Training Your Dog?Is It Worth The Effort Or Is It Just A Waste Of Time?

Many people feel that taking the time to train their puppy or dog isn't worth the effort. What with everything else we have to do these days in our busy lives, whose got the time?

Kimberley was just like that. She'd never bothered training Jack?but then, one day?

Kimberly and Jack ran excitedly up to the top of the escarpment and gazed out over the deep blue ocean waves as they rolled in from the east. The sun was just appearing over the horizon, the cool sea breeze on her face made her feel completely alive, and Kimberley was as contented as she had ever been.

The time she spent with Jack, the 3 year old German shepherd she had rescued from the animal shelter a few months earlier, was the most precious part of her life. He seemed to know just what she was thinking and was devoted to Kim to the point of being a fanatic.

He wouldn't leave her side?unlike most of the other male companions she had previously had in her life.

Jack was the perfect companion.

He gave her unconditional love, he was always there for her when she needed to talk to someone, he lavished his undivided attention on her, he never spoke back, and was always waiting patiently for her when she came home from her work at the pharmacy.

The early morning walks they shared helped her forget the many troubles in her life, and allowed her just enjoy herself.

This morning was special.

She was on the first day of her annual two-week vacation, and had plans to take Jack up to the mountains hiking and camping for a few days later in the week.

The thought of getting away from the pressures of daily life made her feel a rush of adrenaline and Jack could sense her excitement, yelping and barking playfully as they frolicked in the grass at the top of the ridge.

They played for over half an hour, then turned to head for home to have something to eat.

Maybe it was the excitement of it all, but for whatever reason, Kimberly wasn't thinking straight as she undid Jack's leash to let him run on his own through the grassy fields as they descended the hill towards the township below.

It happened in an instant.

Jack caught sight of a rabbit hiding in the grass and took off after the animal in a frenzied rush of excitement and playful enthusiasm.

Kimberley called him back, but he was totally focused on catching the rabbit and heard nothing but the creature's cries for help as it raced towards the safety of its borough.

Jack was a beautiful sight to behold as he chased the rabbit in full flight across the grassy field. Every second he gained on the small creature, until he was only 10 feet behind it and closing fast.

But Kim was looking on in horror.

The rabbit had built its borough close to the edge of the cliff, and Jack was running at full speed towards the huge drop down to the ocean below.

Kim could feel the fear welling up inside her and she frantically called him back as she ran towards the cliff top herself. "Stop Jack!", she cried, but he paid no attention to her commands as he chased the rabbit towards the cliff top.

Just 6 feet short of the cliff's edge, the rabbit dropped into the safety of it's home below ground.

Jack didn't see where the animal went, and in the few seconds it took for him to realize that the rabbit had escaped, his momentum carried him off the cliff and over the edge.

Kimberley screamed as she saw her beloved companion disappear out of sight. "No!" she cried as she ran headlong towards the jagged cliff top.

She peered over the edge with tears streaming down her cheeks, fearing that her best friend had fallen all the way to the rocks below.

She moved closer to the edge screaming out to Jack, praying that by some miracle, he had survived.

As she lay down to look over the edge, she saw Jack wedged precariously next to a tree stump on a small outcrop about 20 feet below, injured, but alive.

If he had gone off the cliff just 3 feet either side of where he did, he would have fallen hundreds of feet to the rocks below. His life had been spared, at least at the moment, by the narrowest of margins.

A huge feeling of relief welled up through Kimberley's body as she saw that Jack was still alive.

She pulled out her mobile phone and called the police.

She quickly explained what had happened to the officer on the line and a team of rescue workers were dispatched to the cliff top to rescue Jack.

Kimberley watched on with trepidation as the rescue team carefully winched her beloved Jack to safety from the outcrop that had saved his life.

He had broken his left rear leg and had some cuts and abrasions, but on the whole, he was a very lucky dog that day?and Kimberley knew it.

She looked towards the sky and gave thanks that her best friend had been spared.

She promised herself that as soon as Jack was back on four legs, she would start to train him to obey her commands so that something like this could never happen again.

She felt guilty that her neglect at not training him properly from the start could have cost this beautiful animal his life. She felt sad but also happy that she had been given another chance with Jack, and she wasn't about to waste it.

3 Months Later?

Kimberley and Jack are again able to take their early morning walks, but now, Jack's lead is an option.

He obeys Kimberley's every command, and they have a deep, new found respect for each other's abilities that goes far beyond their roles of dog and master. They are truly great friends.

Maybe you don't take your shepherd for off leash walks near cliff tops, but there are lots of hazards just as dangerous around your home that can cause your favourite pet to hurt himself?or worse.

Running into moving traffic, drinking something poisonous around your home, jumping the fence and getting into fights with other dogs?these are all situations that proper training can severely restrict or eliminate.

Think for a moment of how you would feel if your wonderful dog was injured or killed by a car right in front of you because he ran out onto the road despite your calls for him to come back.

Training is vital for every pet so that they know what is expected of them and they stay safe in an increasingly dangerous world. And properly training your pet is your responsibility.

Please, take the time to train your dog. If you don't know where to start, there are plenty of good books around to help.

Another option is to take him to obedience classes in your local area.

This is the most focused training you can give him (and yourself?) but it's also the most time consuming and expensive.

If you have the time and financial resources, it's usually the best way (if you can find a good trainer), but if you don't, then reading a good training book and following it's instructions will give you a solid grounding on how to train your dog properly.

Train him well, and he will reward you for it in so many ways that you can't imagine.

