Why Training Is A Key Part Of Dog Ownership

Clark, NJ August 26th - If there’s any four-legged animal that deserves a day devoted to them, a compelling case can be made for man’s best friend. Today is National Dog Day, an annual tradition that’s been celebrated for 11 years running, serving as a period to reflect on how canines truly are a part of the family.

Loyal to a fault and always quick to express their love and affection, dogs are nothing if not consistent. You can step out for only a few minutes, and upon your return, you’d think you were gone for half the day based on how excited they are to see you.

There are approximately 340 dog breeds in the world, according to the World Canine Organization, each with its own distinct personality that makes them unique from all the rest. For nearly 25 years, the most-registered dog in America is the Golden Labrador, according to the American Kennel Club. Anyone who’s had one can understand why, as Labs are great with kids, easy to care for and smart, making training relatively simple.

It’s this training that’s a key component of dog ownership. Even though it takes a lot of time - and, if you seek the assistance of professional, often a lot of money - the investment is worth it, if for no other reason than it teaches dogs how to behave when they’re around strangers.

One-third of claims last year related to dog bites
Whether out of an abundance of caution, or for no other reason than misbehaving, dogs can and do bite. Last year, dog bites accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claims, totaling more than $530 million, according to data released earlier this year by the Insurance Information Institute.

Fortunately, the number dog bite claims fell in 2014 when compared with the previous year, but the cost of these claims grew sharply, up 15% from 2013 to approximately $32,100, III reported.

“The average cost per claim nationally has risen more than 67 percent from 2003 to 2014, due to increased medical costs as well as the size of settlements, judgments and jury awards given to plaintiffs, which are still on the upswing,” noted Loretta Worters, vice president and consumer spokesperson at III.

More than 16,500 dog bite claims in 2014
Roughly 16,550 dog bite claims were paid out by insurers in 2014. Given that dog ownership in the U.S. totals 83.3 million, according to the American Pet Products Association, this is a relatively small number of bites. But for the thousands of families who’ve had to put down their dogs after one bite too many or sought medical treatment after being bitten themselves, the low percentage isn’t much of a consolation.

That’s why it’s important to train dogs so that these incidents never happen.

“All dogs have the potential to bite, but for most, biting is a last resort,” said Victoria Stilwell, host of the television series “It’s Me or the Dog” on Animal Planet, III reported. “If time is taken to raise, teach and socialize a dog correctly, the likelihood of a bite incident occurring is extremely low. Confident dogs have less need to use aggressive behavior.”

The saying goes that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. While there’s some truth to this axiom trainers note that it’s never too late to train a dog so that it behaves appropriately. However, given that they’re more likely to learn quickly the younger they are, it’s best to begin a training regimen while they’re puppies.

If you go to the American Kennel Club’s website, you’ll find a host of resources and training materials, as well as information on how to find a professional trainer near to where you live.

For more information on the liability portion of your homeowners insurance policy and how it may cover you in the event of a dog bite, visit our site or contact Zita Santos-Martinez at 732-832-4132

Photo and article courtesy of Selective Insurance Group, Inc.