SAFE HAVENS
An example from the “A Sound Beginning Program”
Safe Havens can be as simple as a dog crate but often they are too confining for long term use and some dogs panic over confinement into small cramped spaces. Entire rooms or parts of rooms can make excellent safe havens. Baby gates, Dutch doors (half doors) or tall or short X-Pen fencing can be configured into many shapes and can be used as room dividers. They can be covered in with a sheet or blanket to block visual stimuli if needed. Many ideas can be found by searching the Internet
MORE WAYS TO CREATE SAFE HAVEN AREAS AND ROOMS
Indoor Pet Room Doors
Convertible Pet Gates
More Ideas for Saven Haven Doors and Dividers
HOW TO HELP YOUR DOG LOVE THE SAFE HAVEN AREA
· Work on this training in small short sessions BEFORE you actually need to use the room for prolonged periods. Prepare and create a positive association for confinement in the haven when things are calm and low stress.
· Do not begin safe haven confinement on a high stress day such as a holiday when guests are coming over and your dog is already anxious.
· Play some games in the haven area to help your dog want to enter the haven area or room. Games can show your dog that this is awesome place to hang out where good things happen.
· One game can be hiding extra special and delicious treats inside the area or room.
· Another game can be you hiding in the haven and calling your dog to come and find you and then reward with a jackpot of treats for finding you!
· Use Marker-Reward Training (softly click or mark with a word like “good”) to show interacting in the haven is a good thing!
o Mark and reward with treats when your dog approaches and investigates the area.
o Mark and reward with more treats when your dog goes inside voluntarily to explore.
o Allow your dog to go freely in and out but reward every time your dog goes in!
o Mark and reward if your dog stays in the haven. Mark and reward again if your dog settles down or does some relaxing behavior
o Slowly space out your rewards for staying in the safe haven longer and longer.
· You can begin by spending some time with your dog in the haven sitting in the floor and reading a book or searching social media or just quietly stroking or massaging your dog. We want to create good associations for being in the haven area.
· Once your dog finds it is wonderful to be inside you can start sit just outside the haven and read or do computer work, and gradually move to do other things around the kitchen.
· Do not reprimand or punish your dog if it comes out. We are trying to make this place be her choice because it is a relaxation station, it feels good to her, it is secluded, it has a place to hide (inside a crate, under a desk, etc.) it contains yummy treats and good things happen inside and no one bothers her there.
· Other enrichments you can do near the haven are:
§ Keep family voices DOWN!! Post some friendly “Quiet Please Dog in Training “signs in the kitchen to remind everyone to speak softly in that area.
§ Play Soothing soft Music in the area
o Use the Music ofThrough a Dog's Ear(available for download or purchase online). It has been shown to help dogs relax.
o The A Sound Beginning Program has a Wonderful CD
o Another example is RelaxMyDog.com music and is available on their YouTube Channel
o You can also try Chakra Meditation Music from YouTube
o If your dog is easily startled by environmental noises this can help drown out those sounds.
§ Use Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) to send a message of safety and security to the brain.
o Click this link to learn how Pheromonatherapy with Adaptil can help.
o Place an Adaptil Pheromone Diffuser in the haven, it lasts 30 days and can be refilled.
o Apply Adaptil spray daily to the bedding or the sheets that cover the fencing or crate (allow the alcohol to evaporate for 15 minutes before having your dog go near the bedding). The spray is not long lasting and needs to be re-sprayed daily.
o Adaptil Products are available at Deer Run, most veterinary hospitals or on Amazon.com.
§ You can also add in some Essential Oils that can have calming effects. One that we have found helpful is Calm-a-mile. Essential oils and pheromones work in different ways and can be used together.
§ Food toys and games (click this link for ideas) can be provided so that it is a good experience when your dog spends time in the haven.
§ Have a really lovely soft cushy bed or two for your dog in the safe haven.
You can train your dog to love this special mat first in any area so that it becomes a sign of safety and security. Pick it up after training sessions so that it remains very special. Gradually continue mat training and move it toward the safe haven. And eventually leave it in the haven with free access. Make the mat a place that your dog really wants to spend time on by feeding treats off of it.
Here is a great handout on how to teach Relax on a Mat
§ Your dog can also be fed meals in the safe haven as another way to teach that great things happen there.
This can be a safe place to offer food and treats if resource guarding is a problem. Children and other dogs should not be allowed to bother the dog when in the safe haven, especially during meal and treat times.