Dogs feel comfortable with routine and consistency
- Get into a predictable, structured routine as soon as you can.
- Be consistent – things must always be allowed or never be allowed, such as are they allowed on the sofa or not?
- Make sure your dog has a quiet place to retreat to if necessary and never disturb them when they are there. Some dogs like crates, but this needs to be trained specifically. » Click here to see our advice on crate training.
- Sniffing and chewing are calming behaviours for dogs, so give them lots of long lasting chews or Kongs, and throw treats on the floor for them to sniff out.
- Do lots of games that require your dog to think. Mental stimulation tires dogs out as much as a short walk! » Click here to read about some thinking games for dogs.
- Keep to quiet walks (see below) and build up to busier walks as you get to know each other.
What is a 'quiet walk'?
A quiet walk is where you will probably only see one or two other dogs or people at the most, and there is very little traffic. Usually these are countryside or woodland walks, rather than parks.
An alternative is secure dog fields – you can hire these for set times, safe in the knowledge that no other dog will be there. You can practice recall training or just enjoy your time together.
» Click here to go to the Dog Walking Fields website to find a field close to you