With all the expense that is associated with owning and keeping a dog, naturally you may be tempted to undertake obedience training at home by yourself.
Whilst it can be done with guidance found on the internet, it might also be worth considering whether it is worthwhile choosing an obedience instructor or obedience class with other dogs to get a helping hand.
In my opinion, the main ways an obedience instructor can help is imparting their experience and helping you to use the correct techniques, but it can also help to underpin and reinforce your patience with the entire process.
But this may not be reason enough; after all, it's your dog, and the bond you will create is a personal one with your dog.
You may not want to have any personal influence on obedience training other than guides available on the internet, and so it might not be wise to use an obedience instructor.
But the advantages of an obedience instructor can sometimes outweigh the desire to save money.
If you're seeing little improvement in the behaviour of your dog, sometimes the fault lies with you.
Yet you might not be able to recognise it.
Whether you're giving out mixed signals, or simply using the wrong techniques, the experience an obedience instructor is able to give will quickly identify areas and improve them.
The whole process of obedience training takes patience on your behalf, and if you've got a particularly stubborn dog (which might help with particular breeds like Terriers), your patience might falter sometimes.
Often, there's dog obedience classes you can go to.
These are a cheaper option than having private tuition, and some find it a lot more beneficial to be in a class with other dogs.
Your dog will get used to the smell and sounds of other dogs, and will be less prone to display negative behaviours towards them in public.
What's more, you'll be able to learn from the mistakes other people are making when it comes to training their dog.