National Dog Training Month: Tips to Get Started

It’s January, and that means a New Year, a fresh start, and lots of kept and unkept resolutions. But this time around, why not add one more resolution to your list: train your dog. It is National Train Your Dog Month after all. We all want to be better, and adding some simple behavior modifications to your pet can save a lot of stress in the months and years to come. At Deceased Pet Care, we want you to enjoy your pet as much as possible. That’s why we’ve put together a quick list of can’t miss basics when training your new or old pooch this 2017.

Make a Plan
Call it a cliche or an old adage, but know it’s true: “those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” When it comes to training your dog, you need to decide far ahead of the training process what you’d like to accomplish. Confusion is the enemy of training progress. If you have a partner, roommates, or kids, make sure you get everyone together to agree on what the standard operating procedure will be from now on. When your pooch gets the same treatment from everyone, you’re exponentially more likely to succeed in your training plans.

Be Consistent
This one is just as important as planning. Think of it as the second half to a training whole. Your dog learns in the moment. He doesn’t think about the future, and he doesn’t really remember the past. That’s why you need to be wildly consistent when training your dog -- especially in the first few months. It’s far easier to teach a new habit, than break an old one. Is the dog allowed on the sofa or bed? Can they share in human food? Are they allowed to jump when greeting people? These are all questions that need clear and consistent answers for you to be successful in training your home’s new addition.

Positivity Wins
We’ve got one more cliche/adage for you: “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” The same applies to your dog. Your pooch pretty much lives for your affection, that’s why when they do something you like, let them know! It’s better to over praise than under praise. When your dog sits when you ask, comes when you call, or doesn’t beg at the dinner table, let them know! Your dog will quickly associate their action with your positive response, and they’ll want to do it all the more.

Be Clear
When it comes to discipline with your dog, be quick, be consistent, and be clear. If you just give a stern “no” your dog will wonder what you’re saying no to. Instead say, “no, sit. or no, stay.” Your dog will need to understand not only what not to do, but what to do instead. Also, be clear about why they are being disciplined. If you wait more than a minute, your dog has long forgotten the action that gets them in trouble. It’s better to let it go, that discipline a dog that doesn’t know why they’re in trouble.

Be Patient
Let’s be real, most of us have already broken our new year's resolutions, or didn’t bother to make them at all. When it comes to training your dog, know that it takes time, and they won’t master the handshake overnight. Know that they love you, and with time, patience, and consistency -- they’ll be the best trained dog in town. And if all else fails, check the teacher not the student.

It’s 2017, and we’re excited to welcome in the New Year by being the best we can be to our pets. At Deceased Pet Care, we hope you’ll celebrate National Train Your Dog Month alongside us. Do you have any essential training tips before you get started? What’s your absolute favorite trick to teach your dog? Let us know, and from our family to yours, have a happy and healthy new year.

photocredit: aspca.com