Happy New Year to all of our Dog Training Now family! As you are looking forward to 2016, consider making it the year for an obedient dog – and for a happy owner. Use this January as your clean slate to either start – or restart – your obedience plan. We’ve gathered our trainers to come up with the top 4 resolutions to get you and your dog on the road to some new habits, whether you have the best behaved pooch on the block or not.

Stop making excuses.
Maybe you have fallen into the trap of thinking that your dog is too old and stubborn to change. Or perhaps you are just resigned to the fact that your dog will always beg from the table because “that’s just how he is”. Trust us – we’ve heard it all. But in 2016, make a commitment to stop excusing your dog’s bad behavior and to stop underestimating his ability to learn something new.

The truth is, dogs love to learn at all ages. It may take longer for some dogs to master obedience commands, but that can vary based on much more than age. (Breed, history, and temperament can make a difference too) With a little persistence and holding everyone accountable, your dog can learn how to – finally – walk nicely on a leash, stop begging, fetch or even roll over. The first step, though, is to stop making excuses.

Commit to practice.
It’s hard to get good at anything without practice, and your dog needs daily practice to keep up his new commands. We know that your schedule is already packed with everything from work to running your kids to extracurricular activities, and everything in between. But if you can commit to practice commands daily in 2016, you will notice the difference within just a few months.

We suggest making regular practice a bit easier by making it a part of your already set daily routine. Put Fido in a Down Stay while you brush your teeth in the morning, and in his Place while you make dinner. Practice sitting and heeling throughout your daily walk around the neighborhood. While you certainly can add in short training practice sessions during the course of your day, it may be easier for your busy schedule to find ways to keep your dog actively practicing commands in bite-sized times. Practice makes perfect for your pup, and gives you confidence too – everyone wins.

Exercise more.
Humans aren’t the only ones who need regular exercise to stay healthy; a well exercised dog has less nervous energy and more focus. You and your dog are perfect workout partners! Talk with your veterinarian to get a good recommendation of how much your dog should be walking each day, based on his health, breed, and size. Once you have a plan set, start your regular walks and see how your dog changes after a month or so.

Walks are a great time to work on practicing commands, and can set up your dog to have better focus to try harder commands after a walk. For example, if your dog has difficulty staying on his Place during the duration of dinner time. Try taking a walk right before dinner so that your dog has more focus and less nervous energy – he’ll be ready for a successful Place command by the time you sit down to eat.

Know when to get help.
Training your dog can be overwhelming, and you may have no idea where to start or how to be successful. That’s where we can come in – the trainers at Dog Training Now have decades of experience working with dogs of all ages and breeds. We have worked with docile pups to more aggressive dogs, and have time-tested tactics that are successful. Even better, we are patient and consistent; knowing that change doesn’t happen overnight, our training programs offer at least three intensive sessions per day, with plenty of time in between for exercise, play, and rest. We get your dog – and your family – on the track to obedience, taking your family’s needs and your dog’s personality into consideration.

More often than not, you need help training your dog. Whether you find yourself in our studio while your dog is still a puppy, or later on when an unwanted behavior just won’t go away, we are ready to guide you both to success. Don’t wait to ask for help!

How will you make 2016 the best yet for you and your dog? We’ve got a feeling this year will be your best year yet.