While school-aged children everywhere clear Target’s shelves to stock up on their school supplies in preparation for the year ahead, Chicago’s dog trainers are buying their tasty treats and brushing up for a new season of dog training courses. And many pet parents are getting ready to enroll in those classes. Typically, when people think of dog training classes, they think puppies. We see a lot of people who stop training after puppy class, but here are Rover-Time's top five reasons to continue training your adult dog.

The “Heel” command has a ton of value for both the pet parent and the dog because it adds control to the walk and mental exercise for the dog. It provides leadership, drains energy, and creates relaxation in ways that a loose leash walk does not. In this article we give a few helpful tips for teaching your dog to pull less on their lead.

We all know dogs to be smart and capable creatures. Masters of timeless classics such as “Sit”, “Shake”, and “Roll Over”, canines have proven their resourcefulness and adaptability time and time again. But did you know some dogs can be trained to detect, and help their owners through, certain fluctuations in physical and mental health?

Should your dog be allowed to say no? In a word: yes.