As much as we love the holiday season, it can be a stressful time for our furry friends. With so many distractions like visitors, decorations, new smells, and enticing foods, it's easy for our dogs to become overwhelmed and even get into mischief. Instead of confining your dog to a crate during the festivities, consider stepping up your training game and impressing your family and friends! By teaching your dog a few simple behaviours, you can help keep them safe and prevent them from becoming a nuisance during all the festive excitement.
Here are a few training ideas to get you started before the holidays:
Drop it - Being able to quickly and safely remove dangerous items from your dog's mouth is essential.
Leave it - Prevention is always the best approach when it comes to stopping your dog from grabbing things they shouldn't.
Wait at doorways - Whether it's guests arriving or the smell of delicious food coming from the kitchen, you don't want your dog rushing out and potentially causing harm.
Sit for greeting - Jumping on guests is not only impolite, but it can also be dangerous. Teaching your dog to sit instead of jumping is a great alternative.
Place Command - The "place" command is an essential tool for teaching your dog to settle down in any situation. And as a bonus, you can even train your dog to go to their place when the doorbell rings!
Stay tuned, as we'll be posting how to train your dog each of these behaviors starting tomorrow with a new lesson each week! With a little training and patience, you and your dog can enjoy a happy and stress-free holiday season!