Happy New Year!

It's that time of year again when everyone sets unrealistic goals that result in us being completely discouraged and eventually giving up, only to try again next January.  Statistically, you won't slim down to your high school weight (sorry), nor will you only eat fruits and vegetables, go jogging five days a week, be more productive at work, quit smoking cold turkey, or whatever it is you've promised yourself you're going to accomplish this year.  Not because you don't want it enough, but simply because our goals and expectations far outstrip our real-world capabilities.  In dog training, this is usually referred to as setting the dog up to fail.  The idea is simple... if you do everything in your power to ensure that the dog actually knows what you want and is capable of doing it, the dog will be more likely to succeed.  Duh.  The same principle is used in all aspects of dog training, although how they are applied may be different.  Teaching a dog to sit, you use luring to get the dog into the position you want.  Resource guarding, you start small - give the dog something very low value, not worth much to the dog, and give him a super duper awesome reward for deciding to give it to you.

So, my wish for you all is that you set yourselves up to succeed at whatever it is you want to accomplish this year.  Keep your goals realistic, and realize that it might take a lot of smaller steps before you run the whole marathon.

As for me... I'm focusing on system-based things this year, rather than results-driven goals, and they say that you're more likely to stick to your resolutions if you share them, so here are mine:

1.  Be more consistent with Snowball's training, especially his reactivity.  2013 was alternately an awesome year and a terrible one - by July, his leash-reactivity was almost completely eliminated.  Then he went to stay with the in-laws while we renovated, and then at the kennel while we were away getting married, and it didn't get worked on regularly for months, and now he's almost back where he started.  Eliminating his reactivity for good will happen when it happens (and it may never happen) - I don't have 100% control over that.  What I do have control over is how often and how much effort I put into working on it.

2.  Work on becoming a  better communicator, both with dogs, and with people.

3.  Drink more water.  Specifically, drink a glass of water first thing in the morning and right before bed every day.

4.  Get at least 30 mins of exercise most days of the week.  (Note to future me: This does not mean that going to the gym for 60 minutes one day counts as the amount for 2 days!)  Thankfully having a dog makes this one easy.

5.  Bake more bread, so that I can get better at it.  Just like dogs, experience is the best teacher.

6.  Spend more time with Snowball.  Specifically, I want to take a beginner agility class, and I plan on going to the off-leash park every chance I get.  With no more courses to take for my degree, there are no excuses!

What are some of your resolutions/goals for the year?