This week's column has been motivated by the tragic loss of a good friend and one of my greatest cheerleaders to the evils of mental health issues.
The benefits of dogs in mental health have been researched in depth and there are many findings accessible via the internet which state dogs have a positive effect ranging from pure motivation to get out and about with dogs to therapeutic qualities such as lessening stress and anxiety.
What has all this got to do with training you may ask? Well I know first-hand the pleasure and peace my friend found in spending time with my dogs.
The moments of relief from the battle with this illness were a gift I was able to share with someone through having dogs who have been trained and are able to "work" for anyone.
When we spend time training our dogs we should consider the positive flow on effects and what this means for those around us. It may be as simple as a happy neighbour who no longer has to tolerate excessive barking or as powerful as giving someone an escape from their personal trials if even only briefly.
Having a dog which is well trained in basic foundation skills enables us to share our companion with others in our lives. A well-mannered dog that knows boundaries and limits is much more enjoyable to be around than an out of control misfit with no structure.
And the greatest thing is that your dog will love you for giving clear guidelines for appropriate behaviour and will enjoy the bonus reward of your friends and family also enjoying their company. Through positive reinforcement training you create a bond between yourself and your dog that transfers into a balanced home.
Being able to monitor the comfort level of your dog and your guests will enable you to effectively direct your dog, a non-dog person would certainly appreciate space from your dog while it lay settled on its bed in the room rather than a jumping frenzied greeting. Once a bond of trust is formed between your dog and your guests through mutual respect and trust the relationship has no bounds, and who knows you may be as lucky as I was and have the opportunity to bring a ray of sunshine into someone's darkness for a moment or two.
The healing power we get from our own dogs can and should be shared with as many people as possible. If you feel your dog's manners could do with a refresher come and join me for a fun filled class.
Paw point of the week
How nice is it to see someone smile at you and your well behaved dog as you share a walk or game in the park. The power of a smile is often enough to change someone's whole day.
Contact me at nadines@dogguru.co.nz for the chance to have your question selected for publication. For further information on Dog Guru, visit www.dogguru.co.nz