Learn Typing and blog about… dog training – does it work?

Welcome to the second post in my Learn Typing and blog about series. I want to talk about dog training – is it worth it and does it work?

Most Sunday mornings during school term time you’ll find me walking around Sydney’s Centennial Park, while my son has his 2 hour drama lesson at nearby NIDA. It’s a half hour drive from where we live, so not worth driving home and back again.

My usual walking route takes me through an area designated for Sunday morning dog training and it’s my observations through this particular area that I’d like to share with you.

First of all…

Without a dog in tow I’m definitely the odd one out here, but with dark sun glasses and iPod ear-phones visible I can usually walk through without anybody noticing that I’m observing them.

Secondly…

There appear to be several groups of owners and their dogs being trained by dog-less individuals. I haven’t been able to work out if the groups have any heirachy, but regardless they all seem to be doing similar things – which doesn’t appear to amount to very much in the short time it takes me to pass through.

Thirdly…

Many of the dogs look so placid and uninterested in what’s going on you could let loose a warren of rabbits and they wouldn’t stir. On the other hand, some dogs appear more enthusiastic and excitable than their owners would perhaps prefer.

Just what are dog owners trying to achieve?

There are 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week and I can’t quite see how an hour or so at the dog training on a Sunday morning is going to train your dog to behave how you want it to. I have friends whose dogs have gone through dog training, yet their dogs still jump all over me, despite being told not to.

What I know about dogs

I’m not a dog owner now, but I do have past experience with dogs. When I was growing up in the north of England we bred English Springer Spaniels. My memory is that all dogs are individuals and have to be treated differently. Just like children really.

There are underlying habits that have to be taught, like not jumping all over strangers or the furniture, not barking incessantly and pooing in appropriate places. But beyond that it’s very much an individual thing.

Our oldest dog, Jack, (who looked very much like the above photo) liked to go on super long walks and explore everything and anything in sight. The bitch, Bess, was happy to stay at home and just take enough exercise to keep her healthy. Jack loved to role around and play-fight with anybody who was keen to take him on, while Bess was far too dignified to take part in such childish frolicking.

Have I got it wrong?

Maybe things have changed. Perhaps I’m missing something important at the dog training sessions. What’s your experience with dogs? If you’ve tried dog training, was it worth it? did it work? I’d love to hear your opinion.