Taking your training on the road is a great way to add some distractions and work on generalizing new behaviors. However, it is much harder to control distractions and other interruptions outside of the home. If your dog gets overexcited or nervous about other people or dogs, it can make training in public more difficult. This is why many people choose to use signs on vests or leash sleeves, to try communicate with others and avoid issues. Signage like this can be helpful when you are out and about, but it can also cause issues if not used appropriately. Here are some tips for using signage when training in public.
Keep it short, keep it visible!
Vests that have multiple signs with lots of wording can be helpful if you have a lot of information to get across, but it also makes it harder for people to read. If your dog will get nervous when someone stops and stares at them, then try to keep your sign short and clearly visible. Large lettering with high contrast text and background!
Images can be useful, but again, make sure they are large enough that someone can read it from a distance your dog will feel most comfortable. If people have to get closer to see what the image is depicting, then it may become more harmful than helpful.
What SHOULD your sign say?
Whatever sign you use, it should clearly communicate to others what you and your dog need to be successful. Make the information actionable! Whatever your sign says, it should be clear to others what they should or shouldn’t do to help you and your dog have a great training session.
If you and your dog need space and do not want to be interrupted while training…
- Do not approach
- Give us space
- Training, please ignore
If your dog needs space from specific individuals (i.e. other dogs, men, children, etc), clearly state that with a sign such as, “No dogs.”
If you are open to people or dogs approaching but want people to ask, a sign that says “Training, ask how to help” or something similar can work well!
What SHOULDN’T your sign say?
Avoid using signs that are merely descriptive. This includes things like…
- Nervous
- Scared
- Friendly/Not Friendly
- Reactive
These do not tell people what you need from them, and it leaves it open to the interpretation of the individual. While one person might see a sign that says “Nervous” and stay away, another might see it and approach you to try and help your nervous dog!
Be careful with signs that just say, “In training” as well. These may lead people to approach you and ask more questions. If this is an issue for your training, make sure the sign let’s people know that you are not available for questions! “In training, ignore me” can work well for these situations.
It is also important to be aware of any liability issues that could arise from the signs you use. If your dog is not a service dog, you can not use any sign that states or suggests they are. Furthermore, in some states, you can be held legally liable in the event of an injury if you have signs on your dog suggesting a history of aggressive or unsafe behavior. Make sure you know the laws and legal precedents set in the area you currently live and spend your time training.
Whatever sign you use, remember that it should be easy to read and understand!