In Practice
Capturing calm
Capturing is the opposite of asking for something. Instead of telling your puppy to lie down, you wait for them to do it on their own and then reward it so quietly they barely notice. Over time, they start choosing calm because calm pays. This is how settle training works. Not through commands but through reinforcement of choices the puppy is already making.
Step by step
Have treats in your pocket or in a container nearby. Always. This isn't a training session. It's a way of life.
Go about your day. Don't watch your puppy. Don't hover. Let them move around the room naturally.
The moment they lie down on their own, calmly walk over and place a small treat between their front paws. No words. No petting. No eye contact. Just the treat appearing.
Walk away. Let them process it. They might get up. That's fine. They might stay. Even better.
Repeat every time you catch them lying down. Within a few days, you'll notice them choosing to lie down more often. Within a few weeks, it becomes their default.
What to watch for
Don't say 'good girl' or pet them. Praise and touch are arousing. You want to reward calm without breaking it.
Don't lure them into a down position. That teaches them to follow food, not to choose calm. We're capturing a choice, not creating one.
If they get up when you approach, you were too exciting. Next time, toss the treat from further away or slide it along the floor.
It's working when you see them glance at you after lying down. They're connecting calm to reward. That glance is the tell.
Key terms
When Marlowe can come back to calm after excitement or stress. We build this through sleep, environment, and routine. It's the foundation everything e...
Rewarding good behaviour when it happens on its own, without asking for it. This is how we teach settle. When Marlowe lies down on her own, we quietly...
A state, not a command. A settled dog can just exist in a space without needing constant interaction. They're not anxious or bored. They're just okay....
Real life
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