetheart, our two dogs Nyx and Cleo and our cat Oliver. As you can see we’re a family of animal lovers. We love to travel when we can, try different food and activities all over the world and enjoy being together. My passions are writing, travelling, creating new recipes, encouraging people to adopt not shop and just to enjoy life while we can.

More posts by this author.

184 thoughts on “Doggy Training Yes or No?”

  1. i think you hit the hammer on the head... i need training lol... i just taught one dog to shake hands but she hasn't figured out how to use the paper we have a chihuahua .. thanks, great writing!

    Reply
  2. Yes, I am not a dog owner but seeing friends and their situations it has always worked and always improved the dog

    Reply
  3. I believe that a trained dog/puppy is a much happier and friendlier. All the dogs I have ever had growing up and in my adult life have been trained.

    Reply
  4. Our first rescue was 5 months old when we got her. I knew from previous dog ownership how to teach sit, down, stay, etc. so it was easy to teach her. We did take her for professional training with other dogs to socialize her. Our second rescue was over a year old when we got her and she has learned from the other dog and from us.

    I believe all dogs benefit from training and love and hugs.

    Reply
  5. How true. I have two Pits that are siblings from the same litter. At one time, we had the mom, Sam, four of her pups, Kane, Jacque, George & Mr.Wrinkles & a basset, Bubba. There were also two owners. Myself & my friend, Mark. This alone made it harder for them but I became the "Alpha". They never went to training but I read everything I could find on what to do & not do. My boys, George & Mr.Wrinkles are almost 11 & I would like to think I did a fairly good job. I am still the alpha. If I could do it over, I think I would have taken them all to training, including my friend.

    Reply
  6. Yes...very much worth it...also think that humans need training to understand and be consistant with the training that their dog/pup gets. It will make a much more plesant home life!

    Reply
  7. Training is very important for the pet and the kids! Everyone is so much nicer to be around when the pets are trained with manners. 🙂

    Reply
  8. It is a good idea. Better to get them started off in right direction when young. Think of it as training your kids

    Reply
  9. Dog training is very important ! Especially with a larger dog who can be harder to control. We have a German shepherd pitbull mix who is the sweetest , and listens very well due to having her properly trained!

    Reply
  10. we have 3 Siberian huskies they are 2 boys and a girl. They are siblings. The only one with training is the little girl her prior owners had her put through training. They are Nikoma 5 yrs and dakota and cyril 4 yrs. I am actually looking into some basic training for all of them. They all have issues with who's in charge. lol My fur babies are awesome and I ove them . So I guess what I m saying is I wish I had done training

    Reply
  11. I like the idea of first time pet owners going through a training class to learn how to care for and train their pet properly

    Reply
  12. This blog just reminded me of all the not so fun training stuff. Hubby and I have been entertaining the idea of getting a second dog. Not looking forward to all the puppy stuff. I never really had a problem with puppies chewing on furniture, lucky I guess. I always made sure there were an abundant of chew toys and rawhide's for them to satisfy their teething needs so far it has worked every time to deter them from chewing on our stuff.
    Zeus is a Handsome looking dog!

    Reply
    • Thanks Lisa he was a handsome boy 🙂 he had lots of chew stuff that didn't stop him depends on the dog I guess after we trained it him it was soooo much better or should I say after we trained ourselves lol

      Reply
  13. We took our female german shephard (Charlie like the perfume) to the MSPCA for dog training. Basic training was when she was 6 months and we followed that with advanced training. I believe it helped us control her better, though we never have done well with walking despite the cost, time and training at the SPCA. She stopped jumping on our granddaughters in the long run.
    PS: I hated the clicker and would use hand signals in training if I had to do it over again.

    Reply
  14. I think it depends on the dog, your family and why you're getting a dog. If you're looking for a dog to protect your family, if you have small children or your dog is particularly rambunctious, then dog training may be worth the time and money. Otherwise, you just may not want to invest in it.

