Training your dog is very important insurance for the unforeseeable future - if someday you are unable to keep your dog, his chances of fitting in well to a new home is drastically improved by training. The vast majority of dogs that can'y be kept and are surrendered to animal shelters have had little or no training, and it's no coincidence.
If you foresee needing to get rid of your dog, don't delay - act now. Contact your local humane society and see what ideas they have for you about placement. Put an ad in the paper, and put up flyers locally and with your vet hospital about placing your dog into a good new home. Charge a fee for the dog - often dogs given away for free quickly exchange hands down the road and end up homeless at the animal shelter.
Dogs that jump up, nip fingers, pull too hard on the leash, etc. are a serious problem for placement into new homes because they eventually can hurt someone without meaning to. Many dogs that are condemned to a lonely life shut out in the backyard are just too unruly for the family to enjoy - and no one can seem to find the time to train the dog and teach him the right thing to do. These sweet but unruly dogs languish in animal shelters while well-behaved and trained dogs are much more easily placed into happy homes. This can be a life or death issue!
So, please, give your dog a best chance at future happiness - go to training classes now and learn how it's done, and then practice, practice, practice until your dog is a joy to be around and does not endanger itself or others with unruly behavior.
