To train a dog, or let a dog be?

i belive in boundries and def. potty training lol. my dog kows he can get up on one of the couch that has a sheet on it and only on the bed when invited. He barks twice to be let back inside. other then that i haven't trained him all that much he is a good dog doesnt dig chew bite i've never heard him growl or snap and i've had him almost 6 yeats.

Dogs do need a certain level of training to be good companions. There are too many dogs in shelters with so-called "behavior problems" because the owners didn't take time to train them properly. Your dog should at least be taught basic commands such as "down" and "sit/stay" and "come" because there are times when you will need control over him. An uncontrollable dog can be dangerous, he might unintentionally hurt somebody. Train him with gentle commands and lots of patience, never hit him! Never use his name in anger, always with a gentle voice. Training can definitely be taken too far, I agree, but you should have a bit of control over him for his own sake, and in consideration of other people.

I think that a dog needs to be trained to a certain extent. I do not believe in a very strict discipline, but some basic good manners. Like not jumping up on people unless they specifically request it. I think that your roommate needs to take a chill pill when it comes to the dog.

I think the roomate should be left out of the situation. Does he pay for the dogs food? Or walk the Dog? Or just issue orders and commands. I love my dog. She too, is jumpy. But she is a loving dog. Very protective of my daughter. I wouldn't change that for anything. Sometimes we must take the good with the slightly annoying. We do it with people, we can do it with our pets, too.