    Reply
  15. Puppy training is imperative. However, you don't need to do an actual class if you train your dog yourself. Thankfully, we got our puppy at a perfect time when I had nothing else going on and could devote my time to training him. He is now perfectly trained and very well behaved (for the most part ;). I got books from the library and bought one on Amazon about puppy training, and they were very helpful. You have to understand dog psychology in order to train them - you can't expect them to think like humans do. That's the biggest thing with training. Hammy is now over a year old and he loves us dearly and can walk to the mailbox with me off a leash because he stays with me. 🙂

    Reply
  16. I agree 100% on dog training. My grown son moved back in with me. He has no consistency with his big dog. he gives him treats allday long. I can't get it through his hard head that it isn't good for him, as he is getting too heavy. He
    s like a loose cannon in the house when my sons home. when he's gone, no problem. What to do with a 48 year old bullheaded man?

    Reply
  17. I have had pets my whole life and have done all the training myself. It is a discipline just like training a child to not touch hot or to go to the potty such is the training for a puppy. Constant reminding of proper behavior. Having a dog is more than just bringing it home and having it sit on your lap. You must devote time to them. NO 2 ways around it.

    Reply
  18. We foster dogs and have learned a lot about training dogs. We also have a hurricane katrina dog we adopted that was a wild child. We did not have formal training for her but we spent time working with her. She was other dog aggressive and now we can take her to the dog parks and on walks where there are other dogs. It was hard work but people need to realize that owning a dog takes work if you want a well behaved pet. People are amazed that we have 2 dogs and 5 cats plus the occasional foster dog in our home and everyone gets along. Whatever works for you is good and if it takes a professional then by all means you should do it.

    Reply
  19. I am going to say yes...I had 2 dogs and never gave them any formal training, I adopted a 2 year old dog frm my cusin who had him trained and he is such a great listener...I def. see a difference

    Reply
  20. Some insurance companies require you to have certain breeds have training certificates. So, I think this is a great Idea! Some dogs however are untrainable.

    Reply
  21. I think dogs need it more than cats even though I have a cat and sometimes I would like to find some kind of training for her...lol

    Reply
  22. I love my animals!! I have a new puppy that is very very hyper and I'm not sure what I need to do. I have always been able to train my dogs but this one sure is a challenge.

    Reply
  23. I never realized that it was probably my techniques! we have a black lab and he is a very good boy but wild! maybe i will find some books for how to train the owner! 😉

    Reply
  24. Every dog is different, but I agree that we all need to learn each others behaviors and reinforce them positively. That usually means training us humans to be consistent. I have had smart and stupid dogs, patient and impulsive (beagles...) and they all benefited greatly from consistent behavior.
    Right now our 18mo old daughter is a terror and we have decided to wait another year or so to get a dog and we will work with her on 'training' the new doggy!

    Reply
  25. I think it is very important but also very hard and takes time. Where some pick it up fast others take time and allot of hard work. But you will have a great bog after

    Reply
  26. YES..My dog and PAST dog have been trained by working with them young. They never went out of the yard and were trained by Hand signals so yelling was not an option.Taking time aand training them with love and support makes everyone happy in the longrun!

    Reply
  27. I believe whether or not you have a puppy or an adult dog that all dogs would benefit from being trained. I see this as a great thing to do for yourself and your dog. I strongly believe that dogs benefit from training because it makes them better behaved and brings you closer when doing the training.

    Reply
  28. He is adorable. I know my basett hound needs some serious training. She has gotten better but I just dont know how to break her from going down in my basement and going instead of outside. It is driving me crazy.

    Reply
  29. I'm more a cat than a dog person, but I do believe all dogs need training. Not necessarily "professional" training. I've always teained my dogs myself with live & patience. The results have always been very positive.

    Reply
  30. I think its an absolute yes. To me my pets are part of my family so I think it is essential that when you take a puppy into your home and your lives that you need to train them! You don't want them to rule your house and take it over. You need to train them to learn the difference between right and wrong. Now, if you are able to commit yourself and do it yourself then its not always necessary to pay for training classes. I know a lot of dog owners who have trained their pets on their own and they are amazing pets. 🙂

    Reply
  31. I trained all four of my poodles lol. I think it's necessary to train them because they listen and they act better when people are around.

