Okay. Summer is here and no matter how many times you go to the beach, go for a walk in the woods or hit the local dog park, it is inevitable that the summer blahs will set in. The “Dog Days of Summer” can get to be boring, especially for our favorite pups.

Well, we have a cure for the summer blahs, and we call it “Back to the Basics”. Let’s forget about learning fancy tricks or advanced training techniques for now. We’re talking about reinforcing all of those great behaviors that your dog learned way back in puppy school, but has since forgot (or gotten rusty). That’s right, it’s time to work on the big three: “Sit”, “Stay” and “Come”. But this time, let’s get them down PERFECT.

So grab some Dog Treats, a Long Line Training Leash (if needed), and work on those basics. See how long your dog can stay in a “sit”. If you have a tough time getting your dog to come in from the yard, why not try Teaching Your Dog To Come When Called? It’s a fun game for both pet and pet owner. If your dog is doing really well, why not try Teaching Your Dog to Fetch? Make sure to offer lots of rewards, both verbal (praise) and physical (treats and kisses). Lots of dogs (not just retrievers) love to learn how to fetch.

Polishing up on dog training basics is a great way to beat the summer blahs and it helps further the bond between pet and pet owner.