_edited_edited.jpg)
Did You Know: Training Really Does Matter
- Christie ~Pureheart Spaniels~
- Apr 7
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 8
The Importance of Training: Building a Well-Behaved Dog from Puppyhood
Training isn’t just about “good manners.” It’s a lifelong skill set that helps your dog feel safe, confident, and understood—while making day-to-day life easier and more enjoyable for everyone. The best results come from starting early, keeping sessions positive, and continuing to build skills as your dog grows.
The benefits of training your puppy
Puppyhood is a critical learning window. What you teach (and what your puppy experiences) now shapes their behavior for years to come.
Communication: Your puppy learns what you want, and you learn how your puppy learns.
Confidence: Gentle exposure to new people, places, sounds, and surfaces helps prevent fear-based behaviors later.
Safety: Reliable recalls, leash skills, and “leave it” can prevent accidents and emergencies.
Household harmony: Training supports calm greetings, polite play, and settling—especially important in busy homes.
Prevention: It’s easier to build good habits than to fix unwanted ones once they’re rehearsed.
How Pureheart Spaniels supports our new puppy owners with training from the very beginning
We believe responsible breeding includes setting families up for success after puppies go home. That’s why we provide our new puppy owners with a membership to an online training program—so they can start with a clear plan, age-appropriate lessons, and ongoing support as their puppy grows.
If you’ve welcomed a Pureheart puppy, we encourage you to begin training right away, keep it positive, and make learning part of everyday life. A well-trained dog isn’t just easier to live with—they’re happier, safer, and more confident.
But training isn't just for puppies, it should continue into adolescence and adulthood
Dogs don’t “graduate” from training—life changes, environments change, and your dog’s brain changes too. Adolescence can bring new distractions and big feelings, and adult dogs still benefit from ongoing practice. If you have a smarter breed such as the English Springer Spaniel, they enjoy being given a job and opportunity to exhibit their skills.
Better behavior in real life: Skills hold up around visitors, wildlife, busy parks, and new situations.
Mental enrichment: Learning is exercise for the brain and can reduce boredom-related behaviors.
Stronger bond: Training builds trust and teamwork—your dog learns that you’re consistent and worth listening to.
Healthy outlets: Structured activities channel energy into something productive and fun.
What the research says
While every dog and family is unique, research consistently shows that training—especially positive, reward-based training—supports better behavior, stronger relationships, and improved wellbeing for both dogs and their people.
1) Positive training is linked to better welfare and less stress
Studies comparing training approaches have found that aversive methods (like intimidation or harsh corrections) are associated with more stress and poorer welfare, while reward-based methods are associated with better outcomes.
Ziv, G. (2017). The effects of using aversive training methods in dogs—A review. Journal of Veterinary Behavior.
Vieira de Castro, A.C., et al. (2020). Does training method matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive-based methods on companion dog welfare. PLOS ONE.
2) Training supports the human–dog bond and owner satisfaction
Research on the human–dog relationship shows that day-to-day interactions (including training) shape attachment and bonding, and that better behavior is associated with stronger owner attachment—a big part of feeling successful and happy with dog ownership.
Payne, E., Bennett, P.C., & McGreevy, P.D. (2015). Current perspectives on attachment and bonding in the dog–human dyad. Psychology Research and Behavior Management.
Serpell, J.A. (1996). Evidence for an association between pet behavior and owner attachment levels. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
3) Training and support can help prevent common “problem behaviors” from becoming big issues
A large portion of the challenges families struggle with (jumping, pulling, barking, chewing, reactivity, poor recall) are trainable skills—and early, consistent training helps many dogs become safer, calmer, and easier to live with as they mature.
Sports & activities to do with your dog
If you’re looking for a goal to train toward, dog sports are a fantastic way to build skills and confidence. Plus, it's fun for you and your dog! Here are a few popular options:
Agility (CKC)
Rally (CKC)
Obedience (CKC)
Scent Work (CKC)
Canine Good Neighbour (CKC)
Trick Dog (CKC)
Dock Diving (NADD)
Flyball (NAFA)
Check out the CKC Events page for an overview: https://www.ckc.ca/en/Events
Here is a picture of Max and I after he passed his Level 2 Urban Tracking class. Charlie also joined us for tracking and they both really enjoyed it. Their spaniel scent detectors were outstanding, and they excelled at tracking the trail of items we had laid out beforehand. He enjoyed the task and I loved observing him use his natural talents!
Since this time, we've started scent detection as well and found it to be another fun activity to do together.
There are now several Pureheart puppies & dogs working on tracking and as other dog sports like agility.
Summary
If you’re raising a puppy, the takeaway is simple: start early, keep it positive, and be consistent. Training isn’t just about manners - it’s one of the best ways to build a confident dog and a happy home.
If you've got an older dog, it's not too late: contact a dog trainer to see how you can get involved. Get out there, try something new, and have fun with your dog!
Comments