Health & Fitness
Ask Dr. Wan: "Help! My Dogs Won't Calm Down!"
A Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist answers a reader's question about dogs who won't settle down in the house.
"Hi, Dr. Wan. I have two English bulldogs. My girl is 4 years old, and my boy is 1. When they are both inside, it's crazy play rolling, biting, and chasing. How can I get them both to calm down a little in the house? Also, jumping on the couches needs to stop. HELP." - Cathy
Sounds like your dogs are having quite a fun time with each other...and exasperating their owner in the process! First, I would recommend increasing exercise so that they are tired when they are together in the house. Aim for aerobic, run-your-heart-out exercise, rather than just low-key walks. Playing fetch, for example, can be a good form of aerobic exercise for dogs who enjoy the game.
For your own sanity and to help your dogs practice calm behavior, it might also be helpful to implement some quiet, alone time for the dogs. If they are crate trained, you could place them each in their own crates with a food-stuffed Kong or chew, so that they look forward to their quiet time. If they are not crate trained, you could also use baby gates or tethers (e.g. tying a long leash to a piece of furniture) to separate them for quiet time.
Be sure to reward your dogs for the calm, relaxed behavior that you want to see. There are a variety of possible reinforcers, but we often use treats since most dogs are naturally very motivated by food. If you would like your dogs to settle at your feet, rather than run wildly and jump on the couch, reward them frequently for lying down at your feet. If you would rather see your dogs hang out on their beds instead of the couch, reward them for going to their beds and settling down there.
Doing some basic training in the house will also help keep the dogs focused on you in a calm, structured manner. Work on “sit,” “down,” “come,” and “go to your bed/crate” with the dogs separately, as well as one at a time. Teach your dogs to come when called in the middle of play; they can learn to interrupt play and put the focus back on you. Lastly, help the dogs understand that play sessions have a clear start and end point by saying "go play" at the beginning and "go to your bed/crate" at the end.
Dr. Michele Wan, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, prevents and addresses behavior problems in dogs using force-free techniques. She has a special interest in dog-child relationships and bite prevention. She earned her doctorate and researched dog-human communication at Columbia University. Please visit dogbehavioranswers.com for answers to common training and behavior questions, as well as information about services offered. Dr. Wan can be reached at (203) 227-DOGS (3647) or info@dogbehavioranswers.com.
