Is your dog or puppy underfoot in the kitchen? Annoying you when you are trying to sweep? The first step is to meet their needs for physical and mental exercise (see our post on turning mealtime into puzzle time).
Teaching your dog to enjoy hanging out on a relax-mat or dog bed is the next step.
A designated parking place keeps puppy from being a pest.
See how Lilly's mat practice helped her learn to leave the broom alone while I sweep. At first I tried without a mat and she had a very hard time relaxing. I introduced the mat at about 1:45 in this video:
Learning voluntary relaxation can reduce anxiety and promote better mental health
Dogs appreciate predictability. When they're not sure what to do in a given situation, especially if they're getting scolded, anxious feelings can arise. When they learn that they get good stuff for relaxing on their mat, it becomes a desirable place to hang out. They get the pleasure of knowing what to do, they benefit from the good feelings that become associated with the mat, and you get to enjoy the company of a calm dog who is not interfering with your activities
If you'd like to teach your puppy or dog to love relaxing on a mat, here are the initial steps.
Next, you would build duration, distance and resistance to distractions.
Do you need training help?
I'm happy to help you get through any training snags. You can schedule coaching sessions or even have me do the training for you. I have lots more in my toolbox to help you develop enjoyable life with your puppy or dog. See our Home Page to learn more.
Comentarios