Have you made your New Year Resolutions yet?

So, here we are in 2012! Hopefully you're feeling inspired by the new year and the fresh start that accompanies it, and have written yourself a few goals and resolutions to aim for. Mine include getting fitter before the Spring so I can do my best by Whirligig when we start our agility competitive career in March!

What about your dog training resolutions? Have you thought of something you'd like to aim for or improve upon with your dog? Fancy taking up a new hobby? We've got some new stuff on offer to fulfil your doggy resolutions!

• Want to take up a new hobby and enjoy time with your dog? Try out our Foundation Agility class.
•  Want to improve your dog's recall skills, responsiveness or your relationship? Sign up for our new 4 week 'Recall and Relationship Building' course.
• Is your kid a keen dog enthusiast and budding trainer of the future? We have a half term 'Kids and their K9s' workshop planned for Feb.

The new year can be a great time to take stock of your dog's behaviours and think about what you'd like to see improved and how you might get there. Think of a behaviour you'd like to see improved, think about what your ideal response would be, and then think about what currently interferes with it or stops it happening. Once you know where you're starting from, what you're aiming for, and what distractions you need to train against, you can then begin to formulate a training plan to build that desired response. And if you need a hand with that plan, contact us or your local dog trainer!

Happy New Year, one and all. I'm looking forward this year to continuing to build Four Paws One Direction into a successful training business with proven results, to starting Whirli's competitive agility career, to further expanding my knowledge base through working with some great trainers, and to completing Lauren Langman's Accredited Agility Instructor Level 2 course at the end of the year! Cheers!

 Prim taken by Pets 'n' Pictures