It's that time of year... kids are headed back to school! It's the perfect time of year to renew your focus on your dog and refresh their training. Time spent at the bus stop is a great window of opportunity to brush up on commands or get in a play session, without adding any time to your day. Here are three tips to make the most of this time:

1. Pack your dog's breakfast or dinner in a treat pouch! The walk to and from the bus stop, plus the time spent waiting there, is a great opportunity to reward for check ins, practice holding positions, throw in a few recalls, etc. Rather than feeding a boring meal from a bowl, you can add great value to your dog's day by reinforcing good behavior, teaching new behaviors, and building handler engagement. As we always say... be the bowl!

2. Bring a toy! Time spent waiting at the bus stop is the perfect time for a play session with your dog. Chase and catch games might be difficult if you're on a street corner, but you can play a great game of tug with a tug toy, soft frisbee, or ball on string. Playing in a high distraction environment with cars passing and other parents picking up kids is great for building confidence and commitment to the game. Don't forget to throw in some obedience and use your toy as a reward!

3. Add some extra distance! In most cases, bus stops are located fairly close to home. If your dog could benefit from more exercise, leave the house early and take an extra lap around your neighborhood. You can use a flexi leash to allow more freedom, or practice alternating between a heel command and loose leash "let's go" walk.

Don't feel confident taking your dog with you to the bus stop? We'd love to help! Check out our in-person training programs and online courses.