There is a lot of literature and resources widely available in this area that give plenty of theoretical advice but it can be easier to learn through observation and practice. A professional trainer who runs obedience and training classes for dogs recognizes the various subtleties that cannot be taught by a book and passes this information on to those who attend their class in the hope of fully training their dog. Experienced instructors will advise their students on where they are going wrong and how to adequately respond to various behaviors. These classes are easier if the dogs are puppies but even older dog,s bad behavior can be conformed with some patience and a bit of effort. An instructor will guide the new dog owners with the timings of their rewards and how to effectively communicate with the dog as well as how facial expressions and body gestures can affect the process.

The first things that are often taught are basic obedience lessons; they should concentrate on encouraging the dog to obey its owner's commands instantaneously. Topics can include house training, socialization, correct behavior on walks and respect of property such as furniture. These experiences are applied in real life circumstances and the dog owners are encouraged to repeat the lessons that they have learned in class as dogs often perform in a classroom atmosphere but change dramatically in public. The skills can only be mastered if practice is continually available and eventually the dog will become perfectly obedient to its owner's instructions.

Concentrating on using obedience classes to train a dog may seem like a lot of time and effort has been consumed but in the long run it saves time and effort as an obedient, well trained dog is much easier to handle and live with. Walks become simple experiences and do not involve the dog straining at the leash or the owner becoming frustrated. The dog will have learned to respect the property of the household and knows its place in the family. They will not willfully disobey their owner and can behave acceptably in front of new company.

Some dogs can be trained further according to their temperament. They may be suitable as a working dog, rescue dog or even a therapy dog and this requires additional training although basic obedience training is at the core of this process. Whether a dog is simply kept as a pet or has some other valuable use, the importance of good training is paramount. Only a reliable dog can be depended upon in certain situations and a well trained dog is one that can be trusted with strangers, children, other animals and property. Some breeds of dog are thought to be quick learners but any dog can be trained. Although it is not just the dog that is being trained in an obedience class; both the dog and its owner are learning as a team to work together.