The Off Switch

The Off Switch

Sunday 1st November | 2pm | Dereham Dog Academy
1 hour 15 minutes | £25 per dog

Some dogs seem naturally good at doing nothing. Others appear to believe that every waking moment requires an activity, some attention or a new adventure.

But switching off isn't simply something a dog can either do or they can't. Calmness and self-regulation are skills that can be learned.

The Off Switch is a practical training workshop designed to help your dog learn what to do when, quite simply, there's nothing to do.

Importantly, we won't be teaching a "settle" cue or repeatedly asking dogs to lie down and stay there. Instead, we'll be creating opportunities for dogs to make good choices for themselves, gradually learning that they don't always need direction from us and that relaxing is a perfectly valid option.

Each dog will have their own defined space as we work through exercises designed to develop their ability to regulate themselves and genuinely switch off.

It's a skill with enormous value in everyday life. Whether you'd like your dog to relax while you eat, settle when visitors arrive, accompany you to a café or pub, wait calmly during a training class or simply be better at doing nothing at home, the principles are the same.

And with Christmas approaching, it's particularly good timing. Changes in routine, visitors, family gatherings, food, excitement and generally busier households can all make December more challenging for dogs that find switching off difficult.

This workshop is suitable for dogs of all ages and training levels, subject to our usual group-class suitability requirements.

Please bring:
A settle mat or comfortable piece of bedding for your dog, plus a wide selection of suitable rewards.

Please use a standard fixed-length lead. No flexi leads.

The Off Switch — because sometimes doing nothing is a skill worth learning.