Why Invest in Dog Training?
Our dogs are not pets, they are family members. We want them to be happy and healthy, and spend lots of enjoyable moments together.
We spend a lot on our dogs- time and money- to give them the best life. This includes food, vet bills, vaccinations, grooming and equipment. However, we also need to invest in our dog’s training.
Why Invest in Dog Training?
Training is often something we do with our dog’s when they are puppies but then we forget about it until a behaviour issue crops up. Sometimes we hope the behaviour will just go away or sort itself out.
For example:
- Your dog starts barking at visitors to your home and you hope they will just get used to it with time.
- Or your dog stops listening to you on walks at Cammo and you think that they are just distracted.
- Maybe your older dog is getting anxious around other dogs but you think that because they are old you can’t do anything to help them.
Training is worth the investment of time and money because it means both you and your dog can live more enjoyable lives.
- Instead of hoping your dog will get used to visitors coming to your home, you can help teach your dog how to manage their emotions and learn better coping strategies.
- Instead of stopping your dog getting off the lead on walks because they get too distracted, you can teach them how much fun you can be and to come back when called, so you can both enjoy more off lead walks together around Edinburgh’s parks.
- Instead of letting your older dog be anxious around other dogs, you can help boost their confidence in these situations and come to you for help when they need it.
What is the Cost of Dog Training?
Dog training costs can vary greatly depending on the trainer and your requirements.
There are no regulations in the dog training industry so anyone (even someone with no experience or knowledge of dogs) can call themselves a dog trainer, or even a dog behaviourist!
This means who you choose to help with your dog trainer is super important. Look at the person’s qualifications and experience. Check if they are on any registers (e.g. Animal Behaviour and Training Council) or have memberships with recognised bodies (e.g. Professional Association of Canine Trainers).
It is worth paying more for a qualified, professional dog trainer who knows what they are doing, than going for a cheaper option who has less experience as this will probably end up costing you more in the long term.
Time As Well As Money
Unfortunately, dog trainers cannot do all the training for you- you will need to invest your time to the dog training.
It is easy for me to get a dog to listen to me, but the reason you hired me is so your dog listens to you! This means you will need to practise the training with them for short bursts every day. Even 5 minutes a day will make a difference, but you need to commit to the time.
If you don’t put the time into the training, you won’t see the results.
Is it Worth it?
For me, a well-trained, happy dog is a joy to spend time with. And this is the reason we get a dog in the first place!
It’s better to invest in your dog’s training sooner rather than later before small issues become bigger problems.
And it’s better to invest in a good dog trainer with the right qualifications.
Want to Work with Me?
I specialise in adolescent dogs (aged 6-18 months).
I offer 1-2-1 dog training in Edinburgh so I tailor the training specifically to you and your individual dog.
I am a registered Animal Training Instructor with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) and a member of the Professional Association of Canine Trainers (PACT).
I have been helping pawrents with their fluffy family members for over 5 years.
