Field Trips for Success

Clarice Kashuba February 23, 2018 0 0

If you want your dog to behave at the vet, the lake, and the park (and most of our clients DO want that!) it’s important to practice in a million different locations.

Maybe not a million. Maybe only a hundred thousand.

At Flying Colors we call these trips in new environments “field trips.” I have three main rules to ensure that each field trip is customized for maximum learning and enjoyment.

Rule #1 – I am here for the dog.

Otis at the Pet Store

I’m not at the pet store because I have 10 minutes and need to buy dog food. I’m here for the dog. My number one goal is to focus on the dog. Sounds simple? It is… and it isn’t.

Think about how busy your life is. I’m asking you to truly set aside 20-30 minutes to take your dog to a new place and focus ONLY on your dog.

If having a stranger pet my dog will make her nervous or overly excited, I WILL NOT allow the stranger to pet her. Because I’m NOT here for the stranger’s enjoyment. I’m here for the dog.

Rule #2 – Go as slow as you need to.

I want to see some calmness before I take the dog to the next step. When I get the dog out of the car, he will be really excited. I will walk around in the parking lot until he calms down enough to heel. If he can’t focus in the parking lot, he will NEVER be able to focus in Rural King.

The second step is to move to the sidewalk in front of the store. I walk there until he is able to calm down and heel.

The third step is walking in the door. Yes. Sometimes it takes 3 or 4 tries before we make it through the door. I don’t want to reward pulling by allowing the dog to go inside. So, we rewind and retry.

Patience. Go as slow as you need to.

Remember, you are here for the dog.

Rule #3 – Be consistent but have realistic expectations.

Dobby at the Park

I have made an important observation after training dogs (and taking them on field trips) for over 10 years. DOGS ARE EXCITED TO GO NEW PLACES. That excitement will not go away.

However, the more times you go to new places and the more consistent you are able to be when you ask your dog to mind her manners, you WILL see a positive effect. You will shrink the amount of time that your dog is overly excited.

20 minutes of pulling on the leash? That’s exhausting. By the time my dog has settled down, I’m ready to leave the park. 2 minutes of excitement? I can handle that. I can walk in circles in the parking lot for 2 minutes, then enjoy the rest of the trip.

This means that your dog’s improvement will NOT be immediate. This takes time. Gradually, your dog will calm down more quickly and listen better. But the end result is absolutely worth the effort.

Also, the training part is fun. I love taking my dog to new places. And she loves the one-on-one time with me.

Have fun, focus on your dog, be patient, be consistent, and be realistic. And before you know it… your well behaved dog will be the the envy of everyone at the park.

If you’d like more ideas on pet friendly locations to practice manners, check out my blog Fort Wayne’s Dog Friendly Stores.

Dog training doesn’t always work. Go here and take our 3-day mini-course BEFORE hiring a dog trainer.

Categories: training