With time, dogs have become an important part of human households, where they are seldom treated as working mates. Unlike people of the 18th century, dog owners of today consider their pets as one of their family members and go out of their way to provide the latter with the best of training, diet, grooming and care.

William Koehler was perhaps the first dog trainer who had encouraged dog owners to have a better bonding with their dogs. In fact, before that, dogs were considered as working animals, to be kept in the backyard. His training methods helped dog owners to transform these animals into household pets. It is he who introduced the leashes and collars and explained their importance.