    Reply
  32. I think that training of any kind is better than no training at all and training at any age is better than none. I think that a puppies brain is sort of like a childs in that both have a very small attention span. During that span they will pick up the information that you are trying to teach them then a small amount will be retained in their memory, not all in order, but random information. I think that is why kids seem to get part of what you need them to do right and not the other part. lol Just my pieces of brains ranbling around in my head lol But to get back on track training of any kind, any age is worth every minute

    Reply
  33. Doggie training is the hardest thing to do, you must have patience!!! My mother can house break a dog in a week. We used to have lots of people to call her & they would bring their dogs to leave with her for the week (as puppies) so she can house train them! I just can't do it!!!!

    Reply
  34. Training is definitely essential with a puppy. Because of the cost I've tried to do it myself with our 4 month old (German Shepard)and think I'm losing the battle. Our 11 month old (German Shepard/Husky)was so easy. I won't give up though...gotta keep cleaning the pee, LOL!

    Reply
  35. YES! I agree with some of the other posters about how you have to follow through and continue on with the training after class ends but it is well worth it. Training helped my dog be able to walk by our sides instead of pulling, he now completely ignores dogs that are barking at him or cats running across the street in front of him. He has some work to do inside but outside he is an awesomely behaved dog.

    Reply
  36. Some training is worth it. I have a 70 lb. American pittbull and she is my baby. Diamond was taught basic commands and housebroken but as she has gotten older she has learned also without the training. She knows to sit pretty if we are going through a drive thru, when I say ok goodnight I'm going to bed she is in the bed before I get there, and if you say the word treat for anything you better find her one. She is very sweet and smart couldn't ask for a better animal.

    Reply
  37. Puppy training is a must. I have had dogs all my life and you need to be able to spend time with them to train them properly.

    Reply
  38. Absolutely! Dogs tend to have separation anxiety, but they are always wanting to please. A trained pup would be less likely to have anxiety when the owners are gone, and more likely to behave more when company is around. This makes everyone happy 🙂

    Reply
  39. I know so many dog owners who could benefit from training. I have friends who, I hate to say, I dread going to see at their homes because they have absolutely no control over their dogs behavior. I intend to spread the word!

    Reply
  40. I definitely think puppy training is a great idea. I had a dog when I was in my twenties. I was a stay at home Mom so I trained her myself. I started training her when she was 5 weeks old. I spent 8 hours a day with her and she was the most incredible dog I have ever seen. She also watched me interact with my oldest daughter so she learned what my daughters were suppose to do and not do. One day I had went to the bathroom and my youngest daughter tried getting out of the backdoor. My dog , Puppy (my oldest daughter named her Puppy because that.s all she new how to say when we got her), got between her and the door and would not move until I was done in the bathroom. Another time I had gotten in a fender bender and was on crutches. I was hobbling the garbage out so my youngest daughter went with me and she got away from me, she was fast! She was headed to the side gate and Puppy jumped in front of her and squatted and made my daughter trip on top of her. I was able to get to her before she could get up. Puppy literally thought she was human! lol! So, yes, I think it's a great idea =D

    Reply
  41. Definitely - makes everything go better in the home and makes the dog feel better - they are pack animals with a hierarchical structure.

    Reply
  42. Absolutely I believe it to be worthwhile. Every dog should have it unless the owners are diligent in training and discipline the dog themselves. I adopted my first dog 1 1/2 yrs ago as an adult dog. He is obedient and trained; however, he can use some more training (if you can teach an old dog new tricks) as he is a little dog and a yapper. He's not socialized as much as we'd like so yes he definitely could benefit from it...when pocket can afford it.

