We also like well behaved dogs. It makes us proud when we can take our dogs places or have people over and the dog is not a problem or hassle.

So  why bother buying a book or course for puppy obedience training or puppy training with so much information online that is free? We think there are plenty of excellent reasons. Just a few are:

• The Trainer: The best person to train your dog is you. You will be the one there all the time. You will be the one the dog will look to for guidance. You need to know how to train your dog.
• Trust: How do you know the information is correct? Does the information come from a vet or a professional dog trainer?
• Feedback: What if you have questions about a particular technique? How do you get your answer? Dog training courses we recommend have to have communication with the trainer.
• Talk with people just like you: Become part of a community with people just like you who want to have a well behaved dog and are following the same training.

We have a tremendous amount of information here on puppy training techniques like puppy nipping, toilet training puppies, crate training puppies. We also have a section on dog behavior problems like how to stop dog barking, dog digging, and dog separation anxiety. Be sure to read our health section that covers some of the common dog and puppy health problems like dog vomiting or diarrhea.

We also went through some dog training courses. We really got the courses and used them. We have detailed reviews of the best ones we found and can give the highest recommendations.

Thank you for visiting our site and please browse around. We hope we can provide the answers you’re looking for.

What does it cost to own a dog for their lifetime? Let’s take a look starting with a puppy. The first year is more expensive because you’ve got more vet bills, vaccines, and one time costs like bowls, crates, pen etc. so we can just add a number at the end for the first year. Average YEARLY costs for  your dog after the 1st year would be around:

• Vet bills  around $120. Could be more if your dog is prone to things like ear infections etc.
• Vaccinations – $70
• Heartworm, flea and tick prevention – $75
• Food will be $300
• Treats, bones, toys etc. $50
• Boarding $125 unless you have someone to watch them while you’re on vacation.
• Grooming costs $20 -  this depends on your dog breed, but they still need brushing, baths, shampoo, nail clippers etc.

These come out to be anywhere from $635 without any boarding to $760 if you take a vacation and board the dog.  So if we take the middle and you only take a vacation every other year that would be $700.  For 14 yrs you would spend $680/yr and that would come out to be …$9800…. Now add in the extra costs you have for the first year like:

• Spay or neutering -  $150
• A tie out, dog house, kennel or fence. This could vary widely from a $20 tie out to a kennel for $300 or a fenced in area.
• Crate – $50
• Collar and leash – $15
• bowls – $15
• cleaner -$30 you’ll probably have to buy a little extra stain cleaners the first year.

These add about $260. So there you have it…..$10,000…..These are of course averages and I think pretty conservative. I know we spend more on vet bills than $120. Some years you may not spend this much, some years more. I had a dog that lived to be 19 yrs old but you never know.

Do I Need Special Dog Training?

So if you spend that kind of money on your dog, it would be worth spending a little extra to have a dog that obeys you, that you can have a great relationship with. There are many great dog training courses out there. There are also some that aren’t that good. You are the best trainer for your dog, you are the one they will bond with and you are the one that will be there all the time. Find the best dog training course for you. One that covers the whole lifespan of your dog, from puppy obedience training to dealing with health problems dogs have as they get older. Check out our reviews of the best dog training courses we have tried out. Yes we read through these courses and used techniques from them with our own dogs.