The month of January is regarded as National Train Your Dog Month in the United States of America and Canada. Its aim is to promote proper training in pets and also talk about the importance of the same. Teaching your furry pal new tricks is always fun, and in this blog, we will be dishing out a few tips that will be of big help to you during National Train Your Dog Month.
Tips For National Train Your Dog Month
Here are few tips that will help you in celebrating National Train Your Dog Month with your furry canine friend.
1. Start Young
Heard of the saying- you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Though it may not be completely true, it is relevant and highlights an important point. Dogs learn quickly during their early years. Also, dogs are creatures of habit. Starting to train them at a young age makes it easier to create a routine and mold your pup for desired behaviors.
2. Teach Basic Commands
It is essential to teach your dog a bunch of basic commands to save them from dangers, both indoors and outdoors. Ensure that your training includes the most basic cues, including ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘wait’, ‘down’, ‘come’, ‘drop it’, etc. These commands help restrict your pet’s movements or call them back from threatening conditions outside, and equally help ensure a comfortable co-living inside the house.
3. Create A Chew Corner
Dogs can be very notorious pets as they can intentionally chew on anything and everything that they deem chewable. Things such as your furniture, your shoes and slippers, and also some of your clothing, are at great danger of being chewed on by your buddy. So, create a special corner called the Chewy Corner and flood it with loads of toys for your buddy to chew on. Let them enjoy their chewy sessions in that one particular corner, and over time, they will learn to chew and play with their toys rather than go around chewing your prized belongings.
4. Break The Staring Habit
All dog parents can confirm that every time they sit to eat, their pooch will sit right next to their table and stare at them in hope of getting something to eat off their human friend’s plate. This habit isn’t healthy and needs to be addressed. Now here comes the training, and you will need to teach your pet the “NO” command. This will help in steering them away from the table, and doing it many times will eventually break this habit.
5. Proper Potty-training
Teaching your doggie proper potty-training habits is perhaps the basic and most essential training tip you can implement. It might take some effort to get your buddy to do their business in your desired place, but it will all be worth it in the end. Always remember, be patient and gentle with your buddy, and you will get the desired results.
6. Teach Your Dog To Socialize
Socialization plays a very key part in your dog’s development and enhances interactions. It also helps in making them calmer, friendlier, and helps them adapt to new environments quickly. So, teaching your buddy to socialize helps a big deal in the long run. Also, speaking of calmness, you can use products such as Anxiety TFLN to calm your buddy down while teaching them the art of socialization.
It is a good idea to get help for socializing your furry companion. You can coordinate with fellow pet parents in the neighborhood and arrange for your fur buddy’s playdates with other pets. This gives your pet an avenue to learn to mingle with new pets and people. Do not forget, however, to get your canine friend adequately vaccinated before socializing to ensure their and others’ safety.
7. Ignore Harmless Bad Behaviors
While destructive behaviors need to be corrected, a little naughtiness is not harmful. Try ignoring bad behaviors, like your dog’s begging for your food or occasional barking to get your attention. Dogs are not usually interested in repeating the behavior that is not rewarded or paid attention to.
It is equally important to know that a repetitive behavior can be a result of an underlying problem. Observe your fur baby’s body language and listen to them to understand what is going on. Read Common Dog Behavioral Problems & Tips to Fix Them, to further understand your furry pal’s behavior and help them out.
8. Keep The Sessions Short
Dogs always live in the moment and so have a short attention span. Try to keep the training sessions shorter, less than 10 minutes if possible. This will help maintain your fur friend’s interest in learning something new and maximize the chances of them learning the commands and tricks quickly.
9. Keep Calm & Be Consistent
Just like humans, no two dogs are the same. Some dogs are smart and learn quickly, whereas some dog breeds take comparatively more time in learning. If your four-legged friend needs more practice, do not lose patience. Stay calm and encourage them to learn. Also, stay consistent with the training sessions. On and off training does not give the expected results. Your fur buddy may not be able to follow commands after a long break, and you may have to start over from scratch.
10. Keep The Fun Factor Alive
Agreed, training is essential to discipline your furry companion. But it does not have to be all serious and boring. Your pet will enjoy, and may actually look forward to the training exercise when you keep the fun factor alive. Make sure you reward your pet for good behavior and give verbal appreciation every time they follow a command. Reward your pup with a variety of treats and also teach them some new tricks, just for fun.
So, what are you waiting for? Hop onto the train of pet special days and take part in the celebration of the National Train Your Dog Month with your buddy.
