The life skills your dog needs

[Jilly_in_VA]

Every year at Crufts, the UK's largest dog show, canines and their people can participate in all manner of exciting competitions. Whether heelwork-to-music (essentially dancing with dogs) or obedience, or the high-speed relay races of flyball, it can be a marvellous feast of fun for performance dogs.

Of course, the reality is that most companion dogs will never enter the dog show ring – what they need to learn are the skills for everyday life.

The importance of a "canine good citizen" – a dog that can happily co-exist in human society – should not be underestimated. A well-trained dog benefits humans and dogs alike by enhancing the bond between animal and owner. And well-behaved dogs are less likely to be relinquished too.

So, helping our dogs learn how to conduct themselves is one of the most important things we can do. But what skills are "must have" and what factors do we need to take into account before beginning the training process? Here are some things to think about.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220404-the-training-that-helps-your-dog-lead-a-better-life

[Karadeniz]

1. There was a shelter in Florida, all of whose canine residents earned the Canine Good Citizen

certificate before adoption....a good idea and helpful in preventing returns for behavior issues.

[Mr.Bill]

2. One of my dogs is an AKC certified

Canine Good Citizen. She went through all the training when we first got her and now she is about 13-14 years old. We don't know her exact age as she was a rescue dog. Her life, and frankly, ours has been better because of it.