Teaching a dog to relax is different than teaching a dog to stay. The goal of relaxing is to make it so enjoyable that your dog chooses to relax in any situation because it is predictable and keeps them feeling safe.
Items You Will Need:
- Low-value treats for working indoors and high-value treats when working outdoors
- A dog treat pouch
- A portable, comfortable, non-slip mat to provide your dog with a familiar relaxation spot
How to Teach Your Dog to Relax:
- Pay your dog for relaxing naturally: Hide low-value treats in your pocket and continuously find opportunities to pay your dog whenever and wherever they choose to relax. Place a low-value treat on the surface where your dog is resting and go about your business until the next opportunity arises. Your dog may initially jump up excitedly. Wait for the moment when your dog realizes they are being paid to do nothing but relax.
2. Shaping calm behaviors: Start reinforcing your dog with tiny treats for voluntarily sitting, lying down, settling for longer periods, sprawling out, resting their head, extending their legs out, having droopy eyes or ears, taking a deep breath, and so on. Initially, if your dog can only lie on the floor and calmly stare at you, pay for that. Observe your dog for increasingly relaxed behaviors and pay for truly lounging. Hiding low-value treats in your pocket, such as kibble, can be helpful in this phase.
3. Building duration: Continue to pay your dog every few seconds for settling, but after they understand the goal, you may randomize the treats: three seconds, 10 seconds, five seconds, three seconds, and so on. Increase the frequency of treats if practicing in a difficult environment.
4. Generalization: Continue to practice relaxation at home but also take your dog outside to practice. Initially, go to quiet places with few distractions. Let your dog choose the position they prefer to relax in because the down position may be too difficult.
Examples of Where to Practice:
- Your front hallway with the door open, with a long leash on your dog
- The property surrounding your home
- On the other side of your street
- Sitting together in your car in a quiet parking lot
- A quiet bench at a park
- A friend’s house for coffee
Pro tips:
The magic carpet: Practice relaxation with your dog resting on a small, cozy blanket or bathmat so you can bring the magic carpet with you to veterinary appointments or dog training classes. Your dog will see the bed or mat as a cue to relax.
The safety bubble: A relaxing dog does not want social interactions. When you teach your dog that relaxing is safe, you make a contract to protect your dog and truly keep them safe. Prevent animals or people from entering your dog’s safety bubble when they are relaxing. Avoid startling or disturbing your dog when they are sleeping. Do not require your dog to settle if they are not relaxed and calm enough to offer relaxation voluntarily.
Paying the relaxation bank: The more you pay your dog for relaxing (on their mat or anywhere), the more comfortable they will feel just hanging out. Continuous food reinforcement will associate the act of relaxing with pleasure. Your dog will feel more relaxed the more you practice relaxation.
Seek the advice of a board-certified veterinary behaviorist if your dog struggles with approaches from humans when settled or while engaging with resources.
