Doggone Etiquette —

Time Out!

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

Are you getting a bit tired of the long winter nights, and the short cold days? Are you bored with sitting around the house doing nothing much that’s exciting or fun? Have you been punished or scolded more than usual for getting into mischief? Maybe you explained that you were only having a little fun, but your VIPerson didn’t buy it when she was trying to put all the stuffing back in the pillows! Did you offer to help? Or was running for cover a better bet?

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:

It has been a long winter and we still have a bit more to come. Going to work, or to school, keeps most of us on a somewhat normal routine, apart from the lack of daylight hours at home. But it is tough on our housebound dogs because they don’t get the after-work (or school) exercise and attention they are accustomed to in spring, summer and fall. They get bored – and bored dogs tend to get into trouble when they’re only looking for ways to relieve the monotony.

How you handle the negative effects of the dog’s boredom is important. When a doggie disaster strikes, regardless of the extent of breakage or destruction, use the “Time Out” method of discipline. Think of it as related to sports. We’ve all seen enough football, basketball, and ice hockey by now to recognize how often a “Time Out” settles a problem for a person or a whole team. And we know (roughly) how it is handled when one player is involved. The one given the Time Out is isolated, often on the bench, while the rest of the team (and spectators) either carry on as if nothing happened, or have a brief T.O. themselves.    

That is precisely the best discipline to follow with your Rough Rufus, or Bored Buddy! Your facial expression and body language will tell him all he needs to know about his offense! Do not get angry. Do not raise your voice. Silently and calmly lead the dog by the collar to his crate or other isolation spot and leave him, without any toys or treats. Do not let him watch you clean up the mess. After a sufficient period of silent solitary confinement, release him without a word or eye contact.

All this business of winter boredom is a given, it’s what you as the dog’s owner, leader, caretaker or however else you’d like to be known, do about it. Outdoor play under lights is fine when there isn’t a foot of snow on the ground. Evening walks may be okay – possibly with a flashlight – so long as you don’t have to walk on ice. Active indoor play could be perfect with a small dog, but extensive such play with Rufus the Rottweiler would likely cause in-house chaos.

One thing you can do that is positive, active, and will pay off for both of you right now and when spring rolls around: Enroll Rufus in obedience or other canine activity classes. Maybe a brush-up obedience course is all the dog needs before going on to Rally, or even Agility (for fun or competition). These classes are held either in the evenings (a good after-work workout) or in the mornings (when your work hours permit) or on Saturdays. It gives Rufus a bit of much-needed social contact with other dogs and people, as well as being a mind-and-body activator. The bored-dog syndrome will vanish when you and Rufus share an activity that’s special to both of you.

Until next time – BE GOOD!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.