Winter Exposure Ideas
- Logan Beauregard
- Jan 7
- 3 min read
I don't know about your city but here in Ottawa, it feels like half the population disappears during the winter. This can be a welcome break for some of us (phew less things for my dog to react to when we're on the walk) but it can also be a double-edged sword (oh no we're out of practice when everyone reappears in May).
Here are some ideas of places you can go and activities you can do in order to keep your team from getting too rusty over the winter.
Parking Lot Supervisor
If your dog has big feelings about people, you can go to a parking lot of a store or park that people frequent and park far enough away that your dog is not going to get overwhelmed. Then sit with your dog and play Notice & Report or do some well-rehearsed obedience while people go about their business.
I like this one because if it's cold, you can stay inside your warm car!
If your dog is doing amazing and the weather is cooperating, you can get out of the car and practice at a safe location - wide median, bench away from the entrance. Make sure you have a sturdy 6' leash for this activity, not an extendable leash.
Remember to keep sessions short - maximum 10-15 minutes - and play a game to let the jitters out once you get home.
Location ideas: Ikea parking lot, Home Depot parking lot, other big box stores with big parking lots so you can get the space you need, parking lot for a city park
Training at Dog-Friendly Stores
If your dog has big feelings about dogs, you can also do the Parking Lot Supervisor strategy at a store that allows dogs. Start off parked far away from the doors so that your dog doesn't get overwhelmed. If your dog is doing well, you can park closer to the doors on your next visit.
If your dog is comfortable in close quarters and with surprises, you can also try inside the store. I usually do a trip by myself first so that I learn the layout of the store and what times are quiet enough for us.
On the first day I bring my dog, my goal is to train not shop. I try to go slowly through aisles that are fairly boring for dogs (not the dog food aisle). I reward any Notice & Report that my dog does and I reward any other good behaviour that they can give me. I try to find at least one place where we can stop and watch things from a distance. And then I head back to the car before we have a meltdown.
Over several visits, our outings look more normal and we start trying busier times.
In my opinion, the hardest part of the store visit is when we are squished near the cash register at the entrance/exit. If I want to buy something but my dog can't handle that area yet, I will put them back in the car and then go purchase the item. I do not want to ruin a successful visit by pushing my dog over threshold at the very end.
Location ideas: Pet Store, Canadian Tire, Cabela's
Tips
Use a sturdy 6' leash instead of an extendable leash. You want your dog to stay beside you and in sight while you are working together.
Bring high value treats for high distraction environments. While kibble may work at home, it is unlikely to work at the equivalent of doggy Disneyland. Sometimes we have to pay Disneyland prices to get the behaviour we want!
Shorter more frequent visits are better than long infrequent ones. If you can make this a weekly or biweekly habit over the winter, you'll be in great shape come spring.
Track what locations work well for you! I do a little "Trip Report": where we went, what time we went, how well the visit went (I have teacher brain so I grade it from A-F). This makes it easier to track our progress and offloads some of the decision fatigue on busy weeks.
Want to be able to take your dog more places? We can help!
Whether your dog is reactive, excited, afraid, or just needs better manners, we can make a training plan and get you started down the path to including your dog in more of your life.
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