EL120: Volunteer Ready! Therapy Dog Skills

2.5  ELEVATOR ETIQUETTE -  Practicing Skills

Practicing your skills and having a plan before you set out on your travels is always a good idea.  Here I took the opportunity to use an office elevator to practice close quarter enter/exit skills with Piper.  This particular elevator had a small waiting area and itself was very tight so it offered a good opportunity to work in a small space. Even though Piper has been on elevators many times before I still practice when we get a chance. This helps to keep the Elevator Rules fresh.

I use my hand target to help guide Piper into position up against the wall in the corner. I use all the cues she knows to help her be successful.

RECAP
Wait At Doors:  Whether in your home or out in public a good solid wait at doors helps keep everyone safe.  When it comes to elevators, a wait allows people to be able to exit without falling over your dog.  It also keeps your dog out of harm's way should there be another less friendly dog on the elevator.  It's not always possible but try to be at least 6 feet back from the elevator doorway and maintain a shorter leash as you wait to enter or exit the elevator. 

Release Cues:  When we taught our dogs to wait at doors for Door Dashers, we also included a release cue to allow them to proceed through the door.  We need our dogs to wait for their cue to enter and exit the elevator.  Just because the door opens doesn't mean it's time to move.  Most elevators have a ding, signifying the door opening.  Our dogs quickly associate this ding with the door opening and people/dogs entering or exiting and may take this as their cue to move.  You can avoid this ding association by treating your dog in position whether inside or outside of the elevator. 

>  Begin treating when the door dings and is about to open.

>  Treat when the door opens and closes but don't go anywhere.

>  Stop treats when the door closes.

>  Repeat treating inside the elevator when the door opens, stop treating when it closes.

    This will keep your dog focused on you when the door opens.

Here you'll notice Piper is beginning to look at me when the door dings and opens. When the door opens I incorporate a pause before moving. I don't want the opening of the door to signal movement.

We continue to practice entering the elevator from both directions.

Full Elevators:  Just because the elevator door opens doesn't mean you and your dog have to get on it.  This is especially true if there happens to be another dog you may not feel comfortable with.  Squishing in between a lot of people may be disconcerting and stressful for your dog so by all means let the elevator pass and take the next one.  If you're already on the elevator and someone gets on the elevator with or without a dog and you're not comfortable by all means exit on the next floor.