New Year, New Dog – Obedience Training in Citrus Heights That Actually Works

It’s January. New year. New goals. New energy.
You’re telling yourself things like, “This is the year I get my life together.”
You bought the planner. You downloaded the app. You made promises.

And then your dog ignored the first command of the year like, “Nah, I don’t do resolutions.”

If that sounds familiar, congratulations—you’re human. And your dog? They’re still operating on last year’s rules… which is to say: no rules at all.

At Sit Happens, we hear this every January in Citrus Heights:
“I love my dog… but I’m tired.”
Tired of repeating commands.
Tired of leash pulling.
Tired of jumping, barking, ignoring, side-eyeing you like you don’t know what you’re talking about.

So let’s do something radical this year.
Let’s stop hoping.
Let’s stop bribing.
Let’s stop yelling “SIT” like it’s going to magically work on the 47th try.

Let’s actually train your dog.

🎯 Why January Is Prime Time for Obedience Training

January is underrated. Everyone thinks training is a “spring thing” or a “summer thing.” Nope. January is elite.

Here’s why:

• Holiday chaos is over

• Schedules calm down

• Routines reset

• You’re home more

• Your dog is still riding bad habits from December like it’s a souvenir

This is the perfect moment to say, “Alright buddy. New year. New rules.”

And unlike your gym membership, obedience training actually sticks when done right.

🐕 Let’s Be Honest: Your Dog Isn’t Stubborn—They’re Untrained

People love saying, “My dog is stubborn.”

No.
Your dog is confused.

Dogs don’t speak English. They speak patterns. Repetition. Consistency. Clear boundaries. And if commands change every day, rules are optional, and “come here” sometimes means “bath time”… yeah, your dog checked out mentally a long time ago.

Obedience training isn’t about domination.
It’s about communication.

At Sit Happens, our in-home obedience training in Citrus Heights focuses on teaching your dog exactly what you want—and teaching you how to reinforce it without turning into a drill sergeant or a snack dispenser.

🏡 Why In-Home Obedience Training Works Better Than Classes

Let’s talk about group classes for a second.

They’re great… in theory.

But your dog doesn’t misbehave in a quiet room full of treats and strangers.
They misbehave:

• In your living room

• On your street

• At your front door

• Around your food

• Around your guests

• On your couch (that they absolutely were not invited onto)

That’s why we come to you.

Training in your home in Citrus Heights means we work with:

• Your real distractions

• Your real schedule

• Your dog’s real habits

• Your actual problem areas

No pretending. No “they’ll behave here but not at home.”
This is training for real life.

🧠 What Obedience Training Actually Fixes

Let’s be clear—this isn’t about teaching your dog to do party tricks. This is about building a foundation that affects everything.

Obedience Training Helps With:

• Not listening the first (or tenth) time

• Jumping on people

• Leash pulling

• Ignoring recall

• Barking for attention

• Counter surfing

• General “I do what I want” behavior

When obedience improves, everything improves. Walks. Guests. Travel. Even your stress level.

🛠 The Sit Happens Obedience Method

We don’t do cookie-cutter training. Every dog is different. Every household is different. So we tailor everything.

Here’s how it works:

✅ Step 1: Real Assessment

We watch your dog in action. No judgment. Just facts. What commands do they know? Where do they struggle? What’s their energy like?

✅ Step 2: Clear Communication

We clean up your commands. One word. One meaning. One expectation. Dogs thrive on clarity.

✅ Step 3: Consistency & Structure

We help you establish routines that make obedience automatic—not optional.

✅ Step 4: Distraction Proofing

Commands don’t matter if they only work when it’s quiet. We train with real distractions so your dog listens when it counts.

✅ Step 5: Owner Coaching

You’re part of the process. We make sure you know how to reinforce training long after the session ends.

❌ Common Obedience Mistakes (That Everyone Makes)

You’re not bad. You’re just human. But some habits sabotage training fast.

❌ Repeating Commands

“SIT. SIT. SIT.”
If you say it three times, your dog learns they don’t have to listen the first two.

❌ Inconsistent Rules

Couch is allowed sometimes?
Counter surfing is funny sometimes?
Dogs don’t understand “sometimes.” They understand always.

❌ Treat Dependency

If your dog only listens when you’re holding food, they’re not trained—they’re negotiating.

We fix all of that.

🥶 Winter Training = Calm Dogs Indoors

January means more time inside. Less exercise. More energy bottled up.

Without training, that energy turns into:

• Barking

• Chewing

• Zoomies at 9 p.m.

• Ignoring commands entirely

Obedience training gives your dog mental exercise, which is just as important as physical activity—especially in winter.

A mentally tired dog is a calm dog.

📍 Why Citrus Heights Dog Owners Choose Sit Happens

We don’t rush.
We don’t judge.
We don’t disappear after one session and wish you luck.

We build real obedience that lasts.

Our clients in Citrus Heights choose us because:

• Training happens at home

• Plans are customized

• Results are practical

• Dogs actually improve

• Owners regain control

And most importantly—life with their dog becomes easier.

📞 Ready to Start the Year Right?

If you’ve been saying, “I’ll deal with it later,” this is later.

📍 Serving Citrus Heights
📞 Call Sit Happens at (916) 886-9908
🏠 Book your in-home obedience training session today

Let’s make this the year your dog actually listens.
Not sometimes.
Not when they feel like it.
But consistently.

Because “New Year, New Dog” isn’t just a cute phrase—it’s a plan.

TL;DR – Start the Year With Control, Not Chaos

• January is the best time to train

• Obedience affects every behavior

• In-home training works where it matters

• Sit Happens delivers real results

• Your dog can absolutely improve

This year?
You’re not chasing your dog.
You’re leading them.

And that’s a resolution worth keeping. 🐾