Make a winter training schedule for your pet

#MiddleburyCT #Dog #TrainingSchedule #Winter

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My German Shepherd, Dante, is smart but stubborn, and constant training is essential. But I wanted to share a method I use to make sure I keep up with his basic obedience training and work on advanced skills year-round.

Every three to four months, I sit down with a new notebook and make a training journal for Dante. It helps me organize my thoughts around how to best train him in the late fall and winter, when going outside every day isn’t always possible, or the weather is so unpleasant that Dante won’t listen to my commands.

I write down the training goals I want to accomplish during this period. I note any behavioral or training issues that Dante has had up to now. Shepherds, like many big dogs and herders, have a lot of energy and need at least an hour per day of exercise, so I figure out the best times to do that. There are also a lot of holidays during this period, and the journal gives me a place to figure out in advance how I will handle travel, training, parties and other schedule challenges.

I hope my method will help other readers who are trying to maintain their dog’s obedience skills while having a busy life. – Cheryl K. in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

DEAR CHERYL: That’s fantastic advice! Thank you for sharing your journaling method. It sounds like it provides a space to write down much more information than jotting notes on a wall calendar.

Creating a training schedule and journal also is a big help in monitoring how well your dog is progressing with their training and noting areas where improvements can be made.

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