Calm in public: How we started practicing with our dog

At our old apartment, I loved taking Scout to a nearby outdoor mall in the mornings to practice impulse control. They have free wifi, which meant I could start my work day with plenty of fresh air—and she could get valuable environmental exposure!

The first part of this article details what a typical morning teaching her to be calm in public looked like at the beginning.

The second part talks about what our public outings look like today after more practice. (Our approaches are always changing as we learn more! This post was originally written on August 25th 2020 and last updated on June 2nd 2021).

This blog is about specific scenarios, like our trips to The Avenue Viera. If you’re interested in a more comprehensive explanation of the foundational work that has gone into Scout’s ability to settle in a range of environments, take a look at our favorite calm training resources here.

1) How we started hanging out in public

We’d bring a few things with us

• Scout’s travel mat

• My backpack and work …