Why Is Dog Training Important?

Everyone who gets a dog is going to ask themselves the same question: "Do I need to train my dog?"

Maybe your dog is a very chill and good boy or girl right from day one. Maybe you have a perfect little puppy who never makes a mess and listens to everything you say.

Even if that's the case: YOU SHOULD STILL TRAIN YOUR DOG.

Remember, dogs are basically little kids! If you had a child, you'd send them to school, right? Or at least give them home schooling, for those who prefer that. Dogs, just like children, need enrichment to grow their minds and be happy. Training helps the dog build confidence in learning different ways to earn the resources they want, like food, treats, and attention. They love figuring things out, just like us!

More importantly, dogs have a certain amount of mental and physical energy each day, and if they aren't using it by sundown, they're going to get antsy and cause problems. Think of it like a boiling kettle - they've gotta blow off some of that steam! While they can get out the physical energy from walking, the amount of sniffing the average dog does on a walk just isn't enough, even for the laziest dogs.

Realistically, every dog needs AT LEAST 15 minutes of dedicated mental stimulation a day - such as training, tricks, or puzzles to solve. Most dogs need more than this, with some breeds needing as much as an hour or more a day! But 15 minutes is the absolute minimum you should expect for a dog, if you don't want them to start chewing up your upholstery out of boredom.

Training isn't just for solving problems! It's for making your dog happy and healthy, throughout their lives.