Whether you just adopted a dog or puppy, or have shared your home with a dog for a while, training is essential to building a mutual bond and enriching the relationship you share with your dog.

For puppies, house training is the single most important thing that keeps a dog in his home  and the number one problem that sends pups to the shelters.  Aggression is the number one behavior problem of adult dogs.  Unruly dogs get relegated to the backyard and because dogs are social animals, such isolation only leads to more problems.  Don’t let your dog become a statistic.

Even if you’d never consider relinquishing your dog for any reason, training gives owners the skills and knowledge needed to deal with common, normal dog behaviors that can drive anyone crazy if they get out of hand.  The importance of puppy socialization cannot be overemphasized – puppies need the proper opportunity to develop interaction skills with other puppies, with people and in new environments.  Even older dogs benefit from training because no matter the age, foundation training provides the basis for any activity, behavior, or job you want your dog to do.

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers has set up a dedicated website that you can visit for more information, inspiration, and helpful resources at www.trainyourdogmonth.com.