If your dog has reactivity issues when someone comes to the door, you can physically remove him from the situation by putting him outside or crating him. There’s nothing wrong with using this approach, especially if you’ve been caught off guard by a visitor arriving unannounced. However, this strategy won’t actually change your dog’s mind about the visitor.

A far better approach would be to practice place on a regular (daily) basis. Initially you’ll want to practice place work with no distractions. As your dog’s level of skill improves, you can begin to challenge him by introducing distractions, keeping him on place longer and moving the place board to different areas. Once a dog is conditioned to “place,” they will develop a calm state of mind whenever they go there.

The applications for this exercise are literally endless. Rather than physically removing your dog when a visitor arrives, you’ll eventually be able to send your dog to his place while you calmly answer the door. Because you will have conditioned him to feel safe, calm and relaxed on place, he’ll relinquish the roll of protector to you, allowing whoever you’d like to enter your home. Your dog will finally be able to retire!

Please see my Mastering Place Work video for more detail on this exercise. Thank you for watching!

If you’d like to learn more from me, please go to my website to learn about my various programs: Train the Trainer, Learn to Lead and Wellness Unleashed.