Why train your dog?

Hey again everybody !
I thought I'd stop and explain a little somethin' about why we do what we do and how I got started. You see it's different for all of us but the main thing that keeps us trainin' and goin' to class is because we love it SO much! Our moms just see it all over us. I'll explain that later in the entry too.
See, I was picked out not just because I was so darned cute that my momma's just couldn't leave without me but because I come from a long genetic line ( I think that means what my folks come from and their folks etc...) of dogs that have been therapy dogs and I had the best temperament (my sweet lovin' personality of  which I am famous for) to grow into a therapy dog. My moms had visited this real bad place called a puppy mill before they got to my birth momma's place (otherwise known as a breeder - not sure I like that term). Well, when we all got home my mom called the  Lab rescue people for help and reported that bad place. The rescue people kept callin' momma and tellin' her what to do and who to call to get those bad folks in trouble. The police and sheriff's got involved and do you know they shut those bad people down and helped take those dogs away to find better homes. It took about two weeks and momma thought we were never gonna get that place stopped but she just couldn't give up and the rescue people kept tellin'  her she was the dog's only hope! As a thank you, the Lab people helped recommend us to my teacher Sandra ( who had no openings in her classes). They called and talked to her then told mom to call her. She talked to us right off and told us to come to her puppy class since I was just a little puppy. She was really good cause just by talkin' to momma over the phone, she had momma followin' her directions right off. Anyway, Sandra's class was fun right from the start. I got to meet all the other little puppies and we got to learn what they call basic commands like how to sit, lie down and walkin' on a leash without pullin' ( I still have trouble with that one when I get excited). The next class I took was the CGC. That stands for Canine Good Citizen and it's hard but you know if a dog gets that, some insurance company's will give a discount - I don't know what insurance or a discount is but it's real good cause it made my mom happy. Also if somebody has what they call an aggressive breed ( like a German Shepard or Doberman) - I don't agree with that label cause I think you can make any dog mean, but those insurance company's will only insure a house if the owner of the puppy gets a CGC on their dog. Some people have had to get it or they'll be canceled- and that's real bad. It took me a couple of times to pass the CGC but I did it and momma framed my certificate in a silver frame and put it in her office. That's more than she's done with her stuff she earned  so I know she's real proud of me! After I got my CGC we took a little break but momma realized that I was just not as happy as when I was in class. You see when I'm in class workin' on our exercises my tail just wags and wags. I lift my head and pay attention to what mom tells me. I just glow with happiness ! At least that's how momma puts it when she gets sentimental and stuff. We are workin' on AKC and UKC obedience right now but we also spent about a year trainin' in Rally obedience. Momma says Rally is like dancin' with your dog cause of all the fancy turns and moves. I like it cause there's so much to do I don't get bored and sniff the mats. Mom hates it when that happens but I just can't help it - there's so much to sniff and so little time!
Anyway, the main point is that the trainin' helps to really bond the person and their dog cause they are both workin' together. Momma says it also "helps to keep her in the moment". I think she means it kinda helps her not get bored and sniff the mat too. She expalins that when she trains me that's all she thinks about is me and what we are doin' - however you put it, trainin' is good ! Okay so I gave you all a little about how I got started and why I'm still trainin'. For more information you can look up the AKC or the UKC and they will tell you all kinds of stuff.
Boy ! that was a lot of tellin' I did in this post but it really was life changin' for all of us so I wanted to share it in hopes it will help ya'll too.
Thanks so much for readin' and I'll post more real soon!