Do all dogs need training? Not necessarily, said Bev Eitner, managing partner of Play Dog Excellent in Red Bank.
“There are some dogs that are naturals, but then there are dogs who drive people nuts,” she said. “In other words, if you have a natural ‘Lassie,’ you’re lucky.”
The No. 1 reason people bring dogs to training is to teach them to come when called. Owners also often want to teach their dogs to walk on a leash and to limit barking and over-exuberance.
Most behavioral issues involve puppies, Eitner said. “Older dogs don’t seem to have nearly as many problems. Older dogs are usually housebroken and more settled. But if you get an older dog that is not settled, it would definitely benefit him/her to go to training classes.”
Some people take their dogs to training classes to learn how to communicate with them, she said.