03/11/2026
Is your dog able to settle in public?
If this is something you want, then you need to actively train this. For high energy breeds doing nothing is hard, but it is something you can make easier for them by teaching them the habit of doing so.
So what does that look like?
My recommendation is always to start this training as young as possible and build this habit. If you’ve missed that boat and your dog is struggling a lot with this, by struggling I mean barking, chewing the lead, generally finding it hard to self settle - these dogs may require a slightly different approach in the beginning with some help in form of chews and long lasting stuffed kongs until they have the skills to regulate and switch off. Then I’d move into doing nothing training.
Ever just sat with your dog? Not giving them much attention but letting them observe?
When we teach dogs to settle we get so focused on the end picture and ask the dog to lie down, and get frustrated if they keep getting up. But what if they don’t want to lie? Something might be making them feel uneasy in the environment, making relaxing hard or the ground could be cold - there could be many more reasons… my point is don’t get so fixated on the lying down part - as long as your dog seems mostly calm that’s a great starting point.
Watch them relax on their own and make a decision to lie down when they feel safe to do so and can relax in that environment.
Have you taught your dog to do nothing yet?
If not. Start small. Stop on your walks and spend a few mins just hanging out on a bench or a bus stop. Then move on, gradually increase your duration.
