STOP Exciting Your Puppy: How to Foster Calm and Control with The Bonnies Method
Introduction:
I have written other articles on this subject so feel free to review those too. Bringing a new puppy into your home is one of the most exciting experiences for a family, but many new puppy owners and their families may unintentionally create short, medium and/or long-term behavioral issues by constantly engaging and exciting their puppies. At Bonnie's Dog Obedience and Puppy School, we focus on very "positive balanced training methods" that foster calmness and self-control in puppies. Over-stimulating a puppy, much like over stimulating children with excessive screen time or video games, can leave them unable to unwind and "turn off." The quick fix becomes a craving - direct brain stimulation, which the puppy can NEVER understand. Puppies need to learn how to be relaxed and calm, and that’s what The Bonnies Method is all about.
In this article, we’ll explore how to stop exciting your puppy, focusing on using safe spaces, including the "foot-on-the-lead technique," to ensure your puppy develops into a calm, well-adjusted dog.
Why Over-Excitement Leads to Long-Term Issues: When families come home from school or work, or just get up in the morning, their first instinct is often to greet their puppy with excitement and joy. But this enthusiastic engagement will often cause puppies to become overly excited as well, keeping them in a constantly “on” state. Just like overstimulated children who struggle to wind down after playing video games or watching TV, puppies that are always engaged struggle to relax and settle.
Without time to unwind, puppies can develop behaviours such as hyperactivity, separation anxiety, and destructive tendencies. The key to preventing this is balance—teaching puppies to switch off and relax when needed. The reality is most people and families engage their puppy all the time. Some parents even let the kids wake up their sleeping buddy, which should never be allowed. Let sleeping dogs lie. It is not unusual for sleeping dogs to bite when they are being stood over or woken abruptly. It does NOT mean the dog is naturally aggressive, but they may bite [without looking]. This is part of the dog's "survival instinct."
Creating Safe Spaces for Calm: To help your puppy unwind, it’s essential to create designated safe spaces where they can disengage. At Bonnie's Dog Obedience and Puppy School, we emphasise the importance of three key spaces that allow your puppy to relax: crates, playpens, and using our "foot-on-the-lead technique."
Crate Training: Establishing a Safe Place for Rest Crate training provides your puppy with a den-like environment where they can retreat for quiet time. At night, or whenever your puppy needs to relax, the crate offers a secure space for them to rest and reset. As mentioned in our crate training guide, ensuring the crate is a positive, calming space is crucial to the success of this technique.
Pro: The crate is the ideal place for your puppy to switch off and sleep well at night. It is for LIFE. It is a NEED of the dog and not a 'nice to have'.
Con: If not introduced properly, the crate may be seen as a punishment, so proper understanding of HOW they should be introduced and used is essential.
Playpen Setup: Freedom within Limits A playpen offers more freedom than a crate while still maintaining boundaries. It’s an excellent option for when your puppy needs space but still requires limits to prevent overstimulation. A well-placed playpen can act as a controlled space where your puppy learns to relax while still having room to explore.
Pro: Allows your puppy the freedom to move while ensuring they stay in a calm, contained environment.
Con: Can be overstimulating if the environment around the playpen is too busy, so maintaining a calm atmosphere is key.
The Foot-on-the-Lead Technique: Part of The Bonnies Method One of the cornerstone techniques of The Bonnies Method, the foot-on-the-lead technique, is a simple yet effective way to teach your puppy how to calm down while staying connected to you. By gently placing your foot on the lead, you restrict the puppy’s movement, signaling to them that it’s time to relax. This method is perfect for use in any environment, whether you’re at home or out on a walk. It must be used when you disengage with the dog. When they are on the leash and your foot is on it - disengage. Only engage if they are barking. If this happens take your foot off the lead to use a gentle correction method.
Pro: A quick and easy way to calm your puppy, especially in overstimulating situations. It acclimates the puppy to the use of the leash and they become accustomed to having a leash on whilst under the human control.
Con: Requires consistency and patience, but the results are well worth the effort.
Teaching Children to Respect Boundaries: Children are often the most excited when a new puppy arrives, but they need to understand that puppies require calm, just like they do. Comparing this to how children need downtime after playing video games or watching TV can help parents explain the concept of rest to their kids.
Teaching children that when the puppy is in their crate, playpen, or when the foot-on-the-lead technique is in use, it’s a signal that the puppy needs time to disengage. These moments are “off-limits” for play and interaction with the children. This helps prevent overstimulation and sets the foundation for a calm, balanced puppy.
The Importance of Positive Balance in Puppy Training: Much like with children, too much excitement and stimulation can lead to difficulties with focus and relaxation. The Bonnies Method emphasises a positive and balanced approach to puppy training, ensuring that engagement and play are mixed with moments of calm and relaxation. The result is a well-adjusted puppy that can handle different environments with ease. As Peter says - it helps to create a bullit proof dog. That is - they are comfortable in their new world and don't stress.
When your puppy is allowed to “turn off” and disengage, they are better able to manage their emotions and behaviors in the long run. Puppies that learn to be calm grow into dogs that can cope with excitement and stress without becoming anxious or destructive.
Further Reading on Puppy Training:To dive deeper into the topics of calming and creating structured environments for your puppy, you can explore more articles on the Bonnie's Dog Obedience and Puppy School website. Articles such as Tick Season in Brisbane or Puppy Crate Training provide valuable insights on other aspects of raising a well-adjusted puppy. These resources can help you build a comprehensive understanding of balanced dog training techniques.
Conclusion: Training a puppy to remain calm and relaxed is key to raising a well-adjusted dog. At Bonnie's Dog Obedience and Puppy School, we focus on creating a balance between engagement and relaxation using safe spaces like crates, playpens, and The Bonnies Method’s foot-on-the-lead technique. Just as overstimulated children need time to unwind, so do puppies. By teaching your puppy to relax and turn off, you’re setting them up for a lifetime of good behavior.
Peter Bonney, Master Puppy Trainer and founder of Bonnie's Dog Obedience and Puppy School, has many years of experience in positively shaping the behavior of puppies. Renowned for his calm and balanced training methods, Peter has developed The Bonnies Method, which focuses on creating well-adjusted, calm dogs through structured environments and techniques such as the foot-on-the-lead method. His expertise and passion for dog training have earned him a reputation as one of Australia's top trainers, helping countless puppies and their families thrive.
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