Rocky Tapscott is an author and owner of Just German Shepherds.com For free information and articles on buying, training and living with German shepherds, or any dog for that matter, come and visit us at, http://www.just-german-shepherds.com/

custom home cleaning Wilmette ..
In The News:

Unlike robotaxi competitors, Tensor focuses on consumer-owned self-driving cars that adapt to highways and urban roads with full redundancy systems for safety.
Medicare scams cost $54 billion in 2024 as fraudsters target beneficiaries with fake calls demanding payments and personal information to steal benefits.
Scammers create fake Evite invitations that mimic legitimate event emails, requiring users to verify senders and use antivirus software for protection.
The new Apple Watch hypertension feature passively monitors blood pressure patterns over 30 days using sensors to detect chronic high blood pressure signs.
Chrome extension spyware disguised as a free VPN service highlights security risks after it captured private browsing data from trusted sites.
New research shows how fatty acids in cooking oil can safely dissolve and recover silver from circuit boards without harmful chemicals or environmental damage.
The Fox News AI newsletter gives you information on the latest AI technology advancements, and about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Anthropic investigates alarming AI abuse case where hacker automated entire cybercrime campaign using Claude, stealing sensitive data from defense and healthcare firms.
TikTok, Meta and YouTube restrict Charlie Kirk shooting videos with age gates and warnings while X faces criticism for allowing continued circulation.
Cybercriminals use fake troubleshooting websites to trick Mac users into running terminal commands that install Shamos malware through ClickFix tactics.
San Francisco startup Fable launches Showrunner, an AI platform dubbed the 'Netflix of AI' that generates animated episodes from text descriptions with Amazon support.
Apple raised iPhone prices for some models despite receiving tariff relief from President Donald Trump, with the new lineup starting at $799 for the base model.
A two-story 3D concrete printed home in Western Australia demonstrates faster construction methods that could reshape American housing amid rising costs.
Credit scores remain important during retirement for insurance rates and housing applications, while seniors become prime targets for identity theft and financial scams.
Scammers now send unexpected packages with QR codes that redirect victims to fraudulent websites or download malicious software to steal sensitive information.
Meeting AI tools record private conversations alongside work discussions, creating privacy risks that can be managed with proper settings and awareness.
Hotel privacy concerns are valid but rare, with methods to detect hidden tech using smartphone flashlights, mirror tests and scanning apps.
Improve your Wi-Fi speed and reliability with 10 simple router optimization tips that don't require special apps or expensive subscriptions.
A Columbia University breach exposed names, Social Security numbers and academic records of nearly 869,000 people, with notifications beginning in August.
Rental car drivers use AI-powered apps like Proofr to protect themselves from unfair damage fees as major companies deploy automated inspection tools.
Fox News' AI newsletter brings you the latest on technology advancements around artificial intelligence.
OnTrac data breach between April 13-15, 2025, exposed personal information of over 40,000 people including Social Security numbers and medical records.
A woman named Wika announces her engagement to an AI chatbot sparking worldwide debate about virtual relationships and technology.
The notorious people search site National Public Data relaunches despite a previous breach affecting 3 billion individuals, raising fresh privacy concerns.
Revolutionary TRAUMAGEL gel controls life-threatening bleeding from gunshot wounds and traumatic injuries, helping first responders prevent prehospital deaths.

The Story Of My Amazing Dog Shandy

This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He... Read More

Here?s a Way To Make Your Dog Love Its Dog Crate!

A dog crate is a necessity for your dog, through... Read More

How To Stop Your Cat Spraying

The cat backs up to the door, lifts the tail... Read More

Who Let The Dogs Out? Pointers For In Home Dog Training

Who let the dogs out?Remember this song which gave birth... Read More

Help! Ive Got a Pregnant Cat!

So, you've got yourself a pregnant cat.Was it a stray... Read More

Dog doors ? dog and owner reprieve

Buying dog doors onlineIf you need to buy a dog... Read More

How to Build a Dog House for Your Puppy

So you'd like to know how to build a dog... Read More

What Type Of Food Should You Really Feed Your Cat?

What should you feed your cat to make sure he... Read More

Crate Training Your Puppy

Teaching your puppy crate training is the first and best... Read More

Reuniting Lost Pets With Their Owners

Losing a family pet can be a traumatic experience, especially... Read More

Rabbits As Pets

Rabbits are one of the most popular pets, apart from... Read More

The 5 Things You Should Know Before Breeding Cats

The cat population is astronomical. Most experts agree that average... Read More

How to Buy a Purebred Dog

If you decide you want a purebred, make sure it's... Read More

Dog Training -What You Should Keep In Mind When Playing With Your Dog

Dogs, especially young dogs are very playful by nature.Play provides... Read More

Tips For Toys

Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky... Read More

Media Influence on Public Perception of Exotic Cat Ownership

What makes something news? The fact that you take good... Read More

Different Dog Foods For Different Dog Ages

Dogs come in many assorted breeds, shapes, and sizes. They... Read More

Your Dogs Health Is At Risk!

Dogs should be living to age 20 or more. That's... Read More

How to Litter Train a Cat

For most cat owners, training their cat to use the... Read More

Tips For Keeping Your Pug Happy And Healthy

Bringing home a Pug can change our life, but it... Read More

Nervous Cats, Wining the Trust of a Timid Cat

Nervous cats hide from people, they do not readily present... Read More

Basic Discus Fish Care

Are you thinking about getting some discus then and want... Read More

Pet Identification Tags And The Internet

The greatest fear of most pet owners is that there... Read More

West Highland White Terrier - Westies - Training Success Tips

The West Highland Terrier is a friendly dog, and is... Read More

Probiotics - The Good Bacteria

PROBIOTICS - The Good Bacteria - Does your pet have... Read More

same day cleaning service Morton Grove ..