    Reply
  43. ABSOLUTLY!! Ive had many puppies over the past 30 yrs. Even a little training going a long way. First and most important commands I taught was stay and stop . The rest is easy from there. Those first 2 commands will stop wandering, chewing, bad behaviour in its tracks. sit, flip, food tricks I call the gravey fun commands. Gravy cause the main ones were taught and now the fun tricks gravey are for my entertainment. It does take time, persistance, patience like you wouldn't believe, repetition. They want to learn to please their owner and my dog could have a child bite his tail and he'd move as soon as he seen the action coming. love love luvs kids friendly to my customers. Once the sun goes down don't ever sneek in my yard.

    Reply
  44. MOST DEF TRAIN PUPPY/DOG! MY GERMAN SHEPHERD IS EXTREMELY HYPER AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW CRAZY HE WOULD BE IF HE WASN'T TRAINED!

    Reply
  45. Absolutely - it's a lot of work, especially when you have more than one dog, but it's so worth it in the long run. Good training makes your dog so much nicer to be around (both for you and anyone else who comes in contact). My parents have little (untrained) yappy dogs and they are really obnoxious to be around. They bark at everything and pee everywhere!

    Reply
  46. I agree that all puppies should be trained. And it is SO much easier when they are puppies!!! I have always commended those who were patient enough to do or take it to obeidience school!!

    Reply
  47. I crate trained my dog for 3 days that was 12 years ago,he's like a little human, doesnt bark in the house and is sweet and well mannered but spoiled rotten!

    Reply
  48. yes we have to train our animals just as we teach our kids ...they are fur babies and must learn the basics too be able to function within the family

    Reply
  49. Puppy training is invaluable because a lot of owners who buy or adopt dogs are not adept and do not do the homework needed for the breed of dog they aquire. We bred mini daschunds and all of the people who bought one of our dogs could not believe that at 12 weeks they were so well adjusted and trained.

    Reply
  50. I have two dogs that are absolutely wonderful. Both are rescue dogs. Jake is a Great Dane/German Shepherd mix and Sam is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Jake was already trained when I got him at 2 years old - and he never forgets his training. Sam is a very well-behaved dog and you can teach him most anything while he is is the house ------but once he gets outside he becomes deaf and so bull-headed that I want to pull my hair out. I think training is very important for the animal and for the humans that live with them.

    Reply
  51. I think that dogs that are strong willed need training, I have had dogs that are really easy going and just behave from the get go but my sister has had a dog that she took to training because like yours he chewed everything and would listen to nothing! After dog training he was a great dog and they had no problems after that with him!

    Reply
  52. I am super guilty of this! I have a terrier that is very well behaved, but a great dane puppy and teacup chi that are half wild/half behaved. The chi gets away with things because he is tiny...and I keep begging everyone to NOT baby him, not let him jump, but everyone thinks it's cute...I don't want an old chi that is determined to have his way because he never learned otherwise! The dane...geesh... way too much energy in wayyyy too big of a body. I had a dane that passed a few years ago and we wanted another...but I forgot that it took us a few years to get him in line, where the puppy is still a lot of work. On the plus, she doesn't jump up anymore! ( good thing as she weighs 187 lbs now...UGH!)

    Reply
  53. If you get a puppy, or even an adult dog, and it has not been trained, and you fail to train it? You are in for a world of trouble. The dog will be chewing on everything and anything that you love. The dog will be peeing and pooping allover your gorgeous $100 Persian rug that has been handed down for generations, that cannot be replaced. The dog will eat all your $250 Cole Haan handbags that you worked SO hard for, but puppy just HAD to teethe on SOMETHING. Animals need training, no matter what breed, what age, what size. I train my cats, for pete sake. You cannot allow them to run willy nilly allover like a wild indian! Structure, discipline and routine works ON ALL species, canine, feline bovine, equine, and hell, humankind children as well. You ought to see my spoiled horrible niece? If she was MY kid? oh ho ho. NOT in MY house!

