Time Outs versus Rest Periods

Time outs and rest periods…what’s the different?  You’ll notice on our Problem Behavior Management Guide which is the bonus time this month that we’ve mentioned time outs as a way to work on some behavior problems. In this post we’ll talk about the difference between a time out and a rest period. Both are important, but they are two completely different things and you’ll want to be sure that your staff understand the difference.

Both time outs and rest periods involve giving the dog a break. However, timeouts are used as a training device while rest periods are simply a time for the dog to relax and chill out. Although the dog is resting during a timeout, the point of the timeout is to modify behavior.

Here’s how a timeout works:

Timeouts can help deter inappropriate behavior. If a dog is displaying inappropriate behavior, such as barking at another dog, say, “timeout” and gently lead the dog to a crate. Set a timer for 10-30 seconds and then allow the dog to return to the play area. Repeat this sequence for any specific behavior, such as barking, that you would like to deter in an individual dog. Teach your staff to use the timeout effectively. The timeout is not meant to be a place to put the dog when your staff is frustrated. Instead, the timeout is meant to be a structured tool used for safety and training.

The only way timeouts will work effectively as a training tool is if your staff is committed to pinpointing a specific behavior in a specific dog and will catch the dog and put the dog in timeout each and every time the behavior happens. It takes consistency and commitment. It can be hard to do this in daycare but it’s worth trying for some of the more persistent behaviors when other measures haven’t worked.