A tie-down is a great management tool for:
- Separation anxiety
- Bothering the family at the dinner table
- Barking at the door
- Jumping up on people and furniture
- Mouthing
- Playing too rough
- Chewing up the wrong things
- Meeting a cat
- Housetraining/Marking in the house
- Jumping up on your bed
- Giving adult dog time away from the bouncy puppy
- Training sessions
For safety reasons, please do not attach to the tie down to a gentle leader, halti, choke, pinch, or any other restricting collar.
What is it:A tie-down is a leash, rope or cable that is 2-3 feet long and is attached to an immovable object (like a piece of furniture) and to your dogs collar.
A tie-down should be placed in a fairly busy room of your house. It is ONLY used when someone is home and only to be used INSIDE the house. A tie-down is to be used as a management tool. He should be comfortable, and have something good to lie on, chew on and play with while on tie-down. Be careful that the dog can’t drag the piece of furniture around with him. Keep in mind that a tie-down is not a tie-out. A tie-out is a cable that used to tie our dogs in a yard so they don’t run away. I do NOT recommend using a tie-out.
Setting up your tie-down:Put the dog on it several times a day for 10-15 minutes at a time. You can give him a stuffed Kong or other chew toy. Once your dog is comfortable on the tie down for 15 min, begin to extend the time and vary it so he doesn’t know exactly how long he’ll be on it, and in the process learn to be patient. If he barks while he’s tied, try leaving the room and return when he’s quiet. If your dog chews on your leash, use a chain or cable leash.
Using the tie-down:
- General environment management: if you’re busy, and you can’t keep an eye on the dog, put him on his tie-down. That way he can’t get into mischief when you aren’t looking.
- Jumping up: putting him on a tie-down before the guests come in, will keep him from practicing a bad habit. After you’ve greeted your guest, and he’s calm, your guests can either go pet him or you can let him off the tie-down. If he jumps on you or someone else, gently say “off” then calmly take him to his tie-down and hook him up there for a few minutes. Let him off when he’s calm.
- House training: a tie-down is a good tool for house training and can be used along with crate training. Having your dog on a tie-down is just like having him in a crate, but it gives him a different view and more variety. It also allows you to be more interactive. Just be sure to take your dog outside frequently to relieve himself.
- Separation anxiety: Some dogs follow their owners from room to room, often trying to touch them, or lean against them. Although its nice to think he loves you, there is such a thing as too much attention (and these dogs are often are awful when left alone). Setting up and consistently using a tie-down a couple times a day allows your dog to learn that though you go away, you always return and he can’t attach himself to you.
- Dog/cat interactions: If you have a cat that needs to be introduced to you’re dog, and you’re concerned that they won’t get along, use a tie-down for the dog and give the cat the run of the room. When the dog sees the cat and remains calm, he gets a treat. (The cat also gets a treat for looking at the dog). It allows your cat to feel safe and you to feel confident that your dog can’t run after your cat. This is also a great tool for introducing 2 dogs: one on the tie down, and you holding the leash to the other dog.
- Begging prevention: Give him his own toy or bone on his tie-down before you begin eating. Do occasionally remember to tell him he’s doing good, example: “Good boy!”
IMPORTANT NOTE: ONLY use a tie down when you re home and ONLY use it on your dog’s buckle collar.