    Reply
  54. We've had our yorkie/pom for 11 years now and I wish we had gone for training. She is a good dog, doesn't make messes or wreck things, but boy when she barks, she deafens you for a while. It only happens when someone comes to the door. After you come in, she's quiet. It's a good thing, but sometimes the barking goes on too long. Also, we cannot let her off the leash -this is my main concern as she ages for fear she will get out and on the road. I will definitely get myself and a future dog trained 🙂

    Reply
  55. Puppies and families need training. I was lucky that the last dog we got from the rescue had training and he's such a good dog. Love them but learn thru training about the right way to live with them.

    Reply
  56. I so agree that it is the owner who needs to be trained and then follow-through with the pearls of knowledge and not be lazy. I am such a procrastinator and it is so easy to say, okay we will start tomorrow, but with a family pet/friend good habits need to be consistent. Thank you for sharing with us 🙂

    Reply
  57. Yes dogs need to be trained. The owners too. We have rude people around here that let dogs run loose or on a 25 ft. leash.They think the dogs can go through peoples yards. Ticks me off!

    Reply
  58. I think that people should go through a class before they get a dog. But training is worth it, for both the dog and the people. But you also have to remember that they are animals and there are certain situations that will come up that didn't in training.

    Reply
  59. My friend raises show dogs: Samoyeds and Huskies. Her dogs are amazingly well-behaved, as true pleasure to be around. No jumping up on us (those are BIG DOGS!), no eating shoes, whining, barking at every passing mosquito -- they are simply amazing. She does believe in training, and her dogs are a testament to the process!

    Reply
  60. Training is essential for a well behaved dog.The better the training the better the dog.But as a trainer I know first hand that any dog will still mess up some times it's called being human

    Reply
  61. I think it's definitely worth it. There is nothing worse than going to someone's house and being uncomfortable because of jumping dogs that won't behave. I would be so embarrassed if our dog did that. We started training as soon as we got her.

    Reply
  62. Dogs are like children, they need to be taught, but they need love and encouragement as well! My dogs ( i have 4) are very smart, and by using the same words over and over, eventually they get it. I love my dogs! I am all for training, but in the right way!

    Reply
  63. Yes, I actually think it's irresponsible to have any dog of any size and not train it. It's for their safety and ours. THey need to come when called. They need to stop when told to stop, to let go, and for their own enjoyment. It's like helping our children learn to speak and understand us. It gives our dogs a way to communicate with us better. We start training at about 3 months.

    Reply
  64. I definitely agree that puppy training is important, for the puppy as well as for the owner. You get a jump on bad behavior before it gets serious!

    Reply
  65. I think it is worth training your dog, but you definitely have to follow up and work with your dog to keep him well trained. I also think it matters if your dog will be inside and if you have children etc. It's always great to have them trained, but even more important in those circumstances!

    Reply
  66. I think it's worthwhile to train pups because it will be easier on the owners to have a more disciplined dog. I do not have dogs because I personally have always been scared of dogs. One thing I cannot stand is for a big dog the size of a St. Bernard to jump on me. So I really prefer to see a dog trained, lol.

    Reply
  67. We bred mini daschunds and cj the mommy had 4l litters. Each puppy was different their personalitys were so distinct we knew quite quickly how to train biggie as opposed to Linus. They were much like kids to us and one training style did not always work for all the puppies but we learned their styles of learning and they wre the best trained puppies ever.

    Reply
  68. I agree dogs and their owners both need to be trained. I keep telling my daughter this because she has 3 dogs that love to jump up on people and run around like crazy animals.They aren't puppies anymore so she won't bother. They listen when someone tells them to do or not do something sometimes.

    Reply
  69. Yes, training is essential.....As the saying goes, no bad dogs only bad owners.....if I had a dollar for every dog that has been dumped at the pound because it was unruly due to no training when it was younger, I would be a multi billionaire. Why people get those cute little puppies, especially those who grow into large breeds, and give them no training at all and yet expect them to know how to behave is beyond me.....I see it every single day. Training is especially essential if you have one of those breeds labeled dangerous. We have a pit bull....he is a rescue....everyone loves him because he knows how to mind and is not aggressive.....why is he like that? Because from the time I brought him into my home after rescuing him from the street I began training him, teaching him those oh so important commands he would need later. Training yoir dog will make your dog happier and you happier....

