Sit HappensSit HappensSit HappensSit Happens
  • Services
    • Online Training
    • Group Classes
    • Hybrid Training
    • Private Lessons
    • Board & Train
  • Service Area
    • Lafayette
  • Enrollment Form
    • Client Policies
  • Meet the Trainer
  • Contact
  • 337-541-0244

5 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Dog

    Home Training 5 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Dog
    Next

    5 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Dog

    By Vikki Bourgeois | Training | Comments are Closed | 7 January, 2019 | 0

    We have compiled a list of some great New Year’s Resolution ideas for your dogs. These ideas are sure to strengthen your bond with your dog and are a ton of fun!

    1: Ditch the food bowl.

    Having our dogs work for their food provides mental stimulation and strengthens their problem solving skills. Having them work for meals provides an excellent outlet to satisfy their need to scavenge.

    • Train for Meals – Try having your dog work for their food while practicing their obedience skills. Having your dog work for meals can help reduce unwanted behaviors, such as: barking, hyperactivity, and eating too quickly.
    • Snuffle Mats – Snuffle mats are homemade toys that encourage foraging for meals. They are usually square and made with fleece material. Fabric is woven through a sturdy backing. They also help slow your dog down at meal time.
    • Puzzle Toys – Puzzle toys are tons of fun!  There are so many different toys to choose from. Our personal favorites are KONGs and Nina Ottosan interactive toys.

    2. Walk your dog daily.

    Daily walks are beneficial for both human and dog! Walking helps decrease stress, anxiety, and boredom.

    • Physical Exercise – Daily walks allow our dogs to get their energy out. They also provide a great opportunity to practice your dog’s leash walking skills.
    • Sniffari’s – Try taking your dog for a casual stroll and allow them to sniff their surroundings. Dogs’ strongest sense is their sense of smell. Sniffaris provide excellent mental stimulation and allow your dog to take in tons of new information about their environment.
    • Change the Route – Keep things interesting. Changing the route of your walk allows your dog to have new and novel experiences.

    3. Try a new activity.

    Try making it a goal to do new things with your dog this year. You may find that they have a hidden talent or really enjoy a certain activity.

    • Dog Sports – Dogs are capable of doing amazing things. Dog sports are a great way to advance your dog’s training and a fun way to bond. There’s a sport for every dog ranging from scent work to agility!
    • Hiking – Hiking is an inexpensive stress free activity. It’s a natural way to bond with your dog and allows both dog and human to experience new sights. Your dog is sure to enjoy the adventure.
    • Teach a New Trick – You can, in fact, teach an old dog a new trick! Trick training is great for dogs of all ages, as anything can be a trick! You can teach something as simple as shake or as complex as fetching you a drink from the refrigerator! There are endless possibilities with trick training.

    4. Play more!

    So often we forget to take time to just play with our dogs and engage in activities that they enjoy. Playing with our dogs will result in a much happier pet.

    • Fetch – Fetch is a classic game to play. It’s an easy way to quickly tire our dogs out. Playing fetch can help build a better and stronger bond with your dog.
    • Flirt Pole – Flirt poles are tons of fun! Flirt poles are exercise equipment that encourage your dog to chase a lure. Dogs love to chase and engage with them by using their natural prey drive. You can easily make your own at home by attaching a toy to the end of a horse lunge whip. Dogs love chasing them!
    • Tug – Tug can be a very high value game for dogs. It can be intense exercise and can help increase your dogs impulse control. Be sure to let your dog win, as winning a game of tug can even increase your dog’s confidence!

    5. TRAIN!

    Training provides an excellent chance to bond with your dog and create a well mannered pet. Daily training can help reduce problematic and destructive behaviors. Training allows for mental stimulation, physical exercise, and fun! Short and frequent daily training sessions can make a huge difference in your pet’s manners and behavior! You can also take a class or fun workshop at our facility! It’s sure to be enjoyable for both you and your dog!

    Training

    Next

    Service Area

    Facebook Feed

    Sit Happens Dog Training, LLC.

