Each year  we set out to say our New Years Resolution(s) and hope that we can keep them going through out the year. The issue is we put so much emphasis on trying to change all at once. A New Years Resolution will work if you take the time to make it a New Habit. We might want to go to the gym and get in shape, walk our dogs every day, take the time to read to our kids or sit down to a family dinner.

There are so many great New Years Resolutions that we can add to our life yet without a new habit we will lose track and often not keep up after the first week or two.

Creating a new habit:

It takes approximately twenty one days to create a new habit or make a change in our lives that will stay with us long term.

Dog training is a great habit to add to our daily lives. What can we do to make it work?

• Decide on what you want to work on in your training session and write it down
• Don't try and do too much. Short and simple to start with
• Keep your new training sessions to 10 or less minutes, we are creating a new habit of training our dogs daily
• Remember it is okay to have a bad day, but try to work in those 5-10 minutes each day
• Make a quick note or use a journal to track your progress.

You'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in those 21 days of creating a habit After you have made the first week, you'll feel great. I won't lie the second week is usually the hardest. We tend to start to slip back into our old ways and back to old habits. Put a reminder on your phone or calendar which says "time to train" or something that will get you motivated.

After the 21 days take a day off and read what you've accomplished. Look back and see how much more your dog knows compared to when you started. You might find that by the end of the 21 days you are working for 15 or 20 minutes without even trying. And think of all the great work you've put in to building your partnership with your dog!

Good Luck and hope with the New Year you can add a new habit of 10 minutes a day training your dog! Need help with ideas on what to work on with your dog? Join a group class or sign up for some private lessons and let your Muttschool trainers help you set up a training plan for the new year.