Once you have decided on what pet you want to bring into the home, you should consider its training. While some pets will not require much training, this is a very important aspect of animal ownership if the chosen animal will interact with people outside of a cage or tank. Training will also enhance your relationship and your pet will become better adjusted to his life with you.

While you may not need to spend as much time researching the training of your new pet as you did in choosing it, you should at least familiarize yourself with the basics for your chosen pet. Basic manners such as no biting or scratching is a must for any animal that will actually interact with people. Animals that are trained and are treated with respect rarely have an issue once they understand what is expected. Since they enjoy the company of their people, they usually will not be tempted to act in ways that discourage their human friends from interacting with them. While training, keep in mind that it must be clear and consistent, and all members of the household must do the same thing for each action. In other words, if one person disciplines a dog for begging or getting on the furniture, all members of the household should also discourage them from begging or sleeping on the furniture. It is not fair to the pet if the rules are different for each person.

The two animals that require the most training are cats and dogs. If kept indoors, cats will definitely need to be trained to use a litter box and to stay off counters and tables. They must also be trained not to scratch or climb on furniture or light fixtures, etc. All dogs should be trained to walk quietly on a leash, sit for meals, and at minimum be solid on the stay and come command. (Those two commands could save his life sometime.) Dogs should also be socialized as much as possible so that they are more adapted to living in the human world. (The earlier, the better.) This may help prevent fear biting and aggression. The more time you put into your dog, the better companion he will become. As most dogs are very social animals, they require your attention and interaction. A large percentage of the dogs that are turned in to the shelter or are rehomed have simply not been trained consistently or have been kept in the backyard with little human interaction. They have reached an age where they have become an unwanted nuisance that the original owners don’t have the time or desire to deal with, or don’t know how, so they are gotten rid of. You as the owner can prevent this by deciding ahead of time what your goals with your dog will be. These may change over time, but the basics should always be instilled early on. Once you become involved with your dog, and attend basic obedience classes, you may find that you are drawn into the world of agility, or rally obedience, or herding or any number of other activities and events that you can participate in with your dog. Any of these can be great fun for both you and your dog, but even if this is not a direction that you want to go in, make sure that your dog has basic obedience, manners and is socialized.

Training your pet can be fun and rewarding. While some animals will be limited in what they can do, even a fish can be trained to do simple tricks in their tank. How cool would that be if you could astound your friends and family with your trick fish? Many of the small mammals have been trained to do tricks, some very elaborate and entertaining. If you have the time and patience, this can be a very fun and beneficial way to spend time with your pet. Keep in mind that your relationship with your pet is determined early on. The more quality and positive time that you spend with your pet, especially in the beginning, the better your relationship will be. Both you and your pet will benefit in many ways, including psychologically and physically. Training will provide this foundation for you and your pet. So have fun, get creative and train your pet!