    Instagram Posts

    lafayettedogtrainer

    Vikki Bourgeois, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, CTDI, FFCP

    Mac, the 4 year old Sheepadoodle, is currently enr Mac, the 4 year old Sheepadoodle, is currently enrolled in private training lessons with Vikki for behavior modification. He is in training to work on his human aggression and anxiety. To the untrained eye, Mac can look very friendly and hyper. He will pant, wag his tail,  jump, and mount people. He displays these signs when he is overstimulated and about to engage in aggressive behaviors.  When we first started training he was displaying high levels of stress, anxiety, and intense resource guarding. With positive reinforcement training techniques and behavioral medication from his vet he has greatly decreased his aggression, resource guarding, and daily stress. His owner can now safely walk him on the neighborhood and guests have noticed the difference in hia behavior. Great job, Mac! #sithappens  #lafayettedogtrainer #trainingwithresults #privatelessons #behaviormodification #aggression #resourceguarding #positivedogtraining  #behaviormodification #anxiety #privatelessons #sheepadoodle #dogbehavior #dogtrainer #certifiedbehaviorconsultant
    Enroll here: https://lafayettedogtrainer.com/enrol Enroll here: https://lafayettedogtrainer.com/enrollment-form/

Join us for this super fun 2 HOUR workshop designed to boost your dog’s natural hunting ability! You will enjoy learning a new way of bonding with your dog while strengthening their problem solving skills, confidence, and have tons of fun while doing it! This is a great introduction to the wonderful sport of Canine Scent Work.
Scent Work is great for all dogs. This workshop will focus on teaching your dog to find a target odor- Birch, and to stay at the odor. The cost is $75/dog.

✅  Classes take place at our training center located at 131 James Comeaux Rd, Lafayette La 70508.
✅ Proof of current vaccinations given by a veterinarian, a negative fecal, and flea prevention are needed to attend class. Puppies need 2 rounds of vaccines given by a veterinarian.
✅ All classes are taught with positive reinforcement based methods, we do not use any choke, prong, or shock collars.
    📣 Join us for our 2 hour AKC Canine Good Citize 📣 Join us for our 2 hour AKC Canine Good Citizen Workshop!
 Enroll here👇
https://lafayettedogtrainer.com/online-class-registration/

🐶Are you interested in having your dog become a therapy dog? How about working on your AKC CGC Title? This 2 hour workshop will help teach you the tools to achieve these. This workshop covers all 10 steps of the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test. We will work on exercises such as accepting a friendly stranger, supervised separation, walking through a crowd, and MUCH more! The opportunity will be given to take the test at the end of the workshop.  The cost is $75/dog.

✅ Classes take place at our training center located at 131 James Comeaux Rd, Lafayette La 70508.
✅ Proof of current vaccinations given by a veterinarian, a negative fecal, and flea prevention are needed to attend class. Puppies need 2 rounds of vaccines given by a veterinarian.
✅ All classes are taught with positive reinforcement based methods, we do not use any choke, prong, or shock collars.
    Enroll here👇 https://lafayettedogtrainer.com/on Enroll here👇
https://lafayettedogtrainer.com/online-class-registration/

