Tether Training for Dogs: Teach Your Dog to Chill Out (the service dog way!)

[@DoggyU]

Tether: amzn.to/3BbwPFO Platform: amzn.to/4ghnXxu Cot: amzn.to/4gimSoU What My Dogs Eat 👇: 🥩 Oma's Pride Raw + Turkey Hearts, Lamb Lung, Chicken Chunks: shop.omaspride.com/doggyu30 Use Code: DOGGYU to get 30% off your first order! #omasaffiliate My FREE and Low-Cost Training Resources 👇: 🦮 Service Dog 101 Course: courses.doggyu.com/p/service-dog-101 🐕‍🦺 Behavior Interruptions & Alerts Course: courses.doggyu.com/p/bia 👉🏽 Sign Up For my FREE Dog Training Foundations Mini-Course: www.doggyu.com/ 🎉 JOIN the DOGGY•U Community! (150+ Exclusive Training Videos!) patreon.com/doggyu

[@susanshimel2358]

I stumbled on this as a general concept when frustrated by my puppy jumping on the couch again and again. I put a leash on him, gave him a chewie and sat in my chair holding the leash while sitting quietly and reading. Now I need to help him settle in his crate during classes.

[@elizabethchaigne9487]

I really appreciate that you make these videos for free! Your tips are great as I train my dog for mobility service.

[@DoggyU]

Thank you Elizabeth 💜

[@Riotingk9]

I get to pick up my service dog prospect on Sunday, I met him last Saturday and I’m so excited. His temperament is amazing; he’s so calm, friendly, and people-oriented. I’ve already said this but thank you so much for making these videos accessible to everyone for free, and since I like them so much I asked to join your patreon for Christmas :] I’m really excited to watch all the videos!!! And Denver is doing amazing!

[@DoggyU]

Yay! I’m so glad that your pup is such a good fit! And thanks for supporting the channel through Patreon! 💜

[@gardendesigntips4945]

you have a wonderful teaching style.

[@DoggyU]

Thank you so much!

[@Faithisfuture]

Rescued several dogs but normally crate trained never even thought of this before thank you for the advice

[@Smokeybluetheraccoon]

Awesome skill! I didn't realize there were issues with feeding while tethered, that's super good to know

[@DoggyU]

Not for all dogs, and it can work with certain setups/protocols, but some dogs really struggle to settle when there is human administered food involved, especially higher end dogs that love working and love to throw behaviors. (And for some dogs that doesn’t matter at all).

[@EdieBrown]

Great tips for my SDIT, especially time of day. She's calm 😄 in the afternoon. We'll start there.

[@DoggyU]

Sounds like a plan!

[@shadylady1503]

This could be really helpful for my Yorkshire Terrier. She has such a hard time settling when I'm around. She's constantly offering behaviour to see if it results in praise or treats.

[@DoggyU]

This protocol is definitely perfect for that. Be sure to start slow and finish before she’s done with her chew project to start.

[@piahammargren5254]

Great! This our biggest challenge so we need more tip. When I shift focus from my dog he start to whining loudly. :( He is one year now so of course it would be better if we taught him this while he was a puppy but we didn’t had the knowledge then, so please please more tips in this area ❤

[@DoggyU]

Hi Pia! What do you mean by "shift focus" away from your dog? In this particular case, we actually never are focusing on our dog. Just giving them the food item and letting them do their thing. If you give me some more info, hopefully I can help!

[@piahammargren5254]

In almost every other situation and with every cue I give my dog, he stays focused-or at least more focused than not. However, when we work on this specific cue, which we call "relax," I've been instructed to ignore him and simply drop treats, as shown in the video. The main challenge is that my attention shifts to something else, like my food, a friend, or my laptop. I place him on his blanket beside me with his leash on, but he starts whining when I don’t give him attention or praise him for how fantastic he is. He’s the first dog I’m training to be a service dog, so this feels like a massive challenge right now-maybe even one we can’t overcome. Yes, I know I’m being dramatic, but that’s how it feels because it’s so overwhelming… ;)

[@DoggyU]

@@piahammargren5254 I noticed you said "drop treats" and "give the cue". There is no verbal cue for this behavior - the context is the cue. And I don't use treats. I give them a chewing project. Also make sure to do this exercise only when your dog is tired if you're struggling with vocalization.

