Indoor rest training: Conditioned relaxation with rest signal [Part 4]
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Practising calmness means dealing specifically with calmness and relaxation. Relaxation and calmness cannot be trained like a "sit" and then recalled at will. Implementing calmness in everyday dog life means focusing the day specifically on calmness and thus primarily pursuing measures and calmness management.
An adult and healthy dog needs about 16-20 hours to doze and sleep. Puppies or old dogs need more than 16-20 hours of rest. Some dogs find their rest on their own. Other dogs need the help of humans. This may be due to the fact that the dog has not learned it from the beginning, or because its personality and character favours it. Diseases and dysfunctions can also be the cause of a restless dog. You can read more about this in the blog Why rest is so healthy .
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General measuresHouse rulesThe house rules form the foundation of dog training. As the owner of the house, you decide which house rules and which rules apply. rules make living together easier and create respect and acceptance. In dog training, the house rules form the foundation for all other behaviour. If you don't get the basics right in the house, you don't even need to start with behavioural problems outside. If you would like to find out more about this topic, take a look at our video and blog on "The 4 most important house rules for your dog". We also provide you with a free checklist for setting up your dog.
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Mood transfer and calm
Mirror neurons are responsible for so-called mood transmission. Research into mirror neurons began in 1992 with the Italian researcher Giacomo Rizzolatti and his team on macaque monkeys and is still in its infancy today. Mirror neurons ensure that action tendencies arise based on observation. This is essential for survival, especially in groups or herds, and therefore makes a lot of sense. If a herd animal detects an enemy, it runs off and the others will follow it. This makes it more difficult for the enemy to choose and hunt and ensures the survival of the herd members. Mirror neurons and mood transmission are existential for our survival.
Mirror neurons are not only responsible for action patterns but, as the name "mood transmission" suggests, also for mood and emotions.
Mood transfer is possible within species, e.g. between dog and dog, and between species, e.g. between humans and dogs. If you are stressed and restless, you unconsciously transfer this mood to your dog. Your dog perceives your restlessness through different signals: your posture, your voice, chemically through your sweat or also through your actions. Dogs are able to perceive our emotions. However, mood transfer should not be misunderstood and humanised as "my dog understands me". No, your dog senses your emotions.
If your dog does not calm down, the restlessness may be due to your current emotional state. So always question your emotions in order to teach your dog to be calm. Breathe in and out deeply before the exercises and allow yourself to become calm and balanced during the exercises.
Activity ideas for restless dogsEin Hund, der nicht zur Ruhe kommt, muss Ruhe beigebracht bekommen. Ruhe kannst du zunächst durch einen ruhigen und ausgeglichenen Alltag schaffen. Ein unruhiger Hund benötigt keine 2 Stunden Ballspiele und 10 km Spaziergänge ohne Leash. Was dieser Hund benötigt, sind Strukturen und bewusste und ausgeglichene Beschäftigungen. Übermässige Bewegung, die deinen Hund lediglich körperlich auslastet, schafft eine ungesunde Kombination der Dopamin-Ausschüttung. Vielleicht kennst du die berühmt-berüchtigten Ball-Junkies: Der Hund jagt wie irre einem Ball hinterher und es wird vermehrt Dopamin im Körper ausgeschüttet. Dopamin hat motivations- und antriebssteigernde Effekte und besitzt einen Belohnungseffekt. Das Ballspielen wird zu einem regelrechten Dopamin-Kick für deinen Hund. Dieser Dopamin-Kick sorgt dafür, dass der Hund mehr und länger kann – denn Dopamin ist antriebsfördernd. Der Belohnungseffekt wird langfristig gesehen immer mehr und längeres Ballspiel bei deinem Movements that require concentration and calm movement sequences are suitable to ensure that dogs that don't calm down easily get enough exercise but don't get over-excited by too much action. The following activity ideas are ideal for restless dogs:
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Rest management
Calm management means the targeted promotion of calm through a calm environment, targeted and calm activities with the dog as well as aids. The keyword in everyday life is deceleration. There are several measures you can take to specifically promote relaxation. In the article on "Why calm is so healthy" we name aids such as music, C'B'D', scents and herbs and other supports for more calm in your dog and go into more detail about the extent to which the aids are actually helpful.