🐶Puppy Play Time is a great way to expose your puppies to different textures, sounds, handling skills, and play in a controlled and safe environment. Puppy Play Time is open to puppies ages 10 weeks to 5 months. The cost is $25/puppy.
    Mochi went on a field trip to Stine Home & Yard. I Mochi went on a field trip to Stine Home & Yard. It was an incredibly challenging environment for him. We spent 10 minutes outside of the store using the "look at that" protocol and treating for calm behavior before entering. We kept our distance from people to ensure that he could not practice lunging on leash. He was able to see people at a distance, but unable to interact with them. He was able to focus in short spurts and work for treats.  He will need repeated exposure in new environments to continue to build his focus with distractions. He did a great job coming out the car calm and with no jumping. Great job, Mochi! #sithappens #lafayettedogtrainer #trainingwithresults #boardandtrain  #puppytraining #obedience #manners #obedience #dogstagram #huskymix #lafayettela #positivedogtraining #dogtrainer #doglovers #rescuedog
    Trout (German Shepherd) and Judah (Golden Retrieve Trout (German Shepherd) and Judah (Golden Retriever) had a BLAST at Puppy Play Time this week! They quickly became the best of friends and were super compatible playmates! They engaged in confidence building activities, chase, and playfully pouncing on each other. They are such lovely puppies with great social skills. #sithappens #lafayettedogtrainer #trainingwithresults #workshop #groupclasses #earlysocialization #puppyplaytime #lafayettela #puppytraining #puppyplaytime #germanshepherdpuppy #puppylife #goldenretrieverpuppy #puppiesofig ##puppylove❤️
    Jackson, the 5 month old Cane Corso puppy, is curr Jackson, the 5 month old Cane Corso puppy, is currently enrolled in private training lessons with Vikki. He is working hard learning his manners, obedience cues, and socialization. We are currently working on stay and come when called. He is a fast learner and enjoys training. Great job, Jackson! #sithappens #lafayettedogtrainer #trainingwithresults #privatelessons #positivedogtraining #puppylove #puppytraining #obedience #manners #socialization #pottytraining #enrichment #puppygram #canecorso #canecorsopuppy #privatetraining #inhomelessons #canecorsolove #puppylife🐾
    🍁We are starting the holiday season this Novemb 🍁We are starting the holiday season this November with a month packed full of affordable and fun workshops! Click here to enroll -
http://www.lafayettedogtrainer.com/online-class-registration/

🐶PUPPY PLAY TIME
🦴 Monday, November 3rd @ 6:30 pm
$25
🐶AKC CANINE GOOD CITIZEN WORKSHOP
🦴Saturday, November 8th @ 10:00 - 12:00 pm
$75
🐶INTRO TO SCENT WORK WORKSHOP
🦴Saturday, November 8th @ 1:00 - 3:00 pm
$75
🐶CANINE ENRICHMENT WORKSHOP
🦴Monday, November 10th 6:30 pm
$45
🐶JUMPERS ANONYMOUS WORKSHOP
🦴Monday, November 10th @ 7:30 pm
$45
🐶CANINE CONDITIONING WORKSHOP
🦴Wednesday, November 12th @ 6:30 pm
$45
🐶LOOSE LEASH WALKING WORKSHOP
🦴Thursday, November 13th @ 6:30 pm
$45

📅 To see class descriptions, check out our website ---> http://www.lafayettedogtrainer.com/group-classes/

✅ Classes meet on the same day and time each week. Classes take place at our training center located at 131 James Comeaux Rd, Lafayette, LA 70508. 
✅ Proof of current vaccinations given by a veterinarian, a negative fecal, and flea prevention are needed to attend class. Puppies need 2 rounds of vaccines given by a veterinarian.
✅ All classes are taught with positive reinforcement based methods, we do not use any choke, prong, or shock collars.

❓ Feel free to give us a call with any questions at # 337-541-0244 or send us an email at SitHappens@LafayetteDogTrainer.com.
    Piper, the 4 year old rescue dog, started her priv Piper, the 4 year old rescue dog, started her private training lessons for behavior modification. She's a fearful dog and is very unsure of interactions with unfamiliar dogs. She's in training to work on building her confidence and reducing her fear. She is a quick learner and enjoyed her first lesson. We're excited to watch her progress. #sithappens #lafayettedogtrainer #trainingwithresults #privatelessons #behaviormodification #lafayettela #dogtraining #anxiety #fearfuldogs #fearfuldogsofinstagram #rescuedog #obedience #confidence #manners #positivedogtraining
    Follow on Instagram
    Professional Dog Training Services for the the Lafayette and the surrounding areas.
    • Services
      • Online Training
      • Group Classes
      • Hybrid Training
      • Private Lessons
      • Board & Train
    • Service Area
      • Lafayette
    • Enrollment Form
      • Client Policies
    • Meet the Trainer
    • Contact
    • 337-541-0244
    Sit Happens