Dogs that spend time with their owners, in training, playing, or sharing any type of activity quite often develop less destructive behavioral habits, since these habits quite often stem from boredom due to lack of mental and physical stimulation.

When you train your dog you are establishing a bond that could one day save your life. Who knows? This is perhaps one of the best illustrations of the role of obedience training in your relationship with your dog.

You are also establishing yourself as the ALPHA DOG (the leader, #1, "head honcho") in your relationship, and since dogs are pack animals by virtue they do need an alpha dog to relate to in day to day activities.

Not only will obedience training be an excellent learning activity and great mental stimulation for your dog, it is also a great activity for the dog owner.

For example, obedience training is very good exercise for the owner as well as for the dog itself.

It can be very relaxing after a hard day at work to come home and spend some training time with your dog.

Many studies have proven that people who have pets recover faster from illnesses than those who do not have pets, that pet owners have lower heart rates, and many other signs of better health than their petless counterparts - so get out there and train your dog, it will be good for both of you.

Who knows, after a few weeks of training you may be able to wear those clothes hidden in the back of the closet that you haven't been able to get into in years.

Now on to the really obvious reasons best explaining the role of obedience training your dog(s). Any dog that is well trained, especially for the "come" or "down" commands can have its life saved by knowing only these 2 simple commands.

If a dog can be stopped dead in its tracks by responding to either of these two commands, you are thereby saving the dog serious injury or worse, death, the owner all kinds of mental anguish, and a lot of money in hospital and vet bills!