Bringing home a new dog is full of excitement and optimism. But after your perfect pup turns into a feisty gremlin who pees everywhere, you may wonder what you got yourself into. The good news is that consistent training can put an end to unwanted behaviors. There are seemingly endless training options available to dog owners. Careers in dog training services are on the rise for good reason. Here are six reasons why in-home training works.
1. Your Home Offers a Relaxed Environment
It can be extremely tempting to send your dog off to a boarding center or training facility. Having your dog transformed from a wild beast to a perfect gentleman without having to do the dirty work sounds like a dream come true. While this type of training definitely works for a lot of people, it costs more than any other training and comes with some downsides.
Working with a trainer in your home provides the opportunity for an outside professional to observe your dog in his most natural state. Your home is the epicenter where behaviors are cemented and reinforced. Your trainer will have insight and suggestions based on your unique home environment, which is simply impossible to replicate anywhere else.
In-home training is naturally less stressful for your dog. Boarding generally comes with the high possibility of anxiety in most dogs, especially if he already has separation anxiety. Simply eliminating that factor gives you the upper hand to get a positive start to your training journey.
2. You Have Control Over Your Dog’s Environment
In-home dog training puts control in your hands. Your trainer is the professional who will guide you and your pup, but you are there to be sure that your dog is being disciplined and rewarded appropriately.
At home, you can create the most optimal training environment for your dog. You are in charge of who takes part in the process, what problem behaviors are addressed, and when structured training fits into your schedule.
If you send your dog away for training or participate in a group class, you give up some of that control. You won’t know who will show up for training and what your dog will be exposed to in an outside environment. While socializing is imperative for dogs, specific training can happen most effectively when distractions are limited.
3. At-home Training Allows More Consistency
Even though in-home training happens on your schedule, training is never really over. The opportunity to reinforce good behavior with your dog happens with each interaction you have with her throughout the day.
It is important for everyone in your dog’s family to participate in the training process and be consistent with commands and techniques. This is much easier if training happens at home from the start. Your trainer will give you the best commands to use and problem-solve tricky behaviors that you can work on when your structured training time is over.
When the cues and commands learned during in-home training are used with you and your trainer, your dog will pick up expectations quickly. She wants to be the best dog for you, and you’ll be setting her up for success and all the belly rubs.
4. You Can Continue Training
Dog training is people training. When your trainer has determined that all goals have been met and your sessions are complete, it’s on you to keep the good habits going. When training has happened in your home, it is so much easier to keep the good times rolling without a break in the process.
5. At-home Training Strengthens Your Bond
When you are present and participating in the training process, the bond will only intensify with your dog. Every interaction you have strengthens your dog-owner relationship and gets you that much closer to having that dream companion you were hoping for the day you brought him home.
You’ll appreciate how far your dog has come when you are present for in-home training. You and your pup will be more invested when you are there for each other. You are the one with the expectations. Lay on all the praise and reap the benefits of your strengthened bond will your well-trained pup.
6. At-home Training Can Prove Cost-Effective
In-home dog training works because it is cost-effective. Having a designated trainer come to your home to focus on your unique needs and expectations isn’t cheap, but some would say it’s priceless.
You’ll pay less than an expensive board and train program, but more than training on your own. Paying for in-home expert skips the step of figuring out which training methods will work best for you and your dog.
When you put your money into the process of training your dog, you’ll work hard to get the desired outcome. You and your good boy will be welcoming friends into your home and walking nicely on the leash in no time. With a well-behaved dog, you can finally enjoy her companionship and leave the puppy biting in the past.