[@piahammargren5254]

Thank you ❤️ I received this tip about not giving him treats from someone else too. We’re continuing on… ;) A big thanks for providing me with such an informative answer! :)

[@LiviAndLace]

I’ve started doing this completely unintentionally with my 1.5 y/o poodle who has difficulty settling! When she seems restless, I grab her slip lead and bring her to the couch. She has begun to associate the slip lead + indoors = calm down time. Not ideal for public settling since I can’t bring two leashes with me - but now I know what to work towards!!! Thank you for the video!!

[@DoggyU]

That's awesome! The one thing is I'd caution against a slip lead unless it's a modified slip (can't tighten enough to accidentally choke them). Using a slip is too much of a risk for tethering. Perhaps a martingale would work well?

[@LiviAndLace]

@@DoggyUGreat idea!!! Thank you for the reply and advice!!!

[@windywilliamson5069]

I have used tethering with my sdit. It has always worked out well as you have described it. 😊

[@tbamstv]

Perfect timing on this video!! Exactly with we are working on right now. ❤😍💕

[@DoggyU]

Awesome!

[@KnL-p8h]

Great tips!

[@DoggyU]

Thank you!

[@CA-kv5wd]

Thank you!

[@DoggyU]

💜

[@DonaldBlair-e5x]

I’m so frustrated that no one told me this earlier. My dog is one year and three months old , Doberman. I read books, and watched every video I could.

[@DoggyU]

It’s not too late to start! ☺️

[@rach496]

This is so helpful. My service dog funny enough settles out in public and in the crate but he doesn’t at home. He wants to just play. And it doesn’t matter how much I exercise him or play with him before hand. I can exercise and play with him for an hour but he still won’t settle inside at home. And it’s just at home, in public, in the car and in the crate perfect settling. We are going to be trying these tips for sure, any other suggestions for my specific case?

[@DoggyU]

I have a settling course in the works, but remember to start slow.

[@rach496]

@ thank you

[@earth2wendy]

Tethering on a short line is not actually something I’ve done (much?). Since enrolling at DoggyU, tho, you can bet I will in the future! A horse trainer once told me tie-stalls are way underutilized. She was a big believer in the calming benefits of tying a horse in a (narrow) stall *with a full manger of hay*, to while away the hot hours of the day when not in active use or training. Your points re: not interacting, not dropping treats, and busying the pup instead with a long-lasting consumable treat (not a Nylabone, etc.) are well-taken. I was shocked to hear about Whip’s months-long puppy hyperactivity! That must’ve been rough! Thanks so much for all the tips and the “whys” for tethering-what a great training tool & life skill!

[@DoggyU]

Oh yes, whip was a menace as a puppy. 😂😂 maybe I should stop buying such high-energy dogs … I’ll learn someday 😂😂

[@KS-ph5ci]

@@DoggyU I always say I'll learn that about rabbits but I see one needing a qualified home and here we go again. My vet loves me. I always bring him something more exotic than the last. 🤣

[@tonyamcb]

Couple questions. I'm still prepping for my puppy. How long do you tether them to start. 12 week rescue. How often during the day? Are there more videos available that goes further in depth?

[@DoggyU]

The hard thing about a lot of questions in dog training is that the answer is “it depends”. I generally start with just a few minutes a day and work up to at least 30 minutes a day and longer if the dog is sleeping on the tether near me. But length of time really depends on making sure the dog is comfortable and successful, lifestyle and need. But I try to do it for at least 30 minutes most days once the dog has worked up to that.

[@thisexists6588]

I’m going to start doing this with my BC now that she’s hit 12m and she’s sleeping right next to me rn. I think this would be great! I tried this when she was around 4m and she FREAKED out. I tried using her Kong but she wouldn’t focus on it, after a training session and walk she just could not handle being restrained like that but as soon as she went in her crate it was an instant nap anytime. She was pacing and pulling and whining and starting spinning out.

[@DoggyU]

Knowing your dog and what's right for them is so important! You always have to train the dog in front of you and maturity and time to grow up can sometimes we what your dog needs to be successful.

