Millie, a 2-year-old Havanese, was the focus of a recent Omaha dog training session aimed at teaching her to venture outside independently. This process involved three in-home training sessions, building upon foundational concepts like utilizing marker words to accelerate learning, celebrating desired behaviors to boost confidence, and implementing effective potty training strategies. Millie exhibited characteristics of a “velcro dog,” displaying clinginess and signs of separation anxiety. This often stems from a lack of practice being alone during puppyhood. While showering a puppy with affection is essential, they also need to learn self-reliance. Neglecting this can lead to anxiety when left alone.
It’s crucial to understand that a dog’s insecurity can be triggered by being left alone. Many owners overlook this, labeling a dog’s reluctance to go outside independently as mere annoyance. While understandable, showing frustration is counterproductive if you aim to train a dog to go outside on their own. Your dog can sense your displeasure, which can make them more timid.
A more effective strategy is to simplify the desired behavior into manageable steps. Rewarding your dog for successfully completing each small part of the exercise helps them build confidence and understand your expectations. This approach is equally beneficial for “velcro dogs.” The objective was to create a series of small exercises that would eventually lead Millie to go outside by herself, fostering a desire to explore independently.
Breaking down complex behaviors into smaller, achievable steps makes the training process easier for both the dog and the trainer. Positive dog training emphasizes how small successes accumulate, leading to greater achievements, such as a dog becoming comfortable going outside alone. The core idea is to have the dog practice the initial step repeatedly until they are proficient and at ease. Once mastered, introduce the next step, then practice them sequentially: step 1, then step 2, reinforcing both until step two is as comfortable as the first. Gradually progress to steps 1, 2, and 3, and so on. Training a dog to go outside independently is achievable when training progresses at the dog’s pace.
To ensure Millie’s guardians could easily recall the training steps, a video demonstration was created, showcasing how to assist a dog that is hesitant to go outside alone. This may seem remarkably simple, but many effective positive dog training techniques are designed this way. By simplifying the task, offering rewards, and removing the undesirable aspects, Millie became comfortable venturing outside and spending time there.
Consistent practice is key. Her guardians should implement this exercise several times a day in short, successful sessions to train a dog to go outside on their own. Achieving and then combining small successes is an excellent method for training a dog to go outside independently, or for mastering any other skill.
As Millie begins to associate positive experiences with the outdoors, her confidence will grow, reducing her “velcro dog” tendencies. This method offers a solution for dogs that are reluctant to go outside by themselves. Millie’s comfort in being outside alone will also positively impact her potty training. Once she feels secure when left alone, she will gradually spend more time outdoors. This increases the likelihood of her eliminating in the appropriate place, reinforcing the habit of pottying outside.
While improved potty training is a benefit, the increase in confidence Millie gains through this training is a significant quality-of-life improvement for both dog and owner. Millie’s days of being a velcro dog are numbered.
With favorable weather approaching, it is recommended that guardians practice this exercise 2 to 4 times daily in short, 1-to-5-minute sessions. There’s a limited period where leaving the door open is practical. The more Millie practices going in and out of the open door, the more comfortable and ingrained this behavior will become. After a few weeks of open-door access, Millie will no longer be concerned about the door closing. However, keeping the door open during her excursions, at least for the initial one to three weeks, remains important.
The more time Millie spends exploring outdoors and receiving rewards (like finding treats), the more comfortable she will become venturing out on her own. This increased independence will diminish her velcro dog behaviors. Hopefully, within a year, Millie’s guardians will be sharing stories of how they successfully trained their dog to go outside on their own, rather than experiencing frustration at having to accompany her for every outdoor need.
If you require assistance with dog training, consider contacting a professional.
