The arrival of fall usually means preparing for some fun holidays, visiting pumpkin patches and tree farms, and wardrobe changes. It’s also the best time to get into dog or puppy training. Dogs love the cool fall weather and are typically more open to working with a trainer during this time of the year.
How do you ensure that your pet’s autumn training sessions go smoothly? We have some helpful tips that you may want to check out.
Schedule Training Near the Middle of the Day
The agreeable weather is a big part of why fall works so well for dog or puppy training. The extreme summer and winter temperatures can make extended stints outside potentially dangerous for your pet. Meanwhile, the spring season can bring unexpected rains and abundant allergens.
Training during the fall is great because your pet doesn’t have to deal with many allergens, and the two of you can spend more time outside. According to PetMD, your dog should be fine outside as long as you are mindful of the nighttime and early morning hours of fall, so schedule your dog’s training sessions near mid-day.
More experienced and fit pets can even undergo endurance training during the autumn season. Go on extended walks with your pet and see how they hold up. They should have less trouble recovering from the long walks because of the mild weather.
Explore New Walking and Hiking Routes
Although your pet is capable of hiking, you’ve mostly stuck to the same trails up to this point because you don’t want them getting tired or overheated while you’re still outside.
You can start exploring more with your furry friend once fall rolls around. Pick out trails that you’ve wanted to explore but haven’t had tried so far. Bring your pet along for the hike and see how they react. Hopefully, the cooler weather will make that hike great for your dog.
Teach Your Dog Some Good Habits
Lastly, fall is an excellent season for dog training because it introduces certain variables that can impart valuable lessons. For instance, your pet will likely encounter some items they aren’t familiar with during their autumn walks. Whenever they do, you should use that as an opportunity to teach your dog what can be investigated and what shouldn’t.
With your dog on a leash, stop moving forward and call your dog back to you if they see something strange. Your awareness could save them from potential harm.
You can also teach your dog to clean up a bit after fall walks. With a good training plan, you can teach them to wipe their paws on a mat or towel before going inside. It’s a fun and helpful skill to train.
Fall training sessions with your dog can be very productive. Optimize those training sessions by following the tips we detailed in this article.
Do you want some more tips on how to get the most out of your dog’s fall training sessions? Visit the Ask A Trainer page for the next hour zoom meeting where Cathy will answer your questions.
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