January is National Train Your Dog Month, and pet owners who brought home a dog for the holidays can bond with their new best friends and help them learn how to be good canine citizens by making training a part of everyday life.

Potty training and basic commands like “sit”, “stay,” “come” and “leave it” can make all the difference in helping a dog have a successful transition into his new family’s home life.

“Training in general, your normal commands… all of that is very important,” said Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto of Cinema Veterinary Centre. “A lot of that you can do from your own home.”

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Whether a pet owner feels confident training their new dog themselves or wants to enlist the help of a professional trainer, in-home sessions can help the dog learn how to behave in his new home environment.

In addition, signing up for group obedience classes can help dogs learn how to focus in different environments — despite the distraction of other pets and people — and socialize them too.

“Learning your dog’s quirks and traits is important,” Ronchetto said, noting that training sessions can help pet owners learn about any potential issues that need to be addressed. “Finding out about (any issues) early and then figuring out a way to correct that — either with a trainer or behaviorist, or on your own — would be a good thing.”

Ronchetto reminded those with young puppies that any training activities should take place at home until their pup has been fully vaccinated.

“It’s important to keep them sort of in their safe little bubble of your home,” she explained. “You don’t want them going out to pet stores or dog parks or on the paseos, because there’s a lot of diseases that can just live in the environment — even after those dogs are gone.”

For helpful tips and resources from the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, or to find out more about National Train Your Dog Month, click here. To find out how to bring your new pet to see Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto of Cinema Veterinary Centre, click here.