Do you have the post-holiday dog training blues?

Congratulations, you have made it through the Big Two Holidays, and we are in the home stretch between Christmas and New Years and the kickoff of National Train Your Dog Month in January.

Did you know it is less about new year’s resolutions and more about getting your dog back on track after the busy holiday season where, if you are like most of us, your dog training has slacked a bit since right before Thanksgiving.

Well, on today’s short and sweet podcast we are going to talk about it

Hello and welcome to Dog Works Radio, I am your host Michele Forto, and I am also the lead trainer of Alaska Dog Works. Here we help you develop the best relationship possible with your dog. On today’s podcast we are talking about how to get back on track with your dog training after the holiday blues.

Causes

Your dog loves the routine, just the same way that you do. When our routines get thrown off, it takes us a few days or so to settle in, too. If you have been vacationing with your pets, you need to get them back into their normal routine, just like getting your kids prepare for back-to-school.

As with most people, pets also tend to over-indulge on trips and it’s important to re-establish healthier eating patterns. Whether it was a vacation or a road trip over the hills and through the woods to visit grandma. Realize that you may have been feeding your dog different foods and at different times than you typically would.

Solutions

So, what should you do to help your dog get back into the swing of things?

First, don’t assume it is just “bad behavior” for the sake of it. Dogs act certain ways for a reason and are trying to communicate something to you.

Second, set some realistic expectations that the first week back together may be a bit “off” and afford your dog some extra patience as you help them re-acclimate to their environment and routine.

Lastly, if your dog’s unusual behavior lasts for more than a week or so, contact a professional dog trainer to explore other possibilities of what the underlining issues may be.

That’s it, I told you short and sweet. We will be back in the new year for more Dog Works Radio.