do you think dog training should be compulsory?

[Owllady]

I want to point out this is not aimed at anyone on this board

But in light of today's news, do you think basic levels of training should be compulsory upon ownership of a dog? (I am also not finger pointing, just responding to the reaction)

My
class is quite expensive I think (7 pound a session) but our local one doe
s the good citizenship thing for 3 pound a session, so it's not even that costly when you think about how expensive it is to have a dog

I think this might be controversial I don't mean it to be

Yes, but then so many clubs go in for old fashioned methods, that I wonder if it would be helpful.........

How could you possibly police this? What about people who train their dogs themselves (and do a good job of it) so don't need training classes?

No, dog training classes were completely unsuitable for my girl. One on one would be too expensive for many.

Now that she's older I would perhaps consider it as she's calmed down hugely but I'd hate for it to be compulsory. As with everything, the people who really should be going won't care and won't go.

If anything, online research and reading highlighted to me just how important it was for me to learn to read her and understand her behaviour for myself. Having it pointed out to me wouldn't have been as valuable nor as bonding.

Backyard breeding and puppy farms are the correct target - make the dogs unavailable to the arses who just want a status symbol or think that fluffy wee puppies just train themselves.

I see where you are coming from but im not sure it would necessarily solve the problem. Its like people learning to drive and then turning into ifiots behind the wheel. Also its not always appropriate or necessary.

With our first d9g. Rotweiller, we took hom to training classes. Was very useful. Good for socialising. Im sure I benifitted as an owner. Rottie 2. Rescue dog. Training classes were not good for him. He took experience and hatd work. ( I was a vet nurse).

Jrt1 took him to classes - well it was funny jut never worked for him. He's fine. Jrt2 rescue. Never bothered by far the best behaved dog ive had.

no amount of structured training classes will prevent tragedy with irresponsible owners.

thankfully most dogs are perfectly safe and even when people are idiots there is no problem. Sadly there will always be incidents. I dispair that huskies and wolf type dogs are en vogue just now. They need to be worked and if they are cooped up will develop issues.

I said training I then mentioned my own training class (i do talk in code, I should have mentioned this....). This is the first dog I have taken to them. But surely there should be more regulations regarding keeping dogs, the amount of irresponsible breeding and non/poor training/keeping seems to be getting worse

I wouldn't really have the time to police it all myself amandine is there any way we can assess

Would love basic dog knowledge to be made compulsory, but modern up do date stuff. To difficult to implement and no decent regulatory body though.

Of course. But that is one of the biggest problems...who would police this? Where would the money funding this come from?

I do agree that there are some irresponsible dog owners about but, as always, only the people who care would abide by the rules. The people who don't care would continue to not care. Also I resent the idea of someone (who could potentially be scarily under qualified for the job) telling experienced and loving owners how to look after their dog. Waste of time and money.

What do you think is the Answer Amanda?
Is dog ownership more responsible when licencing is in place?
There must be some way of regulating

I am sick of looking on rescue sites too and seeing page after page of the same/similar breed dog :(

I definitely think breeders need to be licensed and all non licensed dogs be neutered. That would be a start.

I took my dog to a class. It consisted of people walking rond and round and crossing each other and changing direction with the dog on a lead. Didnt go back.

Four years later and a different dog and the class was exactly the same.

I think that's all they do. Talking to someone who paid for a ten week course that's all she did every week.

I didnt go back and trained the dog myself.

That's a ridiculous class!

I know, some people had been going years and were still doing it to prepare to take their dogs off the lead out on walks.

I took my dog off his lead on his second walk.

He's had perfect recall and touch wood comes straight back every time I call him.

I'm a huge advocate of training, but I wouldn't make it compulsory. I think the situation is slowly changing in that it's becoming more acceptable to do, but I'd say the majority of ordinary dog owners don't do training, as they think of it as either something you only need if you are taking part in competitive sports such as agility or if you have a problem dog.

I think rescues need to do more about encouraging and normalising training for dogs post-adoption, again, many people will just have a vague idea of a Barbara Woodhouse type figure yelling "SIT!" in a bossy way. Positive dog training, especially clicker work, is fun, and is a superb way of building the bond between a new adopter and their dog. I was staggered when I saw how it helped my relationship with our dogs.

There is also the issue, previously mentioned, that there is no regulation of trainers, and there are still sadly some Dominance based dickheads out there. Generally if you go with APDT you will be OK, but I have met trainers in this organisation who are brilliant with dogs but absolutely crap with people - ideally a trainer should be able to work with both.

Cost of training relative to cost of owning a dog is very small, and a well trained dog is just so much nicer to have around. I think I am also right in saying that attending dog training classes is a positive factor in reducing relinquishment in dog adoptions - pretty sure I've seen a paper on its protective effect.

And contrary to myth, old dogs can train brilliantly. I took a 12 year old greyhound through to GC Gold Award (I think I was prouder of this than I was of getting my Masters!), and our two girls recently got their APDT Foundation certificates. (aged 10 and nearly 11). The only concession is that as greyhounds they don't sit.

I don't really have an answer. Perhaps licensing would help. But, again, who's going to police/fund this? People who are up to no good will always ignore the rules.

Definitely agree with the poster who said breeders should be licensed. That might be an easier start.

Policing it is the main problem. Responsible owners already train their dogs, whether by attending classes or working on it themselves.
Compulsory microchipping (which I think is a good thing) is coming in next year, I've yet to see anything at all about how it will be policed. The dog wardens are understaffed and overstretched, it is well beyond their capability to tackle irresponsible breeding, idiots acquiring unsuitable dogs from mates at the pub, working breeds being kept cooped up in terraced houses.