January. The start of yet another new year.
With the start of 2025 comes new goals, and not only is it the perfect time for a fresh start for us, but for our furry friends, too.
So why not make this year the one you invest in their growth and happiness?
From providing mental stimulation and improving their behaviour, to even strengthening the bond you share, training – whether you’re starting from scratch or brushing up on their existing skills – is more than just teaching them new tricks.
There’s always room to grow together, and in this blog, our experts at Pet Shop Online walk you through our top tips to create achievable training goals and celebrate your dog’s successes along the way!
Evaluate your dog’s current training level
Does your dog come to you when called? Sit when they’re asked? Walk nicely on the lead?
These are all questions you can ask yourself to help determine how well your pooch is currently trained, and what you can do to improve their behaviour.
If you’re starting training sessions from scratch with your new furry family member, this step won’t be necessary, but if not, create a list of their current strengths as well as areas for improvement and work out a plan from there.
Set realistic training goals for the year
Once you’ve determined your pup’s strengths and weaknesses, you can start setting goals for the both of you to achieve over the next 365 days.
Be it basic commands like sit and stay, more complex tricks like spin and play dead, to behavioural improvements like lead pulling, recall, and barking, tailor your plan specifically to your furry friend’s needs – starting small and working your way through throughout the year.
Address problem behaviours
When it comes to actually starting training with your four-legged friend, addressing their problem behaviours is a great place to begin.
Of course, if you’ve just welcomed a new puppy into your home, it may take you a while to pick up on their bad habits. But if you’ve adopted an older dog from the shelter, or your pooch is a long-time pal, stamping poor behaviour out from the get-go is the foundation of a successful training regime.
From barking and chewing, to anxiety and aggression, start by identifying the root cause of the behaviour (boredom, frustration, fear, etc) and use positive reinforcement to redirect unwanted behaviours.
Speaking of positive reinforcement…
Use positive reinforcement techniques
Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective ways to train your precious pooch.
Dogs thrive on clear, consistent feedback, and this approach centres around rewarding their good behaviour with praise, treats, or toys – encouraging them to repeat these actions in future.
Start with high-value rewards, like small, tasty treats or their favourite toy, and reward them immediately after they perform the desired behaviour to help them make that crucial connection.
Avoiding punishment or negative feedback is key to getting positive reinforcement right, as these can create fear and confusion for your pup.
Instead, focus on celebrating progress and redirecting unwanted habits calmly to get the most out of your training sessions.
Introduce a new trick every month
The last thing you want to do is overwhelm your furry friend with too much, too soon.
So, try to stick to one new trick every month, working your way through your list of priorities and breaking your goals down into small, achievable steps to keep your sessions (which should only be around 5-10 minutes a day!) fresh and exciting.
Start with something simple, like ‘sit’ or ‘shake’, and gradually build up to more advanced tricks like ‘roll over’ or fetching a specific toy.
With plenty of praise, treats, and toys, they should get the hang of it in no time and be ready to move on to your next command.
Don’t forget about socialisation
Proper socialisation is crucial for dogs, their confidence, and happiness.
Not only does it help your fur baby feel more comfortable around other dogs, people, and new environments, but it can also help reduce anxiety, aggression, and other unwanted behaviours.
Start small by switching up your daily walkies route or arranging a playdate with a friend’s dog and ensure these encounters are enjoyable and not mind-boggling, going at your pup’s pace.
Again, you should reward any calm, friendly behaviour with treats, toys, and praise, and provide reassurance if they display any signs of stress and anxiety.
Some dogs simply like their own space, but so long as they aren’t displaying any signs of aggressive behaviours, such as growling or barking, around other dogs and people, this is nothing to worry about.
Need more expert tips and tricks?
Whether you’re looking for more expert training tips for the new year, or on the hunt for some tasty treats or new toys to use for reward-based training, we’ve got you covered here at Pet Shop Online.
We’re proud to supply the highest quality products from some of the UK’s most renowned pet care brands – including Hunters, Anco, Rosewood, and many more! So you can be confident that you’re choosing nothing but the best for your furry friend.
Get in touch with our team today by calling 0161 728 4656 or emailing shop@pet-shop-online.co.uk and we’ll be in touch with advice and personalised product recommendations.
Alternatively, you can browse and shop our products online for convenient home delivery, or browse our collection at our Manchester store!
