Training is The Best Gift You Can Give Your Dog
The holiday season is in full swing, which means getting all of your loved ones presents. From your parents, to your significant others, to your friends, you probably have a full list of people to be shopping for this season. One member of your family to remember is your four-legged friend! While there are hundred of toys and treats you could pick out for furry friend, there is one gift that is truly the most meaningful and special – training! Starting training early and proactively is very important and will make huge changes in your pup’s life. If you reactively train and wait till big issues arise, you will have to work a lot harder to correct them. Giving your dog an all-compassing training experience early on in their life is extremely beneficial and the best gift you can give this season.
Reactive vs. Proactive Training
Reactive training is something many pet owners do without even realizing it. Reactive training occurs when we correct our dog’s bad behavior after the fact. For example, if your dog jumps up on someone, you will correct them and teach them that this is not good. However this still doesn’t get to the root of the issue. When we react to a problem, such as jumping on guests or begging at the table, we only are solving the problem in that moment. Proactive training however works to solve this problem, beyond just correction. You’re teaching your dog that there are choices and consequences, allowing them to learn better skills for new situations.
When To Start Training Your Pup
To give your dog the most proactive and effective training, it is important to start with your puppy early, as soon as they’re with you. If you start training too far down the road, your dog will be missing opportunities to learn and grow. Instead they’ll be forming negative habits and behaviors. If your dog learns these problematic behaviors as a puppy, it can be difficult to retrain and undo the mistakes and poor behaviors they’ve learned over time. Instead of letting it get to this point, be sure to start young and give them the great gift of training early on and provide the best experience possible.
Training Options
Interested in getting your dog started in training? Here at Sit Means Sit North Indy, we have plenty of options for your dog. Specifically for puppies, look into our Puppy Starter Kit. This package will help your puppy socialize, shape positive behaviors, learn potty training, and more. Whether you choose an 8 week or a 16 week course, this will be a great way to get your puppy started with training early and avoid forming bad habits down the road.
Toys and yummy treats are obviously great gifts for our furry friends. But if you want to really make an impact on your puppy this year, try giving them to gift of training. In the long run, this will benefit you and your pup so much and give them a great experience down the road. Happy Holidays!