[@thisexists6588]

@@DoggyU thank you! She was my first ever puppy and second ever dog. I got her to do sports and active things such as bikejoring with. After I got her I was hearing a lot of horror stories of people with Border Collies who would constantly pace and cause themself to stress. She definitely did not calm down until about 7m then again at 11m, she was a very bouncy puppy lol. Now after a lot of work I’m super happy and proud of her that she’s able to self-regulate and just chill if I ask her to.

[@DoggyU]

@@thisexists6588 That's amazing! CoolWhip was very similar, along with the chill out timeline. She struggled to chill outside of a crate or off tether until she was around 7 months. Now she's fantastic. Both maturity and training can do wonders for an active pup! (Whip loves bikejoring too!)

[@nicoledelieto1735]

Hey Laura, can tether training work on a dog staying in the yard for recall training? I know a lot of autism service dogs use tethering as a task.

[@DoggyU]

No tethering would not be a resolution for a dog that struggles with recall. Also, I do not recommend tethering people to dogs as a task to prevent elopement in humans.

[@nicoledelieto1735]

@ I do not need the tethering for elopement. I could still do the tethering to teach Freja to settle in a place. I use a long leash for a recall training. I normally have her under the table at restaurants and then hook the leash on the hook underneath the leash.

[@nicoledelieto1735]

@ I just use a long leash in the backyard until I can get the hill part fenced. I tried to cover the openings on my plants to train the recall, but Freja started going into neighbors yards again. I never heard from the ADA on that issue with the license. I guess it’s required in my city in Washington for my service dog to be licensed along with the other dogs. It is not voluntary though. What do you recommend that I focus more on with Freja as she goes into the second year of public access training? Freja does really well in the restaurants. I do need to do more distraction training with her when it comes to the bigger crowds. Freja got afraid of the bells and the bigger crowds kind of freaked her out a little bit. She still did a really good job 95% of the time. I do tethering as a grounding task with the leash. I am more on the higher end of the spectrum, so that is why I do not like the term autism service dog. I really think Denver’s doing an amazing job so far and he is getting so big. I hope you are feeling better from your knee giving out. Freja does an exit seeking task,and she navigates through the stores for me on my left side.

[@brendabolin7178]

Can I use teathering for my dog that likes to jump on my guest? Give her a chew toy. And get her on her place before they come. Would I also have them ignore her?

[@DoggyU]

Tethering a dog without training the dog what to do around guests will likely cause frustration. However, you could use it in conjunction with training. But you’d have to start with training them to tether without distractions and then combine it with something like engage disengage game with humans. In this case the humans should ignore the dog.

[@brendabolin7178]

@DoggyU thank you Laura

[@nicoledelieto1735]

Would the metal tether work well for a two-year-old goldenretriever?

[@DoggyU]

Yes - a metal tether can work for any dog. Just check weight limited when you buy

[@nicoledelieto1735]

@ Freja is about 65 pounds. I could use the tethering for outside when I am picking up her poop.

[@cjthecrackheadcat]

Do you think this would still work with a dog that is close to a year old she is play play play unless she has a leash on but then she is only focused on me how can she settle on her own

[@DoggyU]

Yes it can absolutely work for older dogs. Two things that is helpful in transitioning from the tether to settling off tether: 1) training the tether with the mat or bed 2) doing it at a certain time of day so that your dog knows that at 7pm for instance, we settle. Also stay tuned for a new course in 2025 on settling! Be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you haven't already.

[@dantoniop]

Is it possible to train tethering with an adult dog (2yo)?

[@MistaWikked]

1000% yes

[@DoggyU]

yep! Start slow, go at your dog's pace :0)

[@ChelseyReikiHealerDogTrainer]

I really need to teach my sister’s wiener dog this. Thank you for the video.❤

[@DoggyU]

💜💜

[@deb7383]

I was wondering if this would work on kids🤔🤔 Just KIDDING 😊

[@DoggyU]

Disclaimer: for dog training purposes only 😂

[@kaylamiller4611]

When I work from home I do work on this and now my boy immediately comes to my work desk and lays down Under it when I’m working.

[@DoggyU]

That’s awesome! 👏🏽