how to create a safe place for your dog
Is your dog fearful of loud noises or events, such as thunderstorms, fireworks, or even the vacuum cleaner? Is your dog fearful of certain people, like children or strangers? Creating a safe place where your dog can escape can help reduce your dog’s anxiety during stressful situations. It also helps establish clear boundaries—if the dog is in the safe space, the dog needs alone time and does not want to be pet or played with.
To begin, choose a station that is mobile, such as a bathmat, towel, or fleece blanket. In this video, KPA faculty member Debbie Martin demonstrates how to create a positive association with the station through the use of treat toys. Once the safe place has been established as her dog’s happy place, she adds the cue “go hide” and rewards her dog when he settles on the mat. When Debbie’s dog is going to the station on cue reliably, she then generalizes the station to different areas of her home and yard. Now that her dog has an established safe station, Debbie will begin working on desensitization to sounds—stay tuned!
For more tips on how to train better and have fun with your dog, check out KPA’s Dog Trainer Comprehensive course!
Happy Training!