As the season changes, so do our habits. Some of us embrace the cooler temperatures and move more. Some of us cuddle under the covers with our pets. Some of us do both! Whatever your preference, your need for indoor activities with your dog may be increasing. Here are some ideas to tide you over until our 25 Days of Sniffmas challenge begins this December.

Stock up. Take stock of how well behaved your dog is. Find the areas in need of improving and sign up for a group dog training class. Need a strong foundation? Sign up for a beginner class. Do you have some training under your belt and need to address a specific behavior challenge? Find an advanced class teaching solution-specific skills. 

Check your calendar. Do you have house guests coming? Are you hosting Sunday dinners, football watch parties, cocktail hours, fire pits, or holiday meals? Consider how you'd like your dog to behave. If your behavior bar is set to "just don't embarrass me", let's train!  Book a private lesson or sign up for a group class addressing manners for entertaining. We know you're busy; that's why we're offering on-demand classes including, Guests and Dogs, through Behavior Buddies.

Go team! You don't need to be on a competition track to enjoy dog sports. Nosework is a great low-impact sport requiring very little equipment. My next Sniff This Eat That class starts in January 9, 2024 at Your Dog’s Friend. Other wonderful dog sports include Rally, Obedience, Agility, Flyball, Freestyle, Barn Hunt, Tracking, Lure Coursing, and Disc Dog. Curious about which sport is right for you and your dog? Ask to observe a class without your dog. 

Embrace the season change and new possibilities with your dogs. We hope this post inspires a new training side hustle for you and your dog! Wish you could train without braving the bracing cold? Set up a video visit via our Behavior Anywhere program! We’re available for quick chats with training game ideas, or longer discussions about behavior modification.