Why getting your dog trained is important in South Africa

Having a well-trained dog in South Africa is becoming more and more important for a variety of reasons. Jarred Hodgson explores some of these reasons here.

- Jarred Hodgson

I have seen many bad news articles in the papers and on social media lately about dogs attacking people, eating poison and even killing people. I bet you are thinking, wow! How do dogs get that bad? Well, it’s because people get dogs for whatever reason, put them in their yards and that’s that. I think dogs are wasted just sitting in the yard all day.

There is so much potential in most dog breeds, and by letting them waste away in a yard is cruel.

Dogs are intelligent animals and should be continuously exposed to exciting and interesting events, even if this is just a walk around the farm or a swim in the dam. When this doesn’t happen, people often come up with some excuse like, ‘Oh, I get home late from work’, ‘I’m too tired’, ‘My dog is badly behaved on walk’, and so on. The fact is the more time you spend with your dog, the better behaved and responsive it will become.

If you can’t make time for your dog, don’t get one. I know I’m probably preaching to the converted and the people who really need to see this never will.

WHY GET YOUR DOG TRAINED?

Here are a few reasons to get your dog trained:

• People get mauled and killed by dogs regularly.
• Farmers’ lives are saved regularly by their dogs.
• A well-trained dog is a loyal, faithful and good companion, as well as an asset on a farm.

I know of many dogs who have saved their owners’ lives from assailants.