On which side of the owner should the dog walk when commanded close? - briefly
When commanded "close," the dog should walk on the left side of the owner. This position allows the owner to maintain control and ensures the dog is within eyesight and reach.
On which side of the owner should the dog walk when commanded close? - in detail
When training a dog to walk close to its owner, it is essential to establish consistent guidelines for both the owner and the dog. The command "close" typically means that the dog should be in a specific position relative to the owner, usually on the left side. This standardization has several advantages:
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Consistency and Predictability: By always using the same side, the dog learns to anticipate where it needs to be, making the command more effective and easier for the dog to understand.
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Safety: Walking on a specific side, particularly the left, is important in environments with other pedestrians or obstacles. It helps prevent accidents by ensuring that the owner has better control over the dog's movements.
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Training Ease: Consistency makes training more straightforward. Once the dog learns to associate the command "close" with a specific position, it becomes a habitual behavior that requires less ongoing reinforcement.
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Obedience Standards: Many obedience training programs and competitions require dogs to walk on the left side of their handler. Adhering to this standard prepares the dog for higher levels of training and competition.
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Etiquette: In public spaces, walking a dog on the owner's left side is considered good etiquette, as it aligns with the general flow of pedestrian traffic in many societies where people walk on the right side of the path.
In summary, training a dog to walk close to its owner on the left side when given the command "close" promotes consistency, safety, ease of training, and adherence to established obedience standards and public etiquette.