Train Your Dog to Stay
As a professional dog trainer, if I had to narrow down the top behavior all dogs should know, I would say parking your dog would be the first one! Trust me, “Come When Called” is probably right up there with “Park Your Dog.” However, this behavior will teach your dog to stay with you.
“Park Your Dog” is a great way to bring your dog’s arousal level down. It’s like taking a yoga breath for your dog.
Why Should I “Park My Dog”?
“Park Your Dog” is a great way to bring your dog’s arousal level down. It’s like taking a “yoga breath” for your dog. Use this dog behavior when your dog becomes overwhelmed by visitors or anything, really! When teaching hyperactive dogs to be calm, many folks ask them to sit still. This is tough, as they are learning how to manage their extra energy and excitement. So next time your dog tries to jump on guests, “park your dog.”
Just by teaching your dog this simple behavior, your dog will learn
- Self control (teaching your hyper dog to relax)
- Polite greetings of people (not to jump on people or you)
- Polite leash manners (not pull on the leash)
- Ignore other dogs
- Stay with you
- Prevent excessive barking
How do I teach “Park Your Dog”?
- Step on your leash (about half way up to your dog, your dog should have 3 feet of extra leash).
- Click and treat your dog the instant the leash becomes loose. Tip: instead of watching your dog, feel when the leash tightens and loosens under your feet. The moment you feel slack in the leash, Click and treat!
- That’s it! Bingo, you are rewarding calm and quiet behavior!
Additional Troubleshooting:
- Dog still jumps up on you, shorten the leash.
- Dog continues to pull on leash, your timing is probably off a bit. Click/treat every time the leash is loose.
- My dog is still pulling, then call their name and click/treat five times in a row. Now you have their attention, so keep their attention by rewarding frequently.
VIDEO: How to Teach “Park Your Dog”
When can you park your dog?
- While talking to someone at the park
- Having guests over
- Outdoor dining
- Paying at the pet store or vet’s office
- During group class lecture, we ask pet parents to “park their dog” while listening to instructions
I want to hear from you! When should you park your dog?