In order for dogs to feel satisfied and content in life, it is so important to give them a job. There are so many different ways to do this, including dog sports, obedience work, and other task-oriented training like scent work. Whichever route you decide to take, just know that your dog is thanking you! Most dogs have a lot of energy that needs to be expelled via both physical AND mental stimulation. If you can provide both of these for your dog, they will be far more content, happier, adequately stimulated, and better behaved overall. Many nuisance behaviors and destructive habits come from a lack of mental stimulation and boredom. As soon as you provide them with an avenue to spend their energy, you may see a dramatic change in behavior for the better!
Obedience Training Goals
Obedience training goals are often the easiest to identify and work towards throughout the year. They can often be concrete goals that are measurable and can easily be identified if your dog needs more work or can complete the tasks. Some goals may include teaching your dog some simple commands like Place or Down. Other goals may include teaching your dog how to walk on a loose leash. If you have been working with your dog for a while and are a bit further down the road with their obedience training, some more advanced goals might be a long duration down command at a beer garden or restaurant, heeling in high-distraction locations like a busy park, or a perfect off-leash recall command. Whichever point you are at in training, we have a program that can help you. Start the new year off with a bang and take a look at our training programs here and let us know how we can help!
Dog Sports
Sometimes you want to do more with your dog, other than obedience training. This is where dog sports come into play! There are many dog sports that you and your dog can get involved in, such as dock diving, flyball, and our favorite – scent work! We offer an incredible scent work training program that will give an awesome introduction to the sport.
No experience is necessary and we can teach you the basics of the sport. This training program will dramatically enhance your relationship with your dog, provide plenty of mental stimulation and fun, and can truly help to boost your dog’s confidence levels. Dog sports like scent detection are a lot of fun and can often be far less stressful than obedience training. Whatever your goals are, we would love to help you achieve them in the upcoming 2023 year!
Good Health and Diet
If your dog struggles with allergies, their weight, or any other health concerns, the new year may be a great opportunity to start some new habits to get your dog on the right track. Many dogs struggle with food or seasonal allergies that can be challenging to deal with. Consulting a canine nutritionist this new year may be a great start to giving your dog a healthier, more comfortable life. Consider using this upcoming new year to give your dog an enhanced diet to allow them live a healthier, longer life.
Final Thoughts
While you can begin to work on your goals at any point throughout the year, the New Year is often a refreshing time to motivate yourself to be the best dog owner you can be. Some goals can be accomplished quickly, while some goals may take the entire year to achieve! Whatever goals you have, write them down. Track your progress. Share your goals and progress with friends to have them help to hold you accountable and get you to where you want to be.
If you need help, we are here for you! Fill out our contact form to learn more about your programs and what we can do to help you. We hope you have a wonderful New Year with your pup and look forward to helping as many owners as possible!
