January is National Train Your Dog Month. To start the year off right with your furry family member, take some time to focus on training fundamentals. Training helps your dog exercise good behaviors, avoid danger, and stay mentally stimulated. Here are some things that dog owners should keep in mind during this national month of recognition.

Positive Reinforcement Yields Positive Results

The best way to train is to use rewards rather than punishment. Instead of scolding your dog for doing something bad, praising your dog for doing something good is a more consistent motivational tactic. Petting and treats will incentivize the behavior that you are rewarding and make it habitual. When dogs find training to be gratifying, they will be less likely to engage in bad behaviors for attention.

Consistency Is Essential

One of the most important training tips to remember during National Train Your Dog Month is that you need to be consistent. Comprehensive training requires structure and regularity. This is especially true for puppies who are still learning the basics. Repeating the same training exercises for a fixed amount of time every day will help your dog process lessons.

Patience Is a Virtue

Some dogs have a hard time grasping training concepts. Do not get impatient with your dog, and do not get frustrated with yourself. Your dog will have an easier time getting the hang of things when you project patience and confidence.

Training Prevents Accidents

Poor leash manners can lead to unfortunate accidents. Training your dog to heel deters unsafe attempts to run into the street.

You can protect your dog from other potentially unsafe situations with training commands such as “stop” or “drop it.” These commands can protect your dog from hazards such as picking up unsafe items to eat or negative encounters with dogs who may be aggressive.

Teaching Dogs Good Behavior Improves Their Homelife 

Of course, training makes caring for a dog easier. However, the benefits of training are not for owners alone. Following some basic rules about how to behave at home helps dogs interact better with their families. Training enables dogs to be more intuitive about what people want and also express themselves in a way that people will be responsive towards.

Dogs Enjoy Learning New Things

Teaching dogs how to do something new is an enriching activity for them. It cultivates their desire to please their owners, and it sharpens their cognitive abilities.

Dogs’ outstanding sensory acuity requires them to process a lot of information as they experience the world. Training can help dogs hone their skills and improve situational awareness.

You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Contrary to popular belief, dogs are trainable at any age. In fact, older dogs who are well-versed in training basics may benefit from training initiatives to learn advanced commands. Continuing training keeps dogs engaged, mentally alert, and interested in physical activity.

This month, take advantage of informative resources about training your dog. If you have specific questions about training or behavior and your dog's health, be sure to ask your veterinarian at Pet Hospitals of Hawaii.