My dog hates being tied up. Usually she is off it but when guests come, I may need her to be leashed, particularly if there are children. But the minute I leash her, she starts barking and does not stop till I take her off it. How do I get her to calmly wait for an hour or two? Or is that too long a period to keep them on leash?
— Namita Arvind
Hi Namitha
It is not fun for your dog to be tied up and be confined to a small area. Especially when there are new people and kids to play with. Your dog is not happy and she is showing it by barking.
Thankfully keeping her restrained and at peace is not a difficult to get her used to. But before we do that, let us clarify the difference between tying up your dog and cruelty. Being tied up for hours together, in cramped or outdoor spaces in the open weather is cruelty. Being taught to accept being restricted to a small area with treats and a bedding is a happy place. So it is perfectly ok to tie up your dog for such short durations when need arises.
Tying up your dog is a very essential training aspect that many of us miss out. Practicing to have the dog to be tied up regularly "for short durations" helps in raising the confidence of the dog and reduces the need for the dog to be always around or near their humans.
Here is what you are doing wrong. You tie her up only when there are guests. Not only is she unsure about these unknown people, you are punishing her every time there are guests thus making the whole experience very negative.
Practice tying up your dog regularly, multiple times a day. Start with short durations of a few minutes and slowly go up to a couple of hours. Give her a chew stick or treat that takes time for her to get through to make this is a happy experience. Ignore initial tantrums of barking and whining and ensure that you let her loose only if she has calmed down. Slowly increase the period, and the distance from you a little at a time.
You can eventually graduate to have her stay put in a place without a leash if you have mastered the "Stay" command. Consult a professional trainer who can help you with this if you have any trouble managing this on your own. Do you have any pet concerns? Write to pet.faqs@gmail.com