You may have heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” but it is time to dispel this myth! January is National Train Your Dog Month, and San Diego Humane Society is here to help you and your pup start the year on the right paw.
With patience, consistency and positive reinforcement, most dogs of any age are highly receptive to training. Whether you’re teaching basic commands, tackling advanced tricks or addressing challenging behaviors, dog training is key to building a stronger human-animal bond and a more harmonious home.
In addition to being an open-admission shelter that cares for more than 40,000 animals each year, San Diego Humane Society is a national leader in behavior and training — and home to one of only a few dedicated Behavior Centers for shelter pets in the country. Left unaddressed, behavior challenges can sometimes become the reason owners make the difficult decision to surrender their pet to the shelter.
To support pet families, San Diego Humane Society has developed a robust collection of classes and resources for every budget, schedule and unique need. Their offerings include:
• Over 30 in-person and online classes, including puppy and kitten socialization, foundational skills, reactivity training, cooperative care, scent work and private lessons.
• Low-cost virtual trainer consultations that connect you with certified professionals to discuss your unique needs.
• Online articles, videos and monthly emails with tips and tricks that address a variety of behavior topics.
These resources are vital to supporting pet families — and by offering solutions for behavior challenges, they can help keep more animals out of the shelter and at home with the people who love them.
For animals who do wind up in the shelter, San Diego Humane Society’s Behavior Center is a lifeline. At this state-of-the-art facility, hundreds of animals with serious behavior challenges receive the individualized support they need to become adoptable. It’s critical to the organization’s commitment to Stay at Zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter pets.
Take Tyler, a stray dog who displayed highly fearful behavior when he arrived. Tyler was enrolled in the Behavior Center, where he spent 498 days working with expert trainers, progressing through behavior modification and developing positive relationships with known handlers.
Tyler blossomed into an energetic, playful pup, and finally found a wonderful new home. His adopters received a thorough consult on his behavior to set up a successful transition into his new chapter. Thanks to dedicated trainers committed to giving him as much time as he needed, Tyler is safe, happy and loved.
New chapters are available to you and your pet, too! Visit sdhumane.org/behavior to view resources that can improve your relationship with your pet, minimize stress and help your furry friend become the best version of themselves.
