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Make dog training FUN!
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Too often, people think that dog training is just saying “no” over and over and is only used to fix bad behavior. But training can be much, much more. In “Canine sports: Putting the fun into dog training” on Newsday.com, Victoria Schade, author of Bonding with Your Dog says, “Training is about changing the way you communicate with your dog. It’s giving you a common language.” It’s also a great way to strengthen the bond with your dog.
There are ways to work with your dog and say yes instead of no. One way is to teach your dog one of many sporting events like rally obedience, agility, flyball, or musical freestyle (dancing with your dog). Unlike basic obedience, these canine sports are fun for dog and owner. And they still help you learn to communicate with your best friend.
Rally obedience is a fairly new sport that combines features of obedience and agility, but without investing in special equipment. According to The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), dog and handler teams navigate a course with numbered signs indicating different exercises to perform. Teams navigate the course at a brisk pace without direction from the judge. Unlike some sports, handlers are encouraged to talk to their dogs throughout the performance, and all breeds, including mixed breeds and dogs with disabilities, can participate.
Incorporating any kind of training into your daily life means you can practice when you’re walking your dog or out playing in the backyard or at the dog park. Linda Sperco, national Rally Coordinator for the APDT adds that, “Training doesn’t take whispering abilities or special gifts. Once you understand how it works, everyone can do it.”
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