Imagine having a way to trigger your dog to relax. Consider the benefits and applications in everyday life like vet visits, the groomers or travel. It’s not hypnosis. It’s a protocol involving conditioning, capturing and shaping your dog’s behavior to create calm in key moments. The ability to cue relaxation is valuable for ALL dogs, not just those who are hyper or anxious. In fact, we all have personal relaxation protocols, and in this episode, I’m sharing what I frequently use for myself and my dogs to settle down.
In the episode you'll hear:
- Why every dog should have a protocol for relaxation regardless of temperament.
- About common triggers for relaxation and ones I use for my dogs.
- How to help anxious or over aroused dogs with intentional calming mannerisms.
- My breathing technique for triggering the parasympathetic nervous system to counter stress.
- How to induce a calm state for dogs step-by-step.
- Why we play ItsYerChoice to help dogs relax.
- How to positively condition your dog’s relaxation trigger.
- My capturing technique and tips when dogs are in their “chill zones”.
- When to begin shaping and adding a calm release word.
- How to assess your dog’s emotional state with TEMP and an app.
- About using a remote feeder to add duration to the chill zone.
ItsYerChoice Summit
Learn how to play ItsYerChoice:
https://recallers.com/iycsummit-join/
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 86: How to Train Unmotivated or Overexcited Dogs
- Podcast Episode 107: Pedicure Please: 3 Steps To Dog Nail Trimming Or Grooming Success At Home!
- *Dirty Dog Doormats
- Podcast Episode 136: Help Your Excited Dog Calm Down And Stop Barking, Lunging, Spinning, Nipping
- Podcast Episode 189: All The Things That Influence Your Dog’s Behavior And What Behavior Tells You
- Podcast Episode 171: Dog Training With Layered Shaping: Why Classical Conditioning Must Come First
- Podcast Episode 151: How Location Specific Reinforcement Markers Will Improve Your Dog Training!
- Podcast Episode 180: Taking Your Puppy To A Café Or Restaurant: Socialization Success
- Podcast Episode 4: T.E.M.P. (Tail, Eyes/Ears, Mouth, Posture)
- Cardalis App - iOS
- Cardalis App - Android
- *PetSafe Treat and Train Remote Reward Dog Trainer
- *PETGEEK IQ Training Treat Dispenser
- Podcast Episode 190: Using Daily Quickies To Fast Track Your Dog Training And Grow Your Dog's Skills
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
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Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
I’d so love to hear more about the relaxation protocol for anxious/over-excited dogs. I have a 6-month-old very high energy Jack Russell/Pit (best guess) rescue puppy and we are struggling so much with relaxing. In our 3 months together, I have NEVER seen him lie down without being asked or go to sleep unless he is in a crate in a room by himself. If he’s in a crate, expen, or small room with me he’ll play with toys for a little bit, try to engage me (I ignore him), scratch the door, and eventually start screaming. He’ll stay on his relax mat in the kitchen about 10 minutes if I reward him every minute or so, but he knows what I’ve rewarded him for in the past (deep sighs, squeaky yawns, head down between paws), so now he’ll just run through his list, and very little actual relaxation happens. The auto-feeder helps a bit, but he gets bored with that after a while too. He really is a star in almost every other way- this is the only “F” on his report card! How do we get his grade up?
I have read books by a lot of other great trainers, Patricia McConnell, Leslie McDevitt, etc. I have watched numerous trainers on YouTube, at the Clicker Expo and Aggression in Dogs Conference, etc. You teach in a way that is so easy to understand and give the “why” to teach that way. Obviously you’re a good dog trainer, but you’re also an incredible people trainer. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
My dog is calm until I leave her with my husband and then she cries. I have the luxury of working from home so she is always on her PLACE relaxing waiting for my next move. So is the trick to introduce the candy dispenser to replace me? I just feel so bad that she is soooo upset and my husband has to listen to her. I will take any help I can get, I just want her in a happy state if I am not around.
At the 13:50 minute mark Susan says to drop the cookie close to the dog, isn’t that going against IYC by doing that? as it allows the dog to just take a treat without you telling them they can.
Thank you, Eliana
I have a rescue dog that I have to take to Europe on an 11 hour flight (plus extra time for drop off and pick up means he will be crated for around 15 hours). He has a touch of separation anxiety and is also anxious in the car and not 100% in a crate. What should I work on first? Relaxation? Crate games? I’m stressing out that he will just eat through his crate and run around the airport!! Please don’t tell me not to take him, I am moving to the UK and will not leave him behind. Thank you.
I would for my dog to walk out a door with me WITHOUT bolting out to see if there is anything exciting
I came here today after seeing a Recaller’s post about Gail who has a very reactive dog. She showed photos of her dog(s) at the pub on their mat. How wonderful! I’ve watched this video before, so I don’t know where my brain was. As Susan spoke, I figured it out as my dog knows the dremel as his cue to go lie down. And, so bit it with the mat. Onward and upward. I love these videos.
I’m confused with step 2. step 1 is condition a particular blanket or mat. Step 2 is to reward every time you see them on the mat. So does the mat now stay out or are there several mats? We have a raised bed that we use for ‘in your spot’ for people coming in the house but we calmly reward when he lies there quietly.
Is “with me” a cue that requires a release? For example, if you are walking your dog and you say “with me”, does this mean “keep walking beside me until I give you permission to do something else?”
Thank you!
How do I help my anxious dog to choose calmness? When she awakens, she goes directly to where she does fitffull scratching/pawing.
What do you do if you have border collie that sleeps on a canvas bed because she keeps trying to eat her fluffy dog bed and blankets?