🥳 4 Easy Ways to Transform Your Dog’s Behavior in 2024

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Training when you need it, where you need it!

One-on-one dog training is the most effective means to address severe behavioral problems like anxiety, house training, and leash reactivity

However, in-home training with a professional dog trainer can be expensive, and finding a time that works for everyone can be difficult. Virtual Leash offers the same benefits as in-home dog training with a lower price tag and more flexibility.

When the clock strikes midnight on January 1^st , many of you will make a New Year’s resolution for self-improvement. You might want to get fit, spend money more wisely, quit a job that makes you miserable, open yourself up to love, or be more present with your family.

(My go-to resolution each year is to make a resolution. Done.)

In this issue of Sit & Stay, we want to know how often you fit your dog into your resolution plans. Do you hope to improve your relationship with your furry friend in 2024?

No matter how severe the behavior, nearly every training program begins by returning to the basics. While training may feel like all work and no play to us, your dog is always excited to spend time with you. Give your dog some love and improve their behavior at the same time using the tips below.

Sit & Stay Pro Tip

It’s important to understand that dog training isn’t just about having a well-behaved dog. Nearly every training program, no matter how severe the behavior, begins by going back to the basics. Trainers will recommend you teach your dog to sit, stay, and heel before anything else.

This may feel counterproductive when the pressing issue is that your dog tried to bite your niece, but before you can work on major behavioral problems, you must work on your bond. Basic training is where your dog learns to trust and listen to you, and it’s where you set firm boundaries and gain trust in your dog.

If your dog is already well-trained, reviewing basic training exercises offers a refresher while allowing you to spend quality time together and offer your pup lots of pets and praise.

Here are four ways to spend more time with your dog while reinforcing behavioral boundaries.

1. Practice basic obedience. Practicing basic commands can be done indoors or outdoors and reinforce what your dog already knows. Take this opportunity to spend ten or fifteen minutes fully focused on your pup.

2. Go for a walk. You get exercise, your dog gets exercise, and you reinforce good leash behavior.

3. Learn something new. Challenge your dog (and yourself) by teaching a new command this year. Something fun and simple, like shake hands or roll over lets you spend time together while improving your dog’s focus.

4. Get social. Visit a dog park or join a group training class. Your dog will enjoy the new experience, allowing him to improve his behavior in a social setting around other dogs and people.

Poll

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

In an effort to help keep our pups safe, Sit & Stay will now feature dog food and supplement recalls and advisories in each issue, sourced from the FDA website.

Here are the new recalls and advisories announced for December 2023:

• Blue Ridge Beef

The Smile Section

Thanks to Cecilia H. for sending these precious photos of Luna and Rango!

If you have a photo and/or story that can make us smile, send it to [email protected].

Vet Recommendations

This month, we’ve got an infographic from Dundee Animal Hospital with some helpful information about caring for pets during the cold winter months.

Treats

• 👃 Dogs sniffs out $10M - Dogs found $10M worth of cocaine & meth hidden in jalapeños!

• 🤸 The halftime duo: Christian and his Chihuahua, Scooby, are an acrobatic duo performing stunts at halftime shows for the NFL, NBA, WNBA and NCAA!

Want your dog to be featured?

We’d love to!

Think your dog can make us smile? Submit a pic to [email protected] for a chance to see your pet in our Smile Section!