Do you have a wild over-the-top dog? Does she get wound up and crazy when you bring out the vacuum or when you see other dogs or when you go for a drive? Author Laura VanArendonk Baugh of “Fired Up Frantic and Freaked Out” talks about getting your dog out of her reactive state and into her cognitive proactive state.
Since dogs can not learn when they are wound-up, overly-stressed or panicked, this relaxation game is a must for changing any wild & crazy dog’s behavior. We start by teaching a simple “Go To Mat” exercise which teaches her to relax. Once she understands relax on the mat, you begin to use it in different scenarios to help her get-a grip! You can use the mat in the car, when you vacuum, with trick-or-treaters and in dog training classes. The mat will become your dog’s “yoga and meditation mat” to help her relax in any stressful situation.
Here are the steps for teaching your dog to relax, which should be the foundation of any good training program:
Before you begin remember:
- Teach all new behaviors in a quiet location before you “take it on the road”.
- Get your supplies ready: a mat or towel, and 50 – 100 tiny treats. Treats should be delivered for each step of the process. Don’t be stingy!
- Go To Mat should be “shaped”. That means even if dog knows down or go to mat, you are going to teach the PROCESS of settling on the mat which is a skill your dog may need to learn.
NOW, Let’s Get STARTED!
- Begin by rewarding dog for looking at the mat, sniffing the mat, walking to the mat, standing on the mat, sitting on the mat, hunching (moving from a sit to a down), and finally down. Be patient this may take a few minutes.
- Once the dog is lying down, begin to reward him for the steps involved in relaxing. This may take a few minutes, so grab a cup of coffee and take a chill pill for 10- 15 minutes while you: Reward dog for any of these: Lowering head, rocking to side, placing chin on mat, rolling to side, exhaling, yawning, blinking, sighing, frog legs, etc… Remember, you are teaching him the PROCESS of relaxing on the mat.
- Practice several times (over a few days) in this quiet location. Your goal is for the dog to know what the mat MEANS. Hint: mat means RELAX – you can call this “settle”.
- Once dog is relaxed on mat– you begin to add distractions such as walking slowly around. As dog continues to relax, you will begin to do crazy things such as running, walking fast, clapping, ringing doorbell, leaving the room, singing etc.. The goal is for dog to stay relaxed while challenging things are happening around him.
- Later, you will take it on the road and practice being relaxed while stressful things are happening around her.
- If your dog is getting upset or wound up- you need to go back a few steps and make it easier again. Remember to heavily reward this relaxation response because it will be an invaluable tool as you take it on the road!