Time Outs

Time Outs in dog training can be very effective (just like parents using for children).  It gives puppy parents another avenue other than punishment.  Dog training has tried very hard over the years to evolve into using much kinder and gentler methods.

Generally you would want to pick two separate words and decide on them as a family, before starting the process.  The first word to choose is a "Warning" word, like "Enough".  The second word to pick is a "Time Out" word like "Bummer" or "Time Out" or "You Loose". 

You will use the "Warning" word when you want to give your puppy a heads up if he continues the undesired behavior, a "Time Out" is the next thing that will occur.  Once the puppy starts to learn the warning word, you will see the undesired behavior stop without an Time Out ever occurring.  An example would be, you are on the phone and the dog keeps pushing for your attention, dropping a toy in you lap, and making it impossible to concentrate.  You would give you warning word first "Enough" (low deep growly tone).  If he persists, then use your Time Out word and follow up by a Time Out.  (Thus he starts to learn there are limits, when he pushes you will warn first, then if persists you follow through with a Time Out).  This allows the puppy to learn when enough is enough and when he is about to overstep your patience.

The other options is if an undesired behavior has occurred and you believe it deems an immediate "Time Out" you would only use your Time Out word followed immediately by the Time Out.  Lets say you are walking down the hall and your dog decides to do a playful attack your ankles or a jump and butt bite, that would be an instant "Bummer" (Time Out word), low deep growly, evil parent upset look, and follow through with the time out.

Time Outs are very short, 60 seconds to 2 minutes maximum.  For Time Outs, you are not mad, not angry or upset, no scolding while in route to a time out area.  For Time Outs you could chose to take yourself into another room an close the door, or attach the dog to a door knob on a leash for example (while you simply walk a short distance away, stand, and give the puppy no eye contact or verbal attention~you are still present to make sure they stay safe while teathered!).  The idea is either the dog looses it's freedom temporarily or what it wants most at that moment which is your attention.

I do not suggest you use Crates or Exercise Pens for Time Outs, as these are always supposed to be happy places (Time Outs quickly defeat that thought for your puppy).  Also for Time Outs to be effective they need to be instant, if you have to take them multiple rooms away to give a time out, they have long since forgotten what the Time Out was about.

Cindy C. Smith, The Right Steps, 916-966-6883,

www.therightsteps.com

© 2007 The Right Steps & Cindy C. Smith. All rights reserved.

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