    Reply
  70. In the past I had never considered puppy training but now that I have a toddler, I think it would be very important to have a trained pet.

    Reply
  71. I wouls say yes if it is important to you. We had a trainer come in for our dog when he was small because he wouldn't stop peeing on the carpet!!

    Reply
  72. We took one 12 week course when my dog was a puppy. He was too young and we did not continue with the training classes. BIG mistake. My son's classmate was in the same class with us and her dog continued for two more sessions. What a huge difference between the two dogs (same breed) with more training. Ours is a maniac compared to their dog. This was my first dog ever and I will make sure my next dog gets proper training.

    Reply
  73. My son just got a puppy. He's about 8 wks old and has the run of the house. He says he tries training him but I think my son just gives in and lets him do his "thing" wherever/whenever he wants. This is going to be a major problem when it gets older. I firmly believe that puppies should be trained as soon as possible. Saves a lot of wear & tear on your property and your nerves.

    Reply
  74. a double yes, when a dog is trained they are better behaved and easier to manage, i wish i could afford to train mine or have the patience to do it myself

    Reply
  75. Great post! I'm going to send it to my daughter and son-in-law. JJ is a great dog who's owners need serious training. He was so adorable as a puppy who could possibly say no to him? Now, JJ is still adorable...and morbidly obese! I've tried to tell my daughter that if she really loves him she will stop sharing people food to him so he can be happy and healthy. They are killing him with kindness. I hope it helps.

    Reply
  76. I believe strongly in training dogs. If not, how canwe expect them to behave properly for us and other dogs and humans they meet.

    Reply
  77. Now that my dachshunds are 5 years old , i wish had taken them to puppy training. I wasn't to keen on it then, but I'm a believer now. Thanks for your post.

    Reply
  78. I have two dogs that want to be the Alpha Dog and well, you can imagine the growling and fighting that happens, especially when both want to be petted alone and not at the same time. I should consider getting training so they could stop fighting and just get along.

    Reply
  79. I think it depends on the owner and the dog. I think a dog should atleast know the basic commands, as it's said a dog is a man's best friend!

    Reply
  80. I absolutely think training is good, and necessary, for some dogs. Just like people, they all have different personalities and strengths and weaknesses, so if they need some training then by all means, they should get some training.

    Reply
  81. I think dogs do need to be trained some. I have trained my own dogs. I would say to have a professional train your dog if you do not know now. You can tell the difference between my dogs and my neighbors dogs who are not trained very well. The owner does need to keep up with it.

    Reply
  82. training takes a lot of work and time and since I don't have the money to pay for it, I have to dedicate that time myself but in the end, it is so worth it!

    Reply
  83. I think the need for formal training depends a lot on the particular dog and, of course, the owner. Some dogs, and some owners, definitely need formal training. 🙂 Everyone can benefit from it, but others can pick it up on their own with a little effort by reading a book or watching Cesar Millan. I watched a lot of Cesar and it's amazing how much I learned from him. I'm so fortunate to have two amazing well-behaved little fur babies. 🙂

    Reply
  84. Wished we had known about this for our dog Tuna, an American Eskimo. He definitely had alpha dog traits and only my husband could handle him.

    Reply
  85. I have always believed in training you dog as soon as I get them. After all the dog lives in my house not the other way around. He should know the rules of the house. It's better that way.

    Reply
  86. I think doggy training makes for a better experience for all. Puppies love to please and if they know clearly what the expectations are really are they will usually try to go out of their way to make you happy.

    Reply
  87. I think training is a great idea. I hot a puppy a few years back and I found it impossible to teach it to not go potty on the floor.

