[Day 09] The Protocol for Relaxation - Relaxation and impulse control for your dog
Basic obedience: Day 09 of 56
This video and training is part of the Grunge Obedience Concept, a structured programme to promote obedience and the bond between humans and dogs. The concept is carefully didactic and methodical to ensure that each exercise builds on the previous one for maximum effectiveness. It is crucial that you carry out the training in the intended order to achieve the best possible results for your dog.
Have you ever experienced your dog suddenly staring at something, be it a bird, another dog or an exciting smell, and simply not listening to you? Don't worry, we've all been there! This is where the attention or reorientation signal comes into play. It's like a little "magic word" that helps your dog to break away from a distraction and focus on you again.
In this blog, we explain how to train the attention signal, why it is a super useful tool in everyday life and how it helps you to improve communication with your dog.
Aim: To teach your dog to remain calm in different situations and improve his impulse control.
Equipment: Dog Bed or blanket, treats, clicker or marker signal, quiet room
Place: At home
Duration: 15 days (depending on the dog's progress, the days can be extended up to 30 or more days), approx. 10-15 minutes per day
Protocol for Relaxation - Was ist das?
The Protocol for Relaxation (or Relaxation Protocol) by Dr Karen Overall is a fairly widespread method for training relaxation in a sustainable way. Dr Karen Overall is a behavioural researcher and has already developed several such concepts. It forms a wonderful foundation for many other dog training programmes, such as welcoming visitors, generally switching off, calming down outside, impulse control and many other exercises.
The Protocol for Relaxation is structured over a total of 15 days. Depending on how quickly your dog learns, you can also split the days so that you go through half of the tasks, then take a break and then do the rest of the tasks again at a later date. Remember that the key to success is consistency and appropriate rewards. No dog is perfect from one day to the next. So only train with your dog for as long as it works well. The speed should be adapted to your dog. If necessary, divide the Protocol for Relaxation into 30 days or even more. As mentioned before, adjust the pace to your dog and don't rush him, because he should ultimately relax.
The aim is for your dog to be able to sit or lie down, i.e. stay, while he relaxes and you perform exercises at the same time. It doesn't matter whether your dog sits or lies down. If you start with sit and your dog lies down over time, all the better. The aims of the Protocol of Relaxation are to teach your dog to relax, to concentrate on you and still remain balanced. The idea is that your dog:
- learns impulse control in a variety of situations and
- connects the space you have defined with a place for rest and relaxation.
You should always end the exercises positively, i.e. in such a way that the task has been completed. If you notice that your dog's concentration is waning, end the exercise and start again after a short break. Trying to overshoot the target and exceed your dog's mental limits will only cause unnecessary anxiety and frustration. If the dog is able to perform all tasks and exercises both on and off the lead in one place (e.g. the living room), repeat all exercises in other rooms and places (the backyard or the park - on the lead). You can and should practise the Protocol for Relaxation in many different places (especially outside).
You'll find the perfect equipment with us
Stress and relaxation
Not every dog is inherently relaxed and that's ok, our dogs are so different. However, it is not healthy to live under constant tension and the Protocol for Relaxation is a great way to actively learn relaxation. Of course, neither the dog nor you can be relaxed in every situation. But that doesn't matter, because stress is essential for us and our dogs to survive and always signals danger to us. Stress is therefore a normal biological process, but a healthy and balanced level of stress is important.
The exciting thing about Protocol for Relaxation is that you not only teach your dog to be calm and relaxed, but you also train your dog's impulse control and at the same time give your dog an intensive mental workout. So it's a great training not only for practising relaxation, but also for bad weather, for old and inactive dogs or simply as an everyday mental exercise.
ℹ Info
Many dogs go through a period of 3 to 7 days in which their behaviour gets worse before it improves. These exercises give your dog a structure of rules to follow, and for some dogs this can initially mean frustration and complete freak-outs. However, once your dog finds out that he is rewarded for relaxing, his behaviour will quickly improve.
The exciting thing about Protocol for Relaxation is that you not only teach your dog to be calm and relaxed, but you also train your dog's impulse control and at the same time give your dog an intensive mental workout. So it's a great training not only for practising relaxation, but also for bad weather, for old and inactive dogs or simply as an everyday mental exercise.
Summary
The attention or reorientation signal is a valuable tool that helps you and your dog to stay connected even in difficult situations. It not only encourages your dog to focus on you, but also strengthens your communication and your bond. With a well-trained attention signal, you can guide your dog safely through distractions and help him to focus his attention on you without overwhelming him.
Remember that training this signal takes time, patience and consistency. Start in a low-stimulus environment and slowly increase the distractions so that your dog is successful every step of the way. Always associate the signal with positive experiences so that your dog is happy to perform it. In the end, you will both benefit - you will have a dog that can orientate itself better and your dog will know that it can always rely on you, no matter what the situation.
By using the attention signal, you create clear and gentle communication that strengthens your dog's trust in you and makes him more confident in stressful moments. The signal will become an indispensable companion in everyday life, helping you to overcome challenges together.
This video and training is part of the Grunge Obedience Concept, a structured programme to promote obedience and the bond between humans and dogs. The concept is carefully didactic and methodical to ensure that each exercise builds on the previous one for maximum effectiveness. It is crucial that you carry out the training in the intended order to achieve the best possible results for your dog.
The authors: Paulina & Lui
Paulina and Lui are the heart and soul behind Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store]. Her journey in dog training began with the adoption of her first list dog, Vito. This experience sparked her deep interest in teaching other dog owners about dog behaviour and training. Initially this was just a hobby, but with the adoption of the American Pitbull Amalia, who had been relinquished several times due to severe behavioural problems, her passion developed into a true vocation. Amalia's particular behavioural challenges intensified her interest in dog training and behavioural therapy. This turning point led Paulina and Lui to leave their original career paths, undergo intensive further training and dedicate themselves fully to the subject of dog training. Their work with human-dog teams also revealed a gap in the dog market: there was a lack of safe, high-quality dog accessories specifically for medium-sized and large breeds.
From this realisation, Vitomalia [Dogstraining & Store] was born, a combination of their commitment to professional dog training and the need for quality dog accessories. Paulina and Lui bring their personal experience, extensive knowledge and passion for dogs to every product to help human-dog teams live together.