How to make your dog behave in public

Before you venture out into public, you need to brush up on basic skills. Your dog needs to be exposed to different stimuli.

Find a pet-friendly location and always have your training bag ready. Be aware of any potential hazards in the area. Public Speaking Tips: Preparation is the best defense.

Learn the basic commands

The first step is to teach your dog some simple instructions. When you walk your dog, he must remain under your control. This means more than just keeping him on a leash.

You are putting your dog, yourself and others at risk if he is unable or unwilling to listen to full commands given to him. Our dogs benefit greatly from learning the following commands: “sit”, “stay”, “lie down”, “quiet” and “don’t jump”.

Burn off your dog's extra energy!

You will be surprised how many dog owners do not think about this, even though it seems obvious. It will be difficult for your dog to maintain a calm demeanor when confronted with unfamiliar people and other animals in a new environment.

Before you take your dog for a walk, plan an activity that will help him burn off some of his extra energy. This will help him relax, make the experience more enjoyable, and teach him how to behave when he is allowed to come along.

Bella was always an energetic puppy who wanted to play and socialize with others constantly during her first months. While I could have just as quickly taken her somewhere and fought with her the entire time to keep her in line and at home, I instead began to tire her out before I took her out.

When I went out to dinner with friends, I would take her to the dog park an hour early to let her socialize with the other dogs. When I went to the brewery with her, I would take her for a few miles of walking just before I went. She was perfectly well-behaved as long as she was sleep-deprived or otherwise exhausted. Once she learned to sit still when she was out with me, I stopped planning activities in advance.

Use a “distractor” for your dog

Bringing a distraction is essential if you have a young puppy or a dog that has trouble settling down or gets restless when left alone. Peanut butter chews and Kongs are some of my favorites.

When I gave Bella a bone from my bag when she got restless while eating, I will always remember the look on my boyfriend's face. Bella was busy right away and stayed busy for hours afterward; even though it probably looked funny.

My boyfriend and I jokingly compared it to giving newborns pacifiers to keep them from crying. Choose a distraction that won’t annoy the people around you when you make your choice. In other words, maybe don’t bring that squeaky toy.

Bring rewards for good behavior

Make sure you have treats on hand to reward good behavior in public, just as you would reward your dog for sitting when asked or going into his crate when asked. Smell training treats are my favorite.

Create a “Training Bag”

Organize and stock your training bag before you leave. This should be a compact backpack, not a bag, so that you have your hands free to maneuver the leash and treats for your dog. Towels, poop bags, a treat bag, snacks, your clicker, a clean water bowl, and anything else you might need should always be in there.

Dog walks and training can be made more accessible by dividing this bag into a “training” and “outings” section so you have fresh water and treats on hand along the way. Have cash and an empty plastic food bowl if you need to pay and leave a restaurant quickly.

Watch out for dangers

Avoid the chemical and fertilizer aisles in hardware stores so your dog doesn't come into contact with them, as they could ingest them if they lick their paws.

Before your dog eats something that could cause an allergic reaction or stomach upset, check under the table to make sure no food or trash has fallen there. If you want to prevent your dog from stealing things from the store shelves that you have to pay for, you need to focus all your attention on him and not on other people.

Find a pet-friendly accommodation

Many businesses, including sporting goods stores, hardware stores, home improvement centers, and bookstores, allow you to bring your dog, so you can try taking your dog to one of these locations to see how he reacts. Additionally, there are more and more restaurants and cafes that are pet-friendly, so you might consider checking them out.

Conclusion

Getting your pets used to different locations is not as difficult as most pet owners think. It is crucial to consider all the ideas and activities described above. This will make the training process easier, less time-consuming and more enjoyable for your pet.

You may not want to waste any more time now that you know more about the things you can – and should – do. Start with the first piece of advice we gave you: make sure your dog knows most of the commands. Work your way up from there.