Now that you’re the grown-up, do you ever wonder how your parents tolerated your childhood pets? If your house was anything like mine, than they were more wild than tamed when not actually in the presence of people. Somehow it seems like a bigger deal now to have a lamp get smashed. Face it, you’re going to have to look into a dog training course. That decision made, how do you know who’s reputable and who’s just after your money?

Some people, especially older relatives will tell you not to waste your time and money. That a firm voice is all that is necessary. For some rare animals, that may be true, but most will benefit from training. A trained dog is much less likely to bite a rambunctious child than an untrained one. You can also have a much happier relationship with your dog, if you are confident that they will not run away, or attack other animals at the dog park.

Why is the course material going to work for you? You should think about how you like to learn. Do you want to be guided gently, or allowed to explore topics at your own pace? Or do you prefer step-by-step? Do you pick up on ideas more easily when you have read them or seen them demonstrated?

Now that you know your personal learning style, speak to the breeder or someone from the pet store where you got your dog (are thinking of getting him/her) and see if they can help you select an appropriate obedience regimen. Breeders are particularly good sources of information on this topic, since many of them have built their reputations on dog show performance.

An often overlooked den of information is the humane society, but the staff and volunteers who care for the animals there do so for genuine love of animals. They spend day after day working to turn the meanest animals into docile pets deserving of a good home. It stands to reason then, that they may have learned more than a few tricks in their tenure. Another reason to visit the shelter is that they often offer discounted training courses.

You should frequent dog parks for ideas. Watch how the owners interact with their companions and when you find a well behaved dog approach the owner. This way, you have already seen the end results before vesting anytime in hearing what they have to say.

For the over-worked, or just for the sake of comfort you might want to forego a dog school all together in favor of books or videos. The options there are almost endless, so be careful and read reviews. Make sure you take your time with this method and you’ll do fine.