From playful pups to darling dogs

Upon entering the Waikato Canine Obedience Club, my first thoughts were, “Wow, I can’t believe I never knew about this place!”

Situated in the cul-de-sac of Bristol Place, this prime spot offers a large green field for the dogs to run around. It is safe to say this spot is perfect for every pooch.

Dogs of all shapes and sizes were scattered around the place. From tiny Chihuahuas to massive Great Danes, and everything in between, it is obvious that the club does not discriminate.

I, personally, have a passion for dogs. I have grown up around dogs such as border collies and fox terriers. I have had the privilege of accessing first-hand knowledge about dog handling and safety considering it was such a big part of my childhood.

This is why I wanted to visit the Waikato Canine Obedience Club: I am aware of how important it is to share this knowledge.

To gain a better insight into the purpose of the club, I sat in on their first lesson of term meeting. This involved all the new and returning dog owners to be introduced to each other in order to develop some understanding of what is to be expected of the coming term.

As the meeting completed, everyone was instructed to gather in a big circle on the field. I watched as the owners are being led by their dogs, eager to get in on the action.

Throughout the chaos, I noticed the instructors were calm and accommodating. They provided each of the handlers their own bum bags, filled with dog treats, leashes and disposable bags for, well… you know.

Despite the slightly drizzly weather, there was absolutely no hesitation in getting themselves and the dogs out there for some hands-on learning. Rain hail or shine, every Tuesday evening you can guarantee the dedicated volunteers will be out there in their gumboots and raincoats providing a necessary service for our community.

They started with a quick warm-up exercise with the dogs and owners, just walking around and getting to know the grounds. Then they split into groups consisting of puppies, teenage to adults and each lead by a different specialised trainer.

The trainers spoke about a lot of knowledgable things, like the tightness of the dog’s collars, leash length and food portions. All whilst the dog owners are being led astray by their pooches.

The evening was filled with positive affirmations like “Don’t worry you’ll get there!” and “ I can tell this is going to be a great class already”. I could feel the sense of community and family-like atmosphere.

I came to realise throughout my site visit that dog obedience is not just about teaching your dog how to sit or stay, in fact, it’s not really about the dog at all. It’s for the owners to develop a greater knowledge of their loyal companion and how to ensure they are given the fairest chance at life.

I would highly recommend the Waikato Canine Obedience Club to anyone who owns a dog or is considering introducing a new pup to their family.

My visit made me realise how important it is to put your pet through proper training. Not only does it improve their quality of life, but it allows you and your dog to really get to know each other.

Although I was lucky enough to gain this kind of insight about canines, I understand that not everyone is aware of the responsibility and hard work it takes to own one. This is why I believe it is highly important that more awareness is shared about these communities that have been put in place to help.

From protecting children, other animals and yourselves, whatever your reasoning may be, dog obedience is crucial to minimise negative impacts on our society, such as aggressive behaviour, attacks and strays.

It is a dog owners responsibility to ensure proper training and interaction with their dog; after all, there are no bad dogs, just bad owners.