(Source:petplace.com) Though obedience training helps dogs to be socially compatible, many people decide not to train them. It is critical when you want to develop a healthy human-animal relationship. The basic elements - sit, down, stay, come, and heel - help produce a good canine citizen. Obedience-trained dogs have easier lives, and are easier to live with, than untrained peers. If dogs desist from jumping up on strangers, sit or lie quietly when asked, and walk politely on lead, they're bound to spend more time with their owners going to picnics, ballparks, and other public places, and will spend less time alone at home. Dogs taught to lie down on the arrival of visitors - after barking a greeting or alarm - are more likely to be included in the dinner party and less likely to wind up isolated in the garage. The most basic obedience classes include the basic exercises: "sit," "down," "stay," "come" (or "recall") and "heel." An experienced instructor can help guide you with issues such as timing of rewards when your dog "listens" and the best way to respond when he doesn't listen. In advanced classes they also learn jumping up, dropping objects on command, and controlled walking (without a formal "heel"). Finally, the trainer will work on aspects involving proper socialization.