When we move to a new city with our dog it's helpful to have a repertoire of already-trained skills under their belt in order to make the transition and the journey itself easier for all involved. Here is a list of skills and behaviors that are worthy of your training efforts BEFORE you make the move:
crate training and noisy travel, being wheeled on a cart while inside the crate.
riding politely and without fear in elevators
cafe skills (lying quietly under your chair for long periods of time, tolerating boredom, ignoring wait staff and other people who walk by, ignoring other dogs)
Walking by your side, not way out in front of you and never on a flexi leash! (urban environments).
Eliminating with a cue (permission to eliminate)
Walking on new surfaces (cobblestones, slippery floors, textured rubber mats)
Vet exam and handling skills
Remaining calm even though he can see another dog (ie, not automatically assuming it's ok to visit the other dog-- again, urban skills)
Fireworks, construction noise, loud beeps from moving vehicles, thunder and lightening, increased exposure to new sounds,
Polite car travel, entering and exiting a car/van on cue, and waiting for that cue.
Laying on a mat on command (I think of this as "parking my dog" - we used a yellow dish towel, which is very portable and washable. Having a reliable, long down-stay on this towel is helpful in many situations-- as is a reliable long down-stay in general. Highly recommended. I find in highly distracting (potentially confusing) environments that pulling out the familiar yellow dish towel almost serves as an anchor to reassure my dog that yes, I do want him on that spot.)
Which skills might you want to work on with your dog next?
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