Dog Obedience Training

In order for your dog to enjoy his life to his fullest he has to learn the “rules of the road.” Dog obedience training teaches him survival skills in our complex world. Running across the street to see another dog, jumping up to welcome a stranger, or barking excitedly at a dog walking past his house are some of the common unwanted behaviors from our pets. That’s where dog obedience training comes into play. We’ll break down some of the programs the trainers at Michael’s Pack use to make your dog have the best manners in the neighborhood.

If you’re wondering when the best time to start training your puppy, the American Kennel Club says that puppies can begin socialization and learning basic commands as early as 7-8 weeks of age. The earlier you start introducing simple obedience commands such as “sit”, “down”, and “stay”, the better the results will be. This is a crucial learning period for dogs and what they learn at a young age will stay ingrained in them as they get older.

No two dogs are the same so giving a concrete timeframe for when they will be fully trained is impossible. However, many puppies can become proficient in most commands within 4-6 months. However, don’t stop your training after this period of time. The more effort you put in early, the more it will pay off with a well adjusted companion. Training your puppies for at least 20 minutes a day is a good way to get the results you want. There is no need to train for extended periods each day as there will be diminishing returns from overdoing it.

Untrained dogs can have a number of behavioral issues that can cause problems in your home, when they are meeting strangers, or when they are interacting with other animals. Michael’s Pack teaches a wide variety of behaviors and we can work with dogs on many different programs or focus on a specific behavioral issue. These are just a handful of the training services we can help with:

• Leash behavior (such as pulling and lunging)
• Jumping
• Barking
• Chewing
• Destructive behavior
• Relationship between children and dogs
• Fear and Anxiety
• Separation anxiety
• Crate training

If you have recently gotten a new puppy, beginning puppy training as soon as possible is the best way to avoid behavioral issues forming down the line. It is easier to train a puppy than to train an older dog to change or learn new behaviors.

Don’t let your dogs behavioral issues get out of hand or become a source of unnecessary stress. At Michael’s Pack, we want you to have a positive, happy relationship with your pet. We can design a specific program to target the problem areas for your new puppy or dog to get fast and lasting results through positive reinforcement. We are approved Canine Good Citizen Certification Evaluators by the American Kennel Club. Contact us today to discuss our services and schedule in home training in New Jersey/New York.