Reward rest
You can teach calmness by rewarding calmness. Play or direct interaction is not always suitable for this. Food as a reward can help with some dogs, but have the opposite effect with others. You can find out how to recognise relaxation in the freebie from the blog Dogs don't calm down. Reward a balanced mood with calmness, depending on the exercise by releasing or starting an activity.
Calmness should take place as a learning experience without a direct reaction from the human. this means that calmness exercises do not always have to be rewarded directly with treats, but the dog should learn through experience. your dog should learn through active engagement with its environment and so you can teach your dog calmness without creating an expectation. expectations and non-fulfilment would lead to frustration and stress. so if you decide to use food for calmness training, you must either reduce the food in the course of the training or confirm it again and again with food. If your dog does not calm down, its expectation is the biggest opponent to coming down. During calmness exercises, you support your dog by promoting calmness through your inner calmness and supporting your dog on a social level - "social support".
Examples from practice:
- When setting off for a walk, only start when your dog is in a calm position.
- You are only allowed to go to the dog buddy when your dog calms down on the Leash and withdraws.
- If your dog calms down in the dog park, it can be confirmed with a chew or gentle praise.
Many dog owners simply don't want to put up with this "stress" and unintentionally confirm their dog's restless behaviour. Consistency and a persistent approach to restless behaviour in everyday life is half the battle when it comes to calm training. If the dog doesn't calm down, first ask yourself the question: How often do I confront my dog to calm down and how often do I give in?
Impulse control & frustration tolerance
Two important core skills for teaching your dog calmness are impulse control and frustration tolerance. We have already put together impulse control training for you for beginners, advanced and professionals .
Conditioned relaxation with rest signal
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Start this calming exercise spontaneously when your dog is in a balanced and relaxed mood. You can perform this calming exercise with your dog while you are both on the sofa or you are sitting on the floor with your dog. Conditioned relaxation refers to relaxation that has been learnt in a situation in which calm has been set in the context of a signal, the calm signal. If the calm signal is built up sustainably in relaxed situations, relaxation can be induced in tense situations with the help of the calm signal. The principle is based on the principles of classical conditioning, in which a stimulus is linked to a reaction. Conditioned relaxation will not transform your dog from a leash bully to a sleeping pill. The practice of conditioned relaxation will allow you to regulate your dog's arousal level in stressful situations and make him more responsive. Conditioned relaxation allows your dog to take a step back. In the language of youth, one would say: "Chill your base" - and that is exactly what you want to achieve: a more relaxed basic attitude.
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- Start in a calm situation where your dog is relaxed.
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Stroke your dog gently or use the method that triggers quick and deep relaxation in your dog:
- some dogs like to be brushed,
- Others prefer a massage,
- Some dogs have a favourite place to be cuddled,
- etc.
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While your dog is breathing deeply and lying relaxed, you now say your calm signal in a calm voice so that your dog doesn't start to look at you.
- If your dog prefers to relax without you touching him, you can sit next to your dog while he relaxes.
- At a moment when your dog is very relaxed, gently say the calm signal.
- Let your dog rest and do not approach him any further.
- Do not look at your dog particularly during the exercise and do not draw attention to yourself.
- Continue with the relaxation method and say the rest signal at intervals.
- After saying the rest signal 4-5 times, you can end this exercise.
- Repeat the resting exercise of conditioned relaxation over the next few days and weeks.
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Only use the rest signal after an intensive build-up of at least five units:
- initially in a less tense situation,
- with more calm practice in tense situations,
- always combined with alternative behaviour or other instructions (e.g. "Chill" and "Keep going").
- Conditioned relaxation must be refreshed regularly in resting situations and should never be regarded as "fully learnt".
- the situation may be too tense for your dog,
- you should induce relaxation with your body (e.g. through targeted touch),
- if possible to escape the violent situation.
You can also condition the conditioned relaxation with a scent, a blanket or a certain touch instead of a rest signal. The advantage of a rest signal is that you always have it with you.
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