    Reply
  88. He dog I have now is well behaved I really don't think I need it but with dogs I had in the past I really wished I could of took them I think it really would of helped

    Reply
  89. We have always trained our own puppies ourselves. I feel a puppy learns better in a loving environment with the people he or she will be around all the time. I do not care if my dogs can speak on command, but I do want the to know their boundaries inside and out. I think it is more important that they know to stay out of the road or the trash then to be able to do a million tricks to show off to company.

    Reply
  90. We trained our dog very well. But, when our kids came along she just didn't get along with them. I think dog training is a must but I don't think all of the dog training in the world will make them get along with others. Unfortunately we had to give our dog away because she started biting my son when the was 2. 🙁

    Reply
  91. I SAY TRAIN, IT IS PROVEN TRAINED ANIMALS DO BETTER, BUT I AGREE MOST DOG OWNER'S NEED A BRUSH UP, IT'S LIKE HAVING A BABY:)

    Reply
  92. Siberian Huskys are the dogs who are the closest to being a Wolf. I was at wits end, and in tears, while caring for Sierra. In the beginning I thought she was going to be like taking care of a poodle. I signed up with every dog trainers email list and watched youtube videos. She was alfa female for a while, until I began to learn how to train her, and things got much better. She walked down entire sidewalks on two legs when she was on a leash and that was so embarrassing for my ego. I would think now the whole world can see that I cannot even handle taking a dog for a walk. I felt stupid. She knew how to get off the leash and would be 5 miles down the road in a flash. Siberian Huskys were bred for sled racing. She knew how to unlatch her kennel. She had chewed a hole almost completely through the wall (from inside to the outdoors) by the front door by the time I got home. She locked me out of my house while I was having coffee on the back patio. She reached up and pulled the latch. She knew that I pulled it to open the door. Of course this was to unlock the door first but she thought the latch was for opening the door. Yes, the bottom line is that training a dog is the most important thing we must do for them.

    Reply
  93. I agree all dogs (and owners) can benefit from training! It helps the dog learn boundaries and helps the owners understand their dog better!

    Reply
  94. Dog/Puppy training is imperative..just like children, dogs need to have boundaries and rules and that is what makes them grow into happy confident dogs. A dog that is not trained is, well...just go take a look at my facebook pictures! Hahaha. I have a house full of stuffed animal fluff all over the floor, toys everwhere..I have dogs that yipe all throughout dinner as they beg and whine for morsels and dogs that jump all over company. LOL Dogs need training and I need training on how to train my dogs, all 3 of the beautiful little mutts that make my days complete!

    Reply
  95. Thanks for the review. I inherited a pure bred German Shephard from my son and she is absolutely georgous. The only thing is that she is 6 and they never trained her to be obedient. It drives me crazy sometimes.

    Reply
  96. I took our last dog to classes held by the local kennel club. He was a rescue dog and we thought the classes would help us modify the behavior that resulted from being abused. The instructor labeled him a "problem" almost from the beginning. So much so that I was virtually on my own. I was able to help him more from things I learned from various TV shows.
    My lesson- research the instructor

    Reply
  97. oh god yes to doggy training.. i live in a 4 plex 2 in back and 2 in front.up here i have a toy Boston Terrier..doesn't bark.. does what he's told.. poops in the same spot that i clean up because its one yard. I also have a sulcata tortoise so its imperative to have a child proof yard and house or she gets into everything. Dog poop due to the high protein content.. not just that its gross enough, is very very bad for my tortoise to get into ... yes she will eat anything. So everyday I have to put on my gloves and safari hat and go out in the tundra looking for all of the bad things that might be out there before she ventures outside. There are 4 dogs in the back.. their owners do not care what they do.. they just say they wont listen to me.. I say PUPPY SCHOOL!!!! they just turn up their noses and walk off.. so I've become somewhat of a poop expert by now.. I can tell you everything about each dog that gets in the yard.. not thrilled over this tittle. Anyways it is a war trying to get these dogs under control and my landlord really doesnt care if they dig holes and leave landmines.. so I am really frustrated and just wish that people would stop using the excuse my dog wont come when i call he wont listen to me theres nothing i can do.. because by god there is if they just took a little time out of their day to work with them.. Dog Training works if ya work it.. or your dog will be in charge.. Hopefully this issue will be resolved soon.. ty for letting me vent...

