Welcome to 2025!

I hope that the holiday season treated you gently and that you and your pets are gliding into the new year with grace and joy.

On the first day of the year Watson and I went for a nice walk with friends then spent a little off leash time together roaming and investigating. On the last day of the previous year I woke up to a living room and dog bed covered in the evidence of Watson having a very bad belly situation, so it was nice to be outdoors and breathing fresh air. I've been making rice and broth and restricting treats ever since, which always makes me sad! You all know Watson by now, though, and he's ok with it. Any food is good as far as he's concerned and he doesn't even remember that his belly felt wonky.

This, too, shall pass, so I'm looking ahead to our 2025 goals (I prefer goals to resolutions).

We're kicking off the new year with Train Your Dog Month

One of our 2025 goals is to participate in Train Your Dog Month as soon as Watson is able to have a few treats. Here are some simple ways you can participate, too:

• Make a list of all the things your dog already knows how to do. Practice those in new places or new ways. For example, Watson knows Touch when my hand is quite close to him so I could work on increasing distance with that.

• Teach your dog one new thing and practice it a few times a week. I'd love to teach Watson a brand new (to him) trick!

• Pick a longer term goal, something with a few steps to learn, and find a fun way to begin. One of our long term goals is comfortable nail trimming at home. Maybe I'll teach Watson a "lie on your side" behavior as a trick and down the line it could be the position we use for happy nail salon time.

• Try something brand new for both of you. Go on a hike, try a long line sniffari, experiment with a very simple outdoor dining opportunity, lie down next to your dog to see things from their perspective, let your dog lead you on a walk and see where they go, or come up with something I haven't thought of! As long as you're both having fun (and staying safe) it's a good idea.

For me, the aim of Train Your Dog Month is to remind us to connect with our dogs, get out of our boring routines, and have a little fun at a time of year when we may feel stuck inside or in our personal ruts.

How are you going to have fun with your dog today, this month, and this year?

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