A lot of people think training a dog is all about teaching them fun tricks or simply getting them housebroken. While yes, by all means, these are important parts, they’re really just the tip of the iceberg. Actually, you’ll be doing yourself the biggest favor (and your dog) if you look into professional training or at least a professional dog training school. But how? Why? Well, proper training goes way beyond that.
It’s about ensuring your dog knows how to behave in a variety of situations, both at home and out in public. Neglecting this can have more serious consequences than you might think—both for you and your dog. So, here’s exactly how!
Bad Behavior Can Become a Habit
When a dog isn’t trained properly, their natural instincts can take over, and that’s not always a good thing. So, just imagine constant barking, chewing up your favorite shoes, or jumping on guests who come over. These behaviors might seem minor at first (maybe even a tad funny), but over time they can become frustrating for everyone involved.
Yes, and that goes for the dog too. So, without structure, dogs can also develop anxiety or aggression. Simple everyday situations, like meeting new people or encountering other animals, can become overwhelming, leading to behavioral problems that could’ve been avoided with the right training. This is a serious deal, and yes, this will need to be corrected.
Damage to Property
So just right above, it was mentioned that maybe some shoes could get chewed up, or maybe you’ve seen plenty of TikToks of a dog acting guilty because they destroyed some furniture. But the thing is, it’s only untrained dogs that tend to do this, and yes, this does wreak havoc on your belongings and it can only get worse.
These behaviors are more likely to happen if your dog hasn’t learned boundaries. Plus, you have to keep in mind that repairing or replacing these things can add up in cost quickly. But generally speaking, training can significantly reduce the chances of this happening and help your dog understand what’s off-limits.
Your Dog Will Be a Risk to Others
It’s so important to understand that untrained dogs can be unpredictable, and this unpredictability can become a serious problem when they interact with other people. If your dog bites or injures someone, you could be facing more than just an angry neighbor—you could be dealing with a lawsuit. Yes, you’re the one at fault for your dog doing this, and many jurisdictions hold dog owners liable for injuries caused by their pets. So, failing to train your dog can be seen as negligence.
But on top of that, depending on the severity of the injury, you might end up having to compensate the victim. This can be especially true if they seek the help of a personal injury lawyer. It’s not just about fines or paying medical bills; your dog could even be at risk of being labeled dangerous or, in extreme cases, being removed from your care (such as being put down).
While yes, the thought is grim, it’s true too, and this needs to be kept in mind—- there’s so much risk if you take lack of training lightly.
It Can Strain on Your Relationship with Your Dog
A dog that doesn’t understand expectations might constantly test boundaries, leading to frustration on your part. This can affect the bond you share with your pet. It can get to the point where you won’t even like your dog and give up caring for it (like putting it in a shelter).
That’s on you, and that neglect is your fault. Dogs need to be trained, and training them is where the bond is primarily created between the two of you.
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