In order for a dog to learn, it has to be focused (just like us!), and focus takes a certain amount of calmness (just ask any sports player). But how do you get your energetic puppy or reactive adult to calm down? Believe it or not, you can train your dog to be calm. I won’t lie, these are not the most fun training sessions you are ever going to do. However, with persistence and patience, you will have a better behaved dog, as well as one that can learn more, because he is more focused. Of the following “secrets,” choose which ones will work the best with your dog’s personality. Some dogs are excited, some are nervous or scared, and others are over-aroused or aggressive. Depending on this and what the environment is like, you made some work better than others.
Offering
One of the ways you can get your dog to calm down is wait for him to actually be calm and then reward him. If your dog can calm down, even for a second and you have good timing with your marker word/clicker, this can be a great way to start creating calm. Gradually, over time, you will find your dog is calm more and more, because that is the behavior that is more reinforcing. It won’t be over night, but you will start to see changes in him eventually. In order to have any type of success, start somewhere easy like at home, where you dog may actually get calm at some point. Some dogs can’t even calm down at home though, so this does not work for everyone.
Stays
Building up a nice long stay can induce calm in a dog. Lie downs are better for this – a lie down where the chin is resting on the floor is best. Again, start somewhere your dog can be calm and focused enough to build up his stay, and then gradually get to higher levels of distractions. There are many ways to teach stay, whichever way you decide to use just make sure it creating a sense of calm in your dog, not aggression, fear, or excitement. For example, at first, I could not use a toy as a reward for my own dog because it was too exciting and he could not calm down. We had to work up to toys. We are still working up to sheep. Some trainers do not put this one cue, wanting their dog to offer this calm behavior all the time. Personally, I want it on cue so it does not mess up my obedience training. That is up to you and your ultimate goals with your dog.
Mat-Stay
Like the above stays, but it gives your dog something to target. For nervous dogs, it can also give them a “safe space” that helps create calmness as well.
Crate Games
There is a great DVD out there called Crate Games by Susan Garrett. Not only does it teach your dog to love his crate, but it can help them learn to stay calm while in it. This is great for dogs that get nervous while traveling, are noisy at trials, or have kennel aggression.
Look at That/Check it Out/Watch Me
All of these games where you ask your dog to look at something and then look at you for a reward; look at something for a reward; or look just at you for a reward, all invoke calmness in your dog. These can work really well for dogs that have a tendency to stare and then get over aroused. They teach your dog that they get rewarded when they see something scary but remain calm.
Stopping the Game
If you have a herding or terrier breed, you may be very frustrated with over-the-top bark and chase drives. To help your dog learn that calmness gets him what he wants, stop play when your dog gets over aroused and starts barking at you, his toy, or the other dogs he is playing with. Same with chasing the kitty in the backyard or the sheep at the farm. If a chase starts, the game is up. A word of caution. If your dog is barking out of fear, because he wants the “thing” to go away, if you remove him (or it) or are actually reinforcing the barking. Unsure? Ask a certified dog trainer to assess your dog.
Other Resources
Here are a few books that will help you in your Quest For Calm: Click to Calm: Healing the Aggressive Dog by Emma Parsons Behavior Adjustment Training: BAT for Fear, Frustration, and Aggression in Dogs by Grisha Stewart On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas
About the Author Based in Wilsonville, Ore., animal lover Kristina N. Lotz is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and works as a full time trainer. She is the founder of A Fairytail House, a unique all-positive all-sport dog training facility that helps rescue dogs in her area and provides free seminars and training classes for the community. In her spare time, she trains and competes in herding, agility, obedience, rally, and conformation with her Shetland Sheepdogs. She smartly married a Veterinary Technician, who helps keep the fur kids happy and healthy, and provides a quick resource for articles.
Toledo, United States.
