How often do you intentionally incorporate stationary work into your work with your dog?
Not sure what stationary work is or how to do it?
Stationary work exercises can help our pups build neutrality, confidence, impulse control, engagement, and more. Let's dive more into what it is, how to do it, and some variations you can try today.
Stationary work in dog training refers to working in a specific location in order to achieve desired results. Stationary work can be easily incorporated into your day by simply taking a few moments to slow down, pause, and take in the world alongside your pup. Stationary work can help your dog build calm energy, confidence, and neutrality, amongst a variety of environments and distractions.
One of the simplest stationary work exercises you can do is to simply sit somewhere with your dog and allow them to observe. No talking, cuing, or greeting of other dogs or humans during this time- the goal is simply to allow them to take in their surroundings and learn that it's all no big deal. If/ when your pup offers calm behavior, you can praise and reward this.
When you first begin this exercise, choose low distraction environments where your pup can observe the environmental distractions from a distance where they are under threshold. For example, stationary work outside of a dog park is an excellent idea, however you want to set your dog up for success by beginning in lower distraction environments, such as in one of your building's community spaces where there is little foot traffic. Observe from a distance and slowly add challenge by moving to more distracting and busy environments, such as your buildings' lobby, at a park, nearby a sports game, or a distance from the dog park. Look for opportunities to praise and reward calm behavior.
If you'd like to take this exercise a step further, you can Mark and Reward each time your pup looks to you/ checks in with you in order to encourage choosing engagement with you over the external distractions in your chosen environment, like squirrels, dogs, kids, scooters, etc.
Keep in mind that dog's do not generalize well, and so it is important that we practice this skill, and all other training we are doing with them, in a vast variety of environments and scenarios in order to help them Proof their skills. (If you want to learn more about Proofing your dog's skills, refer back to our Blog Post on Proofing https://www.choosetoliveengaged.com/post/proofing-what-it-is-why-it-s-a-crucial-component-in-your-pups-training
If you find your pup really struggling to settle, consider offering them a chew, Licki Mat, snuffle mat, or playing the Go
Find game (scatter feed,) to help ease them into calm, observing behavior. Each of these activities can help sooth a pup and regulate their emotions, just be sure that while they are enjoying these highly valued resources that no one, dog nor human, is allowed to come anywhere near them. We do not want to give our dog's a reason to feel like they need to guard their resources. If someone begins to approach, calmly stand up, using a Body Block to non-verbally advocate for you and your pup's space, while verbally communicating to the human that you are training and would really appreciate ample space to set your dog up for success. If the thought of asserting a boundary in this way feels scary or foreign in any way, be sure to practice prior to needing the skill. It is our job to be our dog's advocate and not give them reasons to feel like they need to do it themselves with a snarl, growl, nip, bite, etc. (all dog communication asking for space or letting someone know they're not interested in their behavior, in this scenario.)
(Check out our blog on Body Blocking here: https://www.choosetoliveengaged.com/post/skill-breakdown-body-blocking-in-positive-reinforcement-dog-training )
Once you have practiced this skill with your pup a handful of times, from 3 minutes-30 minutes each session, you can take it a step further and help your pup build impulse control in a stationary cue, (such as Place, Down, Sit, etc.) Having your pup perform a known cue, such as Place, while doing stationary work gives them the opportunity to Proof their Place cue, build neutrality around distractions, and build engagement with you. Additionally, any time you are spending time engaging with your dog, through training, feeding, playing, etc. you are further building your relationship and your bond with your dog, thereby supporting their mental and emotional health.
Dogs, like humans, thrive in rich social relationships, especially those within their immediate family.
If you'd like to learn more about Proofing your pup's Place cue in this way, check out our blog on Brunching with your Bestie, where we encourage utilizing a Place cue to help them settle in a brunch/ brewery/ patio type setting. https://www.choosetoliveengaged.com/post/brunching-with-your-bestie-how-to-set-fido-up-for-success-while-brunching-around-swdc
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