Ready to teach your dog to be calm?
This exercise aims to teach our furry friends how to relax, settle down, and maybe even take a nap while we’re occupied. It comes in handy in various scenarios, like when you have a Zoom meeting with your boss, grab a bite at an outdoor cafe, or unwind after a long work day. Moreover, it greatly helps high-energy or restless dogs learn to calm themselves and self-soothe.
What is the ‘do nothing’ exercise?
This exercise was adapted from the teachings of Sue Sternberg, a renowned trainer who collaborates with a large shelter/rescue system. According to Sue, for a dog to be considered a ‘good dog,’ 90% of its time should be spent indoors doing absolutely nothing. It’s not a reflection of inadequate dog ownership but rather a realistic portrayal of actual life. Not every moment can be devoted to exercise and training. As a result, companion dogs often spend the majority of their time indoors without any particular activity to engage in.
Importance of Adequate Exercise (both physical + mental)
It is imperative to highlight the significance of providing ample mental stimulation, exercise, and training for our beloved dogs. That being said, many dogs still have idle time on their paws despite fulfilling these essential needs. This exercise effectively instills a sense of calmness and teaches dogs and puppies to settle down and unwind when necessary.
In this exercise, we won’t explicitly tell our dogs to lie down or calm down. Instead, we want them to learn that they will be rewarded if they lie down or act calm. Trained this way, we won’t always have to instruct them what to do – they’ll comprehend that relaxation is expected when they are being ignored. This is called ‘Capturing the Behavior.’
Where to do the “TEACH Your Dog to Be Calm” exercise
Find a quiet indoor area, such as a bathroom or bedroom. As your dog improves and you become adept at doing this exercise, you can practice in front of the TV. Bathrooms are particularly suitable for this exercise because they offer a dull environment with minimal distractions. They’re also equipped with a comfortable seat! That being said, any puppy-proofed area of the home will work.
What do you need?
- You don’t need a lot! All you’ll need is:
- A leash
- A blanket, towel, or mat to serve as bedding
- Something entertaining for yourself (a book, phone, etc.)
Here’s the ‘Do Nothing’ training exercise:
1) Bring your furry companion to a quiet indoor area with no distractions and things they can get into (as mentioned, bathrooms work well).
2) Place the bedding at the foot of a chair or seat and take a seat yourself.
3) Neatly fold the leash into pleats until it resembles an accordion, and sit/hold it. There should be about 12 inches from where it meets your dog’s neck, allowing very little room for wandering. At the same time, there isn’t any tension on the leash (unless your dog tries to pull/go somewhere else)
4) Don’t look at your dog or make eye contact. You can look at your dog from your peripheral vision or look at your phone. Try to act as normal as you can.
5) Ignore all of your dog’s actions. Fortunately, with limited leash space, they won’t be able to jump too far. Additionally, the limited leash length restricts their movement, so they aren’t able to go bug the cat or try to get into the trashcan and/or do anything else mischievous!
6) Now, let’s shape ‘calm’ behavior. You’re trying to capture ANY behavior that was calmer than before. For example, if your dog is howling/barking at you, you’re looking for a short quiet moment. If your dog is pacing, or walking around, try to find a moment when your dog stops. When this happens, you’ll calmly place a treat below them on the ground each time you reinforce. Don’t mark or say anything exciting – remember: we’re trying to promote calm behavior 🙂
7) If your dog happens to lie down, make sure you’re giving them 5-6 consecutive treats to reinforce them staying in the down position.