A Dog’s New Year Wish
Ahhh, a new year, full of possibilities, new beginnings, resolutions, and motivation.
Many humans are inspired to make changes at the start of a new year but what about your dog???
I polled 500,000 dogs and asked them about what they hope their human’s New Year’s resolutions will be and this is what the top five most popular answers were:
1. Take me for a walk!
My world is small. You humans have jobs, TV, cell phones, and cars to drive around in while leaning out of open windows. Walks, with lots of sniffing, are a great way for you to expand my world a bit, provide me with some exercise, and stimulate my nose and brain. It’ll also help my human’s physical and emotional health as well. We all win!
2. Consider my pain
Have you noticed that I have started barking at people or other dogs more? Maybe I’ve started grumbling at you when you wake me for my last potty of the day or you notice that my fuse seems shorter with my dog siblings?
Any sudden change in my behavior can be a sign of underlying pain. Maybe my joints are achy, or a tooth is bothering me, or maybe I’m positive for a tick borne disease or I’m having some discomfort in my digestive system. In any case, please take me to see my most awesome veterinarian if you notice a sudden change in my behavior.
3. Buy more hot dogs and cheese
And feed them to me.
4. Play with me
You are my world and spending time with you is one of my favorite things. Not only is play fun but
studies show that playing after learning actually helps the learner to retain the information taught. So a fun game after a training session will actually help me retain the information taught during that training session better than if we didn’t play after.
Examples of games that many dogs enjoy:
Hide and seek
2. Chase
3. Tug
4. Fetch
5. Sent work
6. Flirt pole
Be sure to play games that I actually enjoy. Not just the ones that you want to play.
5. Sharpen your communication skills
My primary method of communication is my body language and my behavior. The best thing you can do to learn how to listen and speak to me is to acquire a thorough understanding of dog body language, as well as basic learning theory.
A good trainer, like Sara at Mr. Dog Training, can help you with that.
Just like with any relationship, communication is the foundation!
Cheers to a fabulous 2024 with your dogs!
Sara Sokol is owner of Mr. Dog Training in Brunswick Maine; A positive reinforcement dog training facility, offering both virtual and in person classes, that has been voted best training in Maine for 9 years in a row.
