New year, new goals

Well, here we are in 2024! Maybe you’re reading this as a longtime dog owner, or perhaps as a brand new owner following the festive period, but either way, with New Year’s resolutions being made in abundance, I’m here to remind you all that it’s never too late to start training!

I often get asked whether dogs over a certain age are too old to start training, or whether owners have missed their chance to work on the basics, and the answer is always no! It’s never too late to learn, so even if you’ve got a 1 year old pup at home and are feeling like you’ve missed out on puppy classes, or a 10 year old dog who never learned much past ‘Sit’, there are still just as many training opportunities for you now as there are for anyone else.

Besides, why should humans hog all the New Year fun?! Let’s get our dogs involved with our resolutions, and make positive change in both our life and theirs! Training has so many benefits, including strengthening your bond with your dog, providing stimulation and enrichment, and of course developing tons of useful skills that help your dog to navigate life with comfort and ease.

Here are some examples of goals you could set for yourself and your dog this year for a bit of inspiration - remember, there’s plenty of help out there, so this needn’t be a journey you take alone.

Example training goals for 2024…

  1. Learn 2 new ‘basic’ behaviours, eg. Down and Retrieve

  2. Learn how to walk nicely on the lead with no pulling

  3. Learn how to stop your dog from jumping up

  4. Learn how to add duration to a static behaviour, ie. Sit and Stay

  5. Teach your dog how to be comfortable with handling

  6. Teach your dog to respond to a whistle

  7. Learn a party trick, eg. Bow or Spin/Twist

  8. Learn about clicker training and implement this in your training going forward

  9. Attend at least 4 group classes or 1:1 training sessions focusing on ‘basic obedience’ training

  10. Attend at least 4 classes focusing on agility/hoopers or a dog sport, eg. flyball

This might seem like an intimidating list, but that’s where engaging a professional becomes extremely important and beneficial. All of these things are easily addressed either in a 1:1 setting, or within group classes, and you’ll start to see the positive impact from putting in this work almost immediately.

If you’re reading this and feeling interested in discussing training for yourself and your dog in any of these areas or beyond, please do feel free to set up a 30 minute consultation with me to chat about 1:1 training, or check out my upcoming classes for something that suits your needs! If you’re a little further afield, check out the IMDT Trainer Directory to find an IMDT Qualified positive trainer near you.

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