Should there be compulsory training for dog owners?

Should people be made to undergo some form of compulsory training before they become dog owners?

E.g. A course on dog behaviour and basic training and obedience before or after purchase?

Would this help guard against mis-treating dogs, who might then go on to be aggressive towards other dogs or people?

i think thats a very good idea a befor and after puppy training course

I think if they brought back the dog licence you could enroll in some form of training when applying for the licence it might be helpful, especially for first time owners.

Not quite the same, but if you apply to be a childminder, while all the paperwork is going through, you undergo training, this also gives you a cooling off period in case you change your mind - could be an idea for dog owners.

I don't think it's such a bad idea to be honest...

We haven't done any formal training with ours, just all done ourselves and works ok for us...and alot of other people who are resonsible dog owners...

but when you think about it you need to be able to control a dog just as you do say a vehicle, they can be dangerous in the wrong hands and if they arn't trained and too many people just go and get a dog without even thinking of the problems that will arise without any kind of training and that's why with large breeds especially so many end up being put to sleep or up for rehoming because in some cases the owners couldn't be bothered to work with the dog which otherwise may have grown to be fine.

I think it would be a great idea we took Abby when she was 12wks until she was almost 1 then there werent any classes suitable for her to attend after that, I wish there was she became a teenager and we could have done with some more classes to keep us on the straight and narrow, we will be starting back at classes when she has finished her season. She is a good dog very friendly but her recall is not working and I dont want her to have to spend all her walks on a lunge line.
On another site they reccommend you take your dobe for training for the first two years I agree as a first time dobe owner maybe other breeds are the same.
Mary

This crossed my mind because of all the recent 'attack on humans' story. On Dogweb we are all concerned with training and respecting our dogs but not everyone does this.

We took Loki to puppy socialisation and it worked brilliantly. We did start basic obedience but we had already trained him in everything that was covered anyway and ended up missing sessions because of his nose.

If compulsory training were to happen, there would need to be standardisation of training as different training schools employ different standards and methods and opinions vary so much, so an agreement would need to be reached on training methods. At the moment it is too variable.

I do think something needs to be done as anyone can buy a puppy without a moment's thought and don't realise that the cute, furry little chap will turn into a crying, barking, nipping, peeing baby-adolescent, which needs love, care and understanding. I have seen some terrible methods of dog control yet people think this is okay because they don't seem to know any better.

We really researched dogs and puppies before buying Loki - I'd already read about puppy training before we even put our money on the table, but I met someone a few months ago who'd bought a 6 month old husky/malamute cross from a couple who were splitting up, and he had no idea at all about training/feeding/anything - he was asking me all sorts of questions while yanking the poor dog's choke chain to stop her sniffing Loki.

yeh I dont think its a bad idea at all - after all when you take on a rescue dog you have to be checked to make sure you fit the requirements for that dog/breed, yet anybody can get a puppy ( obviosuly I appreciate that some breeders to check out their homes thoroughly but I would guess that many dont)

I think they should revert back to a dog license and have a test or compulsory classes or something before you can own one - it might also deter the Xmas present animals that all too often happen due to pressure from children and the like./..

this is so weird, i have just been getting angry at all the articles, forum debates, news etc that i have been reading regarding 'dangerous dogs'. shouldn't they rename it 'dangerous owners'. i definately think that any person that wishes to become an adopted parentof an animal, should have to go some basic training course. it isn't just dogs. it is all animals. how many bunnies die cos they have bben left ignored at the bottom of the garden. how many cats have countless litters of unwanted kittens because 'i forgot to get her spayed'. how many dogs go without proper care because it is no longer a 'cute puppy'. people are so irresponsible.
but also training schools should all follow the same principles so you don't get confusing signals from various training methods. it may also stop people from impulse buying if they actually have to earn the right to keep an animal in their home.

phew ineeded to get that off my chest.

I agree, there should be more awarness being taught to people about owning animals and the responsibilities that come with...It is never something you are taught, you have to actively seek out any knowledge that you want to find but unfortunatly not enough people bother researching the breed they would like let alone training it and helping it to become a well adusted adult dog

and I agree that it isn't just dogs it is all animals we keep as pets...I know there isn't much training that can be done with rabbits as such but people could do with learning how to be a good pet owner in general, there are too many uncared for animals locked in cages and forgotten about.

I have always said there should be some sort of test/training done for people before getting a dog, if there was it would save a lot of impulse buying we see so much of, I know of at least 3 people that never had dogs before, seeing ads inlocal fee papers and getting a pup, and now they come to me for advice, which really annoys me, if they had come to me before they bought, I would have allowed them to have some time with my dogs to see what it entails, this will probably have put them off. before they bought. but as it happens they have their dogs and are working through the problems, but if they had had training/test they probably wouldnt be in this situation now.

Mo