#167 Teach Settle

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Let's talk about something that doesn't get
enough attention in dog trainingTeaching your dog to settle
without being told, not with acue, not because you said go to
your mat or go to place, butbecause they know how to choose
calm on their own.

(00:23):
That's called self-regulationand it's one of the most
valuable skills your dog canlearn.
But most dogs never get therebecause we accidentally train
them to stay in that go, go, go,go go mode.
So here's how to help your doglearn to chill for real.

(00:45):
Step one reinforce calm andquiet.
If your dog is lying nearby,totally relaxed, you can reward
it.
But here's the key do itwithout breaking the moment.
No high-pitched praise, nocalling them over, no sudden

(01:08):
excitement.
Just quietly place a treat nearthem or softly say good in a
low, calm voice, or simply smileat them.
Match their energy, because ifyour reward amps them up their
energy, because if your rewardamps them up, you've
accidentally reinforcedexcitement, not calm, think,

(01:40):
quiet, thoughtful, boring, in agood way.
Step two stop rewarding hyperbehavior by accident.
Let's be honest.
Your dog jumps, you throw theball, they bark, you grab the
leash, they spin in circles andyou say, hey, do you want to go
for a walk and boom.
They've learned that movementand noise gets results.
Instead, try this Only leash upwhen they're calm, pause the

(02:04):
game if they start to get tooamped up and ignore the barking,
but be sure to reward thesilence.
You're not being mean, you'reteaching emotional control.
Step three create predictabledowntime.
Dogs don't naturally chill inchaotic environments, so use

(02:28):
structure the same nap spot, thesame rest times, maybe after
meals or walks, and maybe somelow-key music or a crate with a
fan.
Calm thrives in routine.
And step four let them be bored.

(02:48):
Even if it's a hard thing to do, boredom is not a bad thing,
it's a skill.
Don't feel like you have toentertain your dog all day,
every day.
Let them lie in the sun, sniffthe breeze, do nothing.
But and this can be the trickypart if you have kids dogs look

(03:13):
especially cute when they'reresting, and that's usually when
a kid wants to engage with them, snuggle them, pet them, show
them something.
Or maybe the kids start playingtag just five feet away from
the dog's bed.
It's not anyone's fault, but itdoes make it harder for your
dog to fully relax in a busyhousehold.

(03:35):
So set your dog up for success.
Give them a quiet space a crate, a room with the baby gate or a
no-fly zone for the kids andthen talk to your kids about how
dogs need quiet time too, justlike people.
It helps them feel safe andlearn better manners in the long

(03:55):
run.
True calm needs space to grow,and here's some quick don'ts
grow, and here's some quickdon'ts.
Don't constantly interrupt calmwith new activities and don't
reward the dog who's pesteringfor attention while ignoring the

(04:16):
one who's resting.
And don't assume that play orexercise is always the solution
to energy.
Sometimes they need a nap, nota sprint.
So just remember, obedience ishelpful, but the real goal is a
dog who can relax without beingtold.
That takes patience and ittakes noticing and reinforcing

(04:49):
Reinforcing the quiet momentsover and over again, without
overdoing it.
If you want a dog who knows howto chill, who knows how to
settle, you just have to make itworth their while.