If you are a parent, you more than likely already know this. Parenting can be even more challenging when your family includes a baby, infant or kids and a dog. Even if human kids are not part of the mix, raising a puppy can have its frustrations, absolutely! Dog Success Stations (coined by my teacher/mentor Jen Shryock of Family Paws) prevent problem behaviors BEFORE those behaviors become a THING.
A success station is a place where your dog or puppy can hang out safely and get his/her activity/safety/rest needs met when you cannot actively supervise to manage to prevent problems.
A ‘problem’ could be your pet finding unwanted choices for fulfilling those needs; or it could be your young child or infant being an unwelcome intruder to your pet. Moving kiddos that like to reach and pull and crawl on top of what seems interesting, is often NOT how a dog would choose to have happen – especially if dog is in possession of a resource. Flipping it around, a young kiddo may not appreciate a curious dog barging in to steal toys or knocking over what is in a path.
Any way you look at it, dogs and little kids should ALWAYS be actively supervised by an adult who knows what to watch for. (More on that in another post)
Without active supervision and a good management plan, you will find yourself responding in reaction to behaviors instead of proactively focusing on what you would rather have happen. There are SO many potential fall outs with that approach. Among them…you are allowing the problem behavior to be practiced (and reinforced), you could find yourself using a punishment, you are not teaching your pet what to do instead.
If a child is involved, that child may also learn negative associations with being near your dog (if your dog does something to scare your child) or may learn there is great value to move in and do something to the dog (because it could get the dog to chase or give up a toy, for example)
There are different ways of creating Success Stations for dogs.
A physical barrier such as a gate prevents access to trouble while also allowing you to train through it. (Giving treats over or through it as an example.) In some cases, you may want a double barrier to create a bigger buffer and not allow hands or noses to reach through and
come face-to-face.
Plastic infant playpens or dog x-pens that come apart can allow for so many choices in management. You can:
- Give your dog activities inside the pen or give your child activities inside the pen
- Pull the pen panels across open floor plans to create barriers
- Put the pen panels around areas you want contained such as where kids’ toys are stored
- Put the panels in front of doorways to remove direct access
Other types of Success Stations can include:
- Putting your dog/puppy in a crate
- Putting your dog/puppy on an outside porch or in a fenced in yard
- Tethering your dog across the room (this is not a good idea when your home has mobile kids)
- Teaching your dog to settle on a bed (again, not a good idea in the presence of mobile infants)
Remember that, for many dogs, you may need to spend time teaching a positive association with whatever Success Station you use.
