Have a Doggy New Year

It’s that time of year again. Holiday festivities are coming to an end and with the start of a new calendar year, there is a feeling of fresh beginnings.

With cooler temperatures outdoors, no big events on the horizon, and not much else to do to fight the winter doldrums, this is a great time to focus on training your dog. Whether a new pet who just joined your family, an old pet who has a few naughty habits or a dog who has been downright driving you crazy, there is no better time than the present to resolve to do things right with training your dog.

If you’ve ever made a “pet mistake” in the past, perhaps ending up “getting rid of” your dog or suffering for years with annoying habits, now is the time to avert those problems. With the average life span of a dog being about 15 years, no doubt it is worthwhile to prevent or alleviate behaviour problems, whether you have a little puppy or a dog who is more advanced in years.

Some of the most common issues you’ll want to work on with puppies include house training, socialization and chewing. You’d probably be surprised if you knew how many people never make sure their puppies completely understand the rules about these issues, and wind up spending unnecessary months or years tolerating accidents, having property damaged or ending up with a dog who is not as friendly as they’d originally hoped.

The three most important things you can do to avoid these problems include confining your puppy to a crate when you’re unable to supervise, doing obedience training to earn his respect and teach the rules and taking him out on a regular basis to be thoroughly socialized with people and dogs.

If you have an older puppy or an adult dog with ongoing behaviour problems, there is no better time than the present to work on the issues. Whether on your own or with a trainer, a little work with your dog now will pay off in years of enjoying your pet.

There are some problems you may not know what to do about, such as excessive barking, fear problems, aggression or other things you may have tried to work on before without success. For these issues, you may need the help of a professional trainer.

But there are some things you probably do know what to do about, but just haven’t gotten around to. Like teaching your dog to stay off the couch or taking your dog for walks regularly so he is better socialized and not as bored and mischievous at home.

Whether a puppy or an adult dog, a new pet or old, the new year can be a great time to make a fresh start and get things on the right track. Happy New Year!