    Reply
  98. ugh, yes we have 3 dogs. my boss' have a dog and she is still not potty trained and she's almost 2! she poops and pees all over the house and on her dog pad and then tears it up ON THEIR SOFA! its bad! i have 3 well behaved dogs. you must be consistant with them

    Reply
  99. I definitely think it's worth it to train a dog, especially if you want them under control. Dogs are intelligent, they can learn if we teach them.

    Reply
  100. I think that it's important for a first time puppy/dog owner to have some sort of training, especially in a case like yours where the dog is alpha. I've done a puppy class with lots of other people/dogs and I've also paid the extra $ to have a professional trainer come to my home. I'd have to say that I definitely learned more from the one on one training but the down side is that your dog doesn't get the interaction with other dogs.

    Reply
  101. We have 2 great pyranees both male our oldest is very well behaved and minds. But our other one is hyper and never listens we consider this foe him.

    Reply
  102. I think training is esential. My dog has passed also but he was trained and it really made him a better dog but i trained him myself.I think it depends on the temperment of the dog and who is trainning him/her.

    Reply
  103. I think it is worth it. Even the most simple commands need to be taught, but if you have a wild dog it is nice to have the training!

    Reply
  104. As long as one can afford it I DO think it is worth it! I believe the family and the dog end up happier and with a better quality of relationship etc.
    We couldn't afford it, but we watched videos online and taught our dogs things from what we learned that way.
    I even singlehandedly litterbox trained a maltese, a yorkie and a shihtzu myself! The maltese learned in only 1 wk at 4 mos old, the yorkie was the hardest it took him to really get it until he was 10 mos old lol

    Reply
  105. i agree i think it is worth the time to train a dog. i have 4 dogs and i have trained them all and it is deffently worth the time to do it

    Reply
  106. I think training is totally worthwhile. A well-behaved dog can make your life so much easier and your relationship with the dog much more enjoyable!

    Reply
  107. Dog training is more than worth it! It can teach a dog so much about *inside* behavior,how to behave around kids,whats to play with and whats a no no,they retain what they learn and act accordingly.

    Reply
  108. It is SO very worth it to get them trained while they are young. They are much better, well-behaved, and easier to take out on family trips, ect. It's a very wise investment. If one cannot afford a professional trainer there is a ton of info on the net to get tips to train your own dog.

    Reply
  109. I agree, it's well worth the time to train a dog properly. It makes them more fun and more part of the family. I'm sorry you lost Zeus. I lost Lizzy my 18 yr old Boston Terrier. I miss her terribly.

    Reply
    • It is hard when you lose them for sure Jane. We've since lost my dog Juno sadly the larger dogs they don't live as long we had her for 12 years, we got her only 6 months after Zeus they were best buds 🙂

      Reply
  110. We have a 13 year old Full blooded, registered black lab (Maggie Anne) that is our best friend, We got her as a pup and researched tips on training and started her training right off. She is a wonderful loving dog that has become a part of our family and is truly loved.

    Reply
  111. Your Zeus sounds exactly the way my Bear was. Bear is also gone, but stays in my heart as I'm sure Zeus stays in yours. I believe you are right when it comes to training. It's us humans that need trained! I've watched many shows on this subject and every time it's the humans that need trained! I've never taken my dogs for training, most likely for financial reasons, although a good friend of mine did and his dog is worse than the dog I have now! Maybe some dogs are just destined to be bad! LOL

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sugar Cookie Bars With Chocolate Ganache Story Easy Chocolate Lollipops Story Strawberry Paleo Fudge Bites Story Grilled Chicken Pesto Sandwich Recipe Story Easy Crockpot Thai Chicken Curry Soup Story