Competitive Obedience is a sport, and has been such since the early fifties. People probably get involved in Obedience in the first place through Dog Training Clubs. Not all people who go to DTC’s are there to train their dogs for competition (in fact only a small proportion go on to this), the majority only going to give their dogs basic obedience and ‘socialisation’ with other dogs.
"Ha!" exclaimed Borroughcliffe, grasping a pistol, with an air ofgreat resolution, "the work thickens--I had not included this man inmy estimate of their numbers. Is he a Samson, that his single arm canchange the face of things so suddenly! Down with your own weapon, youmasquerader! or, at the report of this pistol, your body shall be made atarget for twenty bullets."
"'Tis lost," returned the Pilot, hastily--"'tis sacrificed to moreprivate feelings; 'tis like a hundred others, ended in disappointment,and is forgotten, sir, forever. But the interests of the Republics mustnot be neglected, Mr. Griffith.--Though we are not madly to endangerthe lives of those gallant fellows, to gain a love-smile from one youngbeauty, neither are we to forget the advantages they may have obtainedfor us, in order to procure one of approbation from another. ThisColonel Howard will answer well in a bargain with the minions of theCrown, and may purchase the freedom of some worthy patriot who isdeserving of his liberty. Nay, nay, suppress that haughty look, and turnthat proud eye on any, rather than me; he goes to the frigate, sir, andthat immediately."
Unless you plan to keep your dog outdoors--and few of us do because it's not recommended--you'll need to teach your dog where to eliminate. Therefore, house training (also called housebreaking or potty training) is one of the first things you need to work on with your dog. Crate training can be a very helpful part of the training process. This includes house training as well as many other areas of training: