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 behavior 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 behavior 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!
Article written by Lori Verni
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