Getting a puppy is a big responsibility. It's estimated that around 38% of U.S. households have a dog, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Not only are you now responsible for making sure the dog is healthy and safe, but the dog's behavior is also your responsibility. If the dog causes a problem, you have to deal with it, both in a figurative and legal sense. You could be held legally liable for your dog's actions if they cause property damage or injury to someone. This is just one reason why puppy classes are important. Let's look at four other reasons you should take your dog to puppy classes.

1. Cultivate a Learning Attitude

If you instill a learning attitude in your dog from the beginning, it'll be easier to amend problem behaviors throughout the dog's entire lifetime. Training sets the foundation of your authority as the dog's owner and establishes that you can be trusted to train the dog. Dogs remember who their owner is and, in the future, if you need to work on a new behavior, this pattern will already be familiar to them.

2. Reduce Overexcitability

Puppies are prone to getting overexcited. When a dog is overexcited, it can result in several bad behaviors. These behaviors can include urinating unexpectedly, destroying property, and running away. A puppy class will give you tools to control your dog's excitement.

3. Reduce Sensitivity to Touch

Sensitivity to touch can be a real problem with puppies. Many puppies take any type of physical touch as a challenge to play, wrestle, and nip. Although this isn't intended to harm anyone, it's a problematic behavior for a dog that's going to be primarily around people. Teaching a dog to have less sensitivity to touch can make everything about their lives easier, especially visits to the vet.

4. Reduce Environmental Stimuli

Dogs react to their environments. When the reactions are too big, fearful, or excited, it can cause problems. One big problem is a fear of environmental stimuli. When dogs become fearful, they may run away, growl, and nip. All of these behaviors can cause problems for you as the owner and for others who might suffer from an injury.

These are just a few reasons why you should consider puppy classes. If you're ready to help your new puppy learn appropriate behavior, please contact A Crate Escape today. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you nurture your fur buddy.