Teach your dog to be calm
For dogs that like to eat objects or wreak havoc in the home, the best approach is to use strategies that make it impossible for them to perform the behaviour. Combining these strategies with training and rewarding calm behaviours can go a long way. In this article, we'll cover strategies you can use at home to help your dog stay calm and relaxed indoors.
Strategies to prevent problem behaviours
When we talk about strategies around problem behaviours, we are simply talking about making it impossible for the dog to perform the behaviour. Below are three simple strategies to use in your everyday life.
Set aside an area in your home where your dog won't be able to find things to chew on or bite. You can do this both when you can't keep an eye on your dog and when you're at home. Dogs do not always have to be present and have access to every part of a home. It may even cause your dog to experience too high a stress level if it is not confined to a smaller area of the home. But this is of course individual and you should look at your dog's needs. Something to consider is giving your dog the opportunity to chew on chew bones or have toys to chew on inside the enclosure.
Teach your dog his place on the bed
Teaching your dog to lie on the bed and stay there until you give it another task is a smart way to prevent a range of problem behaviours. Here's a video that gives you the first steps to teaching your dog to go to his bed. Extend this training gradually and remember that the bed should always be a positive place for your dog to rest. Not a punishment. The goal is simply for your dog to choose the bed when it needs it.
Remove anything that could be dangerous
Remove anything that could be dangerous
It's important to remove tempting items, especially when you can't supervise your dog. Items that can cause gastrointestinal problems if ingested include socks, underwear, sticks, small dog toys, plastic packaging, and cords. Identify potential hazards in your home and remove them before they cause harm.
Calm dogs exhibit fewer problem behaviours
A calm, well-adjusted dog is less likely to exhibit problem behaviours. This is something we can teach them! Using a three-step model, we can train and reward calm behaviours indoors. Here's how it works.
The three-step model for calmer dogs involves creating a daily routine that alternates between three types of activities to encourage calm behaviours. We want our dogs to offer calm behaviours indoors through training and by rewarding calm actions. Join us! It’s easy to integrate this model into your daily life :)
1. Passive engagementthis article you have more options on ways to enrich your dog's behavioural needs.
Passive engagement means giving your dog opportunities to fulfil their behavioural needs in a calm and settled way. This isn't about high-energy training, but helping your dog adopt calmer behaviours. Provide opportunities for chewing, finding hidden treats, or licking from a mat or frozen Kong daily. Observe your dog's behaviour to identify activities that keep them calm. What they practise, they get good at! In
2. Active rest
This part of the model focuses on giving your dog the opportunity for complete rest. The aim is to reduce the dog's choices, making rest the primary focus. This could involve confining the dog to a comfortable room, using a playpen, or placing them on their designated bed after training them to rest there until released. Ensure bed training is always a positive experience, encouraging your dog to rest there willingly.
3. Calm rewards
Offer calm rewards when you want your dog to settle. This could mean gently placing a treat on their bed or offering a chew toy without getting overly excited yourself, which could affect your dog. You can also use this step to spontaneously reward calm behaviours. If your dog is resting calmly on their bed or the sofa, give them a treat they barely notice. The more we teach our dogs that calm behaviour leads to positive outcomes, the more likely they are to offer it. When your dog is relaxed, reward that behaviour.
