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There are many good reasons to train your dog. Aside from the obvious benefit of having a dog that will readily obey obedience commands, training your dog, working with your dog, builds a unique bond between the two of you. A partnership forms; a common language develops. A deeper understanding and respect for each other is the result.

Dogs, more than any other animal, have the capacity to share our lives and homes and seem remarkably willing to do so on our terms. This is a pretty amazing thing, if you stop to think about it. Domestic dogs, originally bred from wolves, retain some of their wild heritage in the form of natural behaviors and instinctive drives. What we require of the dog in order for him to live harmoniously with us in our home is often at odds with his natural dogness. That dogs are able to adapt to our way of thinking, and take that process seemingly in stride, is nothing short of miraculous.

Our job, our responsibility as dog owners, is to make the process of learning how to live in a human household and a human community as easy and fun for both parties as possible. That your dog will love you is a given. That your dog will trust, respect and obey you is not. You will have to earn that. Training is not so much about being the boss as it is about being a leader. My job as a dog trainer is to show you how to be a good leader.