Public Settling: Napping on the Job

A guide dog’s job is not always full of active guide work. Whether accompanying their partners to work, school, or the local coffee shop, a critical part of being a working dog is the art of doing nothing!

Settling comes more naturally for some dogs than others, and that’s OK! Some dogs are naturally more energetic and others prefer cruising at a slower pace. Our higher energy dogs make great guides for active partners, but these go-getter dogs benefit from a more thoughtful approach to finding their “off-switch” and learning to relax quietly until they’re called upon.

The puppy’s job is simple! They need to:

• Follow your guidance on where to be.
• Settle (sit or down) quietly where cued, without seeking attention or engaging with distractions that might be nearby.

Your job is a little more involved. You need to:

• Identify a safe spot, out of foot traffic for the puppy to settle (often under your table or chair in a restaurant setting).
• Use collar cues and/or a food lure to get the puppy into position where you’d like them to be.
• Interrupt any attempts to engage with distractions, vocalize, or leave the area. Promptly re-cue the puppy to settle and calmly praise them for doing so.
• Be aware of the environment and preemptively support the puppy with one of the techniques from your Distraction Toolbox if there is a distraction that will be too challenging for the puppy to remain settled independently.
• Occasionally praise and/or deliver a food reward to the puppy for controlling their impulses and remaining settled as low-level distractions come and go.
• Be prepared for public attention – our puppies are irresistible! If someone comes up and asks to pet the puppy, it’s OK to politely decline and explain that the puppy is learning to settle and relax in public. Greetings can cause too much excitement in an excitable pup. As our pups mature and demonstrate their ability to remain calm, it is more appropriate to allow a friendly stranger to say hi.