Ditch the Routine!

Let’s Go!

We want the best for our dogs and conventional wisdom has taught us that dogs need routine. In reality dogs have a natural curiosity, and love to explore new environments and discover new things. When they are stuck in a routine, they miss out on these opportunities. Ditching the routine and doing something different can help stimulate their minds, promote calmness, as well as, prevent boredom and cognitive decline.

Routine can increase arousal levels in dogs and contribute to reactivity. There are things that routinely occur that you may not notice. Perhaps someone walks their dog past your house at the same time every day, or you load the dishwasher at the same time every night. You can’t control every routine event, but you can observe your dog and see if it is contributing to your dog’s reactivity.

I remember the days when I fed from a bowl and I would be reminded by my dogs if I was late. They knew the schedule and would anticipate feeding time and it was stressful for them when the routine changed. Dogs are smart and know when it is time for walks, when you are leaving, coming home, etc. As the time approaches their arousal levels increase, priming them for an episode of reactivity. This is especially true for dogs who exhibit separation related behaviour and reactivity when out on walks.

If you have a dog that doesn’t like walks, perhaps because it is afraid of novel experiences or because it has had negative experiences with other dogs, then any action that you take that could lead to a walk will increase it’s anxiety. You may not see the connections but your dog does. Your dog sees you change your clothes, put on your shoes, grab your keys, put on your hat, get the leash and probably many other subtle cues, and concludes that it is going on a walk. If your dog doesn’t like the car, this could signal a ride in the car and further increase its arousal. You haven’t even left the house and your dog is already in a reactive state.

During your walk, your dog starts barking and lunging or freezing at things you encounter on your walk and you wonder, “Why is she doing that? It’s no big deal.” The reality is that your dog decides how it feels about things it encounters, not you. You need to teach your dog the skills it needs to cope with these situations. Forcing your dog to confront things it fears over and over again without coping skills will only make the behaviour worse and damage your relationship with your dog. This is why I will recommend ditching the walks while your dog is learning these new skills and gradually reintroducing walks when your dog is ready. Some things that you can do are to put on your shoes, wear them around the house and take them off. Pick up the leash and put it down. Be unpredictable.

In conclusion, while you may need a routine, it's important to mix things up and ditch the routine from time to time. By introducing new activities, locations, and experiences, you can help keep your dog mentally stimulated and prevent boredom. Use enrichment activities to provide mental stimulation and to promote cal or try dog sports as a way to have fun with your dog. So, let's ditch the routine and have some fun!