Whether you are looking for a new hobby or a new way to spend your time, spending more time with your dog is a great resolution to make this year. You might be wondering how to get started with an obedience class or a relationship-building class and what you should expect from your pet. This article will give you some tips and tricks to help you along the way.
Exercise with your dog
Getting exercise with your dog is a great new year’s resolution. The best part about it is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. You can take part in pack walks, or just get out and about in your area on sniff walks.
You can also work out your dog’s mental needs with enrichment activities. Some examples include dog food scavenger hunts, trick training, teaching your dog the names of its body parts or rent a Sniff Spot and let your dog sniff away for an hour. You can also try to improve your dogs’ manners with “free shaping activities” using positive reinforcement. This will encourage your dog to offer more good behaviors.
In addition to exercising with your dog, the new year is a great time to introduce a variety of high-quality foods. Just like us, dogs need a variety of food. It is also a good idea to have a health checkup. The vet will be able to help you and your pet in many ways. They can recommend supplements for your pet’s stage of life, as well as prebiotics, probiotics and digestive enzymes to help your pet digest its food.
Getting a vet check-up twice a year
Getting a vet check-up twice a year is one of the best things you can do for your dog’s health. It’s a simple way to prevent problems in the future. In addition, it can save you money by catching things early.
Pets age much faster than humans, and it’s important to monitor their health on a regular basis. During a vet check-up, your vet will check your pet’s overall health, including its ears, eyes, teeth, coat, heart, and weight. Your vet will also perform tests for worms, parasites, and cancerous cells. This is essential because early detection can improve your pet’s quality of life and help to avoid costly emergency care.
During the first visit (which can be scary), your vet will give your dog a physical exam. This includes a check of the dog’s heartbeat, ears, eyes, mouth, coat, and weight. (Name if body parts help with this) The veterinarian will then discuss your dog’s health and recommend any treatments or medications that are appropriate. Depending on the veterinarian’s evaluation, your vet may suggest any additional testing, including blood work, x-rays, or other procedures.
Teaching your dog how to relax
Getting your dog to learn to relax can be fun. Who doesn’t like watching TV with their best friend? This actually helps to strengthen the bond with your pet. It will also help your dogs nervous system take a break so it can make better life choices.
A game you may want to try is “musical chairs”! It’s one of the simplest “tricks” or games you can teach your dog.
The idea is to teach your dog to lay down when you sit. First begin by sitting in a chair with your dog on leash, then lure your dog into down, once he is down give him a few treats, one at a time, then you and him both get up with your “let’s go” command. Now find another chair and repeat! You are teaching your dog when you sit he lays down. It’s a fun way to build a “off switch”.
If you’re looking to improve your dog’s life, you may want to make a few resolutions. For instance, you can make sure you spend 10-20 minutes each day training your dog and then 10-20 mins resting with your dog. Also don’t forget you could enroll your dog in an class with a trainer!
It is always best to be on the lookout for new things to teach your dog. You can try a variety of activities, from herding balls to searching for food and even swimming!
Stop begging
Getting your dog to stop begging is a New Years resolution that can be achieved through a few simple steps. However, the behavior will not change overnight. The first step is to understand why the behavior is occurring. By knowing what drives the behavior, you can make the necessary changes to eliminate it.
The second step is to be consistent. If your pet begs, you should not feed him. Instead, set a house rule that states that he can be a guest in the same room but he must lay on his bed. When dinner is over and he is quiet he can scavenge for scraps on the ground. (It’s ok if you place one or two for him to find.) He will then learn to wait for you to release him to search for crumbs. This actually will prevent that begging at the table.
Third, teach your pet basic obedience commands. These can be a great help to prevent impulse-based behaviors. You can also reinforce progress by providing your dog with snacks or a treat whenever he performs the command correctly.
Finally, learn how to use body language to communicate with your dog. Kim Brophey has written an amazing book all dog owners should read, Meet Your Dog. You can use this information to understand your companion and build a strong relationship based on its natural instincts.