Mazzy is my personal chocolate lab, and she will be 2 years old this weekend. She is incredibly obedient and super driven. She has high energy, and we work her daily to keep her fulfilled emotionally and physically.
I can take Mazzy anywhere, and I can engage her in a game of tug, fetch, search, etc. These are active activities. We are absolutely adding training elements into each of these engagements. On the flip side, I also have to continue to train her to be still, focused and calm.
One of the missing pieces for many families is teaching their dog an “off” switch. That isn’t just about sending your dog to a spot and asking them to be still, when nothing is happening. I can certainly manage Mazzy’s emotional state of mind, by asking her not to move, while the world stops around her. More importantly, I may send her to a spot and ask her to observe, while life is happening around her. This is the real game changer.
When teaching and cultivating calmness, we want to practice those skills in the lowest level of distraction possible. The house is quiet, not a lot of movement from family, friends or other pets. As the skill becomes set, we want to challenge and employ her to control her state of mind and build self restraint.
Today, I simply asked her to go hang on the ottoman, while I took out some pups and then I prepared her meal. She’s on a raw diet, so it takes me a little bit of time to prep her meal. At the end of the session, she ate her meal and then took a nap. Why? Because I asked her to calm her brain. Being creative in working with your dog can build a bond that is unimaginable.tag
