Jazz Up & Settle Down with Lure-Reward Training
Now that you’ve used Wait & Reward training to get your dog to settle down, it’s time to use Lure-Reward Training to get your dog to act hyperactive on cue. We like to call this exercise Jazz-up & Settle-Down.
Teaching your dog to Jazz-up and Settle-down follows the same formula as teaching your dog to Sit on cue: 1 Give the command, 2. Lure the behavior and 3. When your dog performs the behavior, 4. Reward your dog.
So, 1. Say, “Jazz Up” and then, 2. Lure your dog to jump and bark and act energetically by jumping, barking and acting energetically yourself. Or, waggle a tennis ball in the air, or play Tug or Tag — alternatively chasing and running away from your dog. Act silly, sing songs, dance around like a goofball, or get down on all fours and bark like a dog. 3. As soon as your dog starts to energize, 4. Praise enthusiastically and join in with the fun. Most dogs love it if you bark along with them.
Some dogs though, may find your silly behavior to be unsettling, and they may become wary and back off. If you sense your dog is feeling worried or anxious, stop what you are doing immediately, stand still and quietly say, “Settle Down” and then praise soothingly to reassure your dog. Next time, don’t act quite so weird. Rather than doing silly stuff to entice your dog to Jazz Up, use the same sorts of triggering stimuli that make your dog get hyperactive in day-to-day situations. For example, say “Jazz-Up” and then, pick up your dog’s food bowl, waggle their leash, or have an accomplice repeatedly ring the doorbell.
As you energize your dog, you do want to maintain some level of control. Don’t let your dog bite, nip, jump up or bump into you. Really, there shouldn’t be any bodily contact at all. If you ever feel the tiniest bit concerned that your dog is getting out of control, immediately say, “Settle Down”.
With dogs, my Dad has always used the verbal cue, “Jazz-Up” but he actually used to play something similar with me, when I was little. We used to call it, “Silly Time!” and I remember we always used to have short Silly Time sessions before going to restaurants, or the movies and extended Silly Time sessions before long trips in the car or on a plane.
But let’s get back to the dogs… Now, we are going to alternate Jazz-Up and Settle Down, until your loony, bouncing and barking dog can Settle Down and Shush, in less than three seconds following a single verbal command. Usually, this takes just half a dozen trials.
Get your dog Jazzed Up and keep them going for ten seconds, then: 1. Quietly say, “Rover, Settle Down”, 2. Stand perfectly still and signal your dog to lie down and 3. As soon as your dog lies down, 4. Gently and convincingly praise — “Good Dog One … Good Dog Two … Good Dog Three” and then offer a food reward (but keep a couple more in your hand to keep your dog lying down).
And then, repeat the entire Jazz-up and Settle-Down sequence but this time have your dog settle down for a count of four Good Dogs. With each repetition increase the Settle-Down time by one second. Once your dog can settle down for ten seconds, training just gallops along and you may start proofing 20-, 30-, 45- and 60-second Down-Stays.
Don’t worry if, during the first few trials, you have to reinstruct your dog over and over to settle down. Use as many verbal instructions and hand signals as it takes. Remain calm and be persistent and eventually, your dog will calm down and lie down. The number of required commands and hand signals will decrease drastically from trial to trial and eventually, your dog will promptly, reliably and happily settle down following a single verbal request.
Now practice Jazz-up & Settle-Down around the house — in the kitchen, living room, by the front door, in the back yard, in the front yard, and of course, on walks. Just like my Dad did with me, it’s good to have a Jazz-up session for your dog to let off steam before situations when you would like your dog to be calm and mannerly, such as visiting Grannie, vet or pet store visits, going to dog-friendly pubs or restaurants, and especially, before entering a dog park and periodically during the dog park visit.
It is largely ineffective and unfair to try and suppress a dog’s activity altogether. Instead we need to learn how to instruct the dog that there are times to be calm and times to be silly. We have to let dogs be dogs for some of the time.
Most dogs enjoy acting silly so much that you can now use Jazz up as a reward in training.