As springtime arrives here in South Florida and the weather starts getting warmer, more people start getting outdoors with their dogs. For those who have not been walking their dogs regularly during the winter, this hopefully means they start doing more walks with their dogs.
While it’s nice that everyone is starting to get out more, it also can bring to light some issues with dogs who don’t have great leash manners or can be reactive toward other dogs or people.
This tends to be the time of year I get the most calls for help with these issues.
In some cases, I see that people have inadvertently taught their dogs to pay attention in the house but not outside. Remember, if you want your dog to listen to you and be tuned in with you in all situations, you need to practice in all situations. As I always say, you Get What You Reinforce.
What’s Different In Public?
It’s not unusual for dogs to lose their minds when they leave home. For a dog, our homes are, well, sorry to say it folks, but: kind of boring.
It’s the same old, same old…
But outside the yard? Now that’s exciting! Different surroundings are exciting! Different surroundings are distracting!
Here’s a good example of how even the tiniest of changes can profoundly impact even our own behavior.
Most of us have a preferred grocery store, maybe a Publix or Winn Dixie or similar. Ever tried doing your grocery shopping at an unfamiliar location of the store? Things might look very similar, but more often than not you may find yourself forgetting a few things you needed, simply because of the slight distraction of being in an unfamiliar place.
What seems like a simple thing can actually be quite distracting. Distracting enough to throw off even us “higher beings.”
So, let’s not label the dogs’ distraction on your walk as “silly,” or as “blowing you off.”
Nope, it’s real distraction!
And distraction (or excitement) means that performance will suffer. That dog that always sits, no matter what? It’ll look like he has selective hearing.
The dog that never jumps, he’ll have his paws all over people. Not because he’s dumb, stubborn, or dominant – just because he’s distracted!
How Do You Get a Dog To Listen Outside?
So how do you help clarify things for your dog, so they expand their contextual understanding to a general understanding? Simply practice the commands they have already mastered in one setting, in a new setting. You may need to take one step back (by lowering the requirement and helping with a food lure) in order to take two steps forward in progress.
Always look to set your dog up for success, by making things easy and building on small wins of success.
Progress gradually
After you’ve taught your dog what he needs to know and he’s aced it at home, it’s time to take that new knowledge out in the world. Here’s where you play a huge part in your dog’s success: you have to ramp up the distractions in teeny-tiny increments.
The responsibility for your dog’s success falls squarely on you at this point. Set your dog up to succeed!
Reward generously
Use top-shelf food, not dry dog food. Don’t even think of using dog treats off of the grocery store shelves, filled with artificial colors and animal by-products. Plus remember, that’s boring and you’re attempting to reinforce a behavior.
Introduce requirements one at a time
It’s unfair to ask your dog for a sit-stay in a distracting environment unless you’ve already taught him how to (1) sit, (2) sit for a long time, (3) sit while something is distracting him, and (4) sit while you’re away from your dog.
Each of those skills needs to be taught separately before you ask your dog to do all of them at once.
Be Patient
Learning to behave properly in public takes time. It takes effort. It takes persistence. It takes a good dog trainer – you!
Be reasonable with your dog and ask him for only what you know he can do. Start in an easy location like your driveway, before you branch out to the local big box pet supply store.
The more you teach your dog, the more places you’ll be able to go together. And isn’t that what having a dog is all about, in the end?
Keep on living life with your best friend!
