Is your dog always on the go?
In our quest for a calm companion, one of the most important skills we can teach our dogs is how to self-settle. Instead of barking for attention, pacing, or causing mischief, the goal is to help your dog develop the natural ability to relax peacefully on their own. It’s a game-changer for a calm and happy home.
Here is my guide to nurturing this crucial life skill in your dog.
Creating the right environment for calm
Genuine settling comes from building good habits, not just giving commands. It starts with setting up your home and routine for success.
1. Empower your dog to make good choices
From the very start, manage your puppy’s environment with baby gates, crates, and pens. This not only keeps them safe but also limits their options, making a good choice—like settling down for a nap—much more likely. The goal is to guide them, not constantly direct them.
2. Let them choose their comfy spot
While a designated bed is great, allow your dog the freedom to settle where they feel most comfortable, whether it’s their bed, the rug, or a cool patch on the floor. The magic happens when they learn to settle because they *choose* to, not just because they are told to.
3. Balance enrichment with rest
Ensure your dog gets plenty of enrichment through walks, training, and play. But just as importantly, encourage rest when you’re not actively engaged. Temporarily putting toys away can help signal that it’s downtime, making them special for your focused interaction.
Using the right tools, mindfully
Mental stimulation is fantastic, but it needs to be balanced. Here’s how to use common tools to encourage calm, not create a dog that’s always expecting the next activity.
4. Use the “Leave It” cue to interrupt and redirect
A rock-solid “Leave It” cue is more than just a safety command; it’s a powerful tool for calm. You can use it to interrupt unwanted behaviours like chewing on the furniture or pestering for attention. Once interrupted, you can then guide your dog towards a better choice, like settling down with a chew.
5. Use food puzzles to encourage calm
I’m a big fan of using a filled Kong or a similar long-lasting chew to build good settling habits. A great routine is to give your puppy their filled Kong in their crate right after a walk. This teaches them to switch from high arousal to a calm, focused activity.
6. Don’t create an overstimulated athlete
Resist the urge to tire your dog out with constant, high-intensity exercise. This can accidentally create a super-fit “athlete” who struggles to switch off. It’s crucial to provide plenty of opportunities for your dog to simply do nothing, as this is when they rest and recover.
Need a little extra help?
If you’re struggling with a dog or puppy who just can’t seem to settle, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common challenges I help owners with. A One-to-One Session is the perfect way to get a personalised plan and bring some much-needed calm into your home — get in touch with me today.
