Routines and Managing Them
Routines are an important aspect of every dog’s life and can also make yours simpler. You might view routines as something like a timetable or a schedule that happens repetitively or weekly. Routines don’t necessarily have to be put into a tabled format, they are more something that regularly happens.
Try to think of something you often do with your dog, maybe it’s a walk or feeding them breakfast. You probably do these things at a specific time each day that generally doesn’t change. These are good examples of routines and a great way to make up your dog’s lifestyle.
But why are routines important? Routines can help your dog be more confident. They are something you regularly do and so your dog is familiar with them. They might change slightly like the scents on a walk but the routine is overall the same each time.
Without a routine you might be springing things on your dog. They could be relaxing on the couch but then you suddenly decide to take them on a walk, this could be unexpected if you don’t normally take them on a walk at that time of day. Unexpected things like this that are not part of a routine can add stress to your dog’s life. Your dog will not know what is happening and will become confused and anxious.
Knowing how to manage routines will definitely make things easier for you. A common method that lots of dog owners use is a timetable or a list. A timetable might just include the times of day and when you are doing things with your dog. A list could just be the activities that you need to do with your dog and you just cross them off as you complete each activity with them. No matter which method you use, you should generally keep your dog’s routine the same each day (it is ok to change one or two things etc.)
Activities and times will vary for different people and their dogs. Also the ages of your dog will affect the difference between your timetable and someone else’s e.g. some dogs might go on two walks and some might go on one.
See below for an example of a timetable for one day:
| Time | Activity |
| 6:30 | Wake up & go outside |
| 7:30 | Feed and fresh water |
| 8:30 | Play |
| 9:30 | Walk |
| 10:30 | Relax |
| 11:30 | Go outside |
| 12:30 | Fresh water |
| 13:30 | Snacks |
| 14:30 | Play |
| 15:30 | Relax |
| 16:30 | Walk |
| 17:30 | Fresh Water |
| 18:30 | Feed |
| 19:30 | Relax |
| 20:30 | Go outside |
| 21:30 | Go to sleep |
See below for an example of a list – sometimes you might also have things like ‘vet visit’: (activities are not necessarily in order)
- Feed breakfast ☐
- Feed dinner ☐
- Fresh water ☐
- Play ☐
- Walk ☐
- Take outside ☐
- Relax ☐
- Vet ☐
What is Classical Conditioning – How Does It Apply To Routines?
Classical conditioning is when your dog associates something with an event. This applies to routines but can also be used in training. You have to have done an action a few times with the same result for your dog to associate the action with the result. When you get their harness and lead, does your dog get all excited because they know you are taking them for a walk? If so, this is a great example of classical conditioning.
What about a hand signal, if you perform a hand signal in training does your dog know that the event that happens after that is them doing something (the command) and be rewarded? This becomes ‘operant conditioning’. Operant conditioning is when your dog behaves in a certain way because they have learned that they will be rewarded from it.
Classical conditioning is all throughout routines even in just small details. If you fill up the same tub with water (at the same location) every time you give your dog a bath, they will associate you filling up that specific tub with water meaning they are going to have a bath. This might cause them to run away if they don’t like being washed or getting excited if they do.