What Do You Love About Training Your Dog?

What do you love about training your dog?

I hope I can get as many people as possible to answer the above question.

You know why? It will inspire others to get excited about spending time with their dogs.

For me, that’s what dog training is about – spending time with my dog and learning to communicate with one another.

It’s almost spiritual.

Of course, I also want a polite, well-behaved dog who listens. And that only comes with a lot of hard work and patience (and luck!).

I asked some of my readers “What do you love about dog training?” or “What do you love about training your dog?”

Here’s what they had to say, in their own words:

Jen deHaan:

“I love how it builds upon and solidifies the bond we share. Both dogs learn how to watch my body, especially my face, for clues about what I might want them to do so the connection we share is strengthened each time we train.

“And the dogs always know that ‘training’ is going to be fun, and great things are about to happen! Anything that involves such fun, joy, and relationship building is an activity to love and do as often as possible.”

deHaan blogs at DogThusiast.com.

Alyx Hatton:

“I love the quality one on one time I get with her.”

Jen Gabbard:

“I love being able to keep training sessions fun by using toys as rewards. Since Laika knows that offering good behaviors leads to more playtime she’s much easier to train; and she’s become my well-behaved best friend in the process.”

Gabbard blogs at PuppyLeaks.com.

Colby Morita:

“As a guide dog puppy raiser, number one on my list is watching a puppy I trained from 7 weeks to 18 months of age guide his blind partner across a busy street, through a crowd of people, or just a simple walk to school with her children.

“Training a puppy to help another individual regain her independence is the top reason why I love training dogs and puppies! It’s life changing not just for a blind person receiving a guide dog, but for the puppy raiser as well.”

Morita blogs at PuppyInTraining.com.

Andrew James:

“The main reason I love dog training is that I’m able to make a positive difference in the lives of dogs who need me.

“Also, I get the benefit of working with dogs and puppies every day and that enables me to connect with all dogs on a deeper level than ever before.”

James blogs at Shepped.com.

Elaine Bryant:

“For me, training is not just about having a well-behaved dog, but it’s also about creating a strong bond with your dog. You’re a team and you support one another.

“When training a new command, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing that look in your dog’s eyes as she connects the dots for the first time and she ‘gets it.’ You celebrate her accomplishment together because you’re a team.”

Bryant blogs at ChasingDogTales.com.

Jennifer Jenkins:

“I like the fact that my relationship with my dogs are strengthened and I get a lesson in patience. Also, it is so much fun!”

Barbara Rivers:

“Training my dogs has several benefits I love:

1. It turns them into polite K9s I can take along on social outings.
2. It strengthens the bond between us.
3. It keeps them mentally fit by asking them to perform a certain behavior.
4. My arms very much appreciate not being pulled all over the place when we go for walks!”

Rivers blogs at K9sOverCoffee.com.

How about the rest of you?

What do you love about training your dog?

Let me know in the comments! I hope we can inspire more dog owners to work with their dogs.

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