Week 8

[Day 51] Dawdling - rest exercises as mental exercise for your dog

October 1, 2024

Time to read 6 min

Basic obedience: Day 51 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.

Mentally exercising dogs doesn't always mean action, exercise and ball games. Sometimes it's the exact opposite - consciously calming down - that challenges dogs the most. Calm exercises are one of the underestimated forms of exercise and are essential for your dog's emotional stability.

Day 51 of the training plan focuses on exactly that: with the help of targeted rest breaks, your dog will learn to develop patience and composure. At the same time, you will train his frustration tolerance - an important skill that dogs need in order to remain calm in stressful situations and not let impatience or restlessness get the better of them.

These exercises can be easily integrated into everyday life. Whether on a walk, on a park bench or even at home - calming exercises are flexible, require little equipment and promote not only your dog, but also your bond together.

Goal: Your dog can relax in public places.

Equipment: food toy or chew, Collar, Leash

Location: Low-stimulus outdoor environment

Duration: 1-5 min.

Trainingsplan Download

The importance of rest as part of capacity utilisation

Rest exercises are a key part of keeping your dog not only physically but also mentally active. Exercise is often equated with active activities such as playing, sport or long walks, but dogs also urgently need periods of relaxation to stay balanced and happy.

Dogs live in a world full of stimuli: sounds, smells, movements and interactions with other creatures constantly stimulate their senses. Without regular periods of rest, this can lead to overstimulation, which can result in stress, nervousness or even behavioural problems. Rest exercises help your dog to process this sensory overload and return to a balanced state.

It is often more difficult for dogs to do nothing than to be active. Training patience and learning to stay calm in a moment of inactivity is just as mentally challenging for your dog as a physical task. It strengthens your dog's ability to regulate their emotions and deal with frustrating situations. This so-called frustration tolerance is an essential component for harmonious coexistence and makes it easier for your dog to remain calm in stressful everyday situations.

From a canine perspective, the balance between activity and rest is crucial for your dog's well-being. In nature, wolves - the ancestors of our dogs - spend a large part of their time resting and gathering strength for the next activity. Rest is therefore not a "useless" state, but an important prerequisite for staying mentally and physically fit.

Australian Shepherd lies next to owner and looks at her

ℹ Why doing nothing is hard for dogs

For dogs, "doing nothing" is not a matter of course. Unlike us humans, who can actively seek relaxation, dogs react strongly to external stimuli and are naturally programmed to pay attention to their surroundings. This behaviour is deeply rooted in their biology and has its roots in evolution.

The ancestors of our dogs, the wolves, spent a large part of their time searching for food or monitoring their surroundings for potential dangers. Even though wolves have extended periods of rest, their behaviour is always in the context of ensuring survival: constant attention and activity were essential to survive in the wild. This biological predisposition is still present in our dogs today.

Young or active dogs in particular therefore often find it difficult to do "nothing" in a situation. Instead, they look for ways to release energy or occupy themselves. Consciously training them to be calm helps them to control this natural restlessness and respond to signals from you.

Benefits of resting exercises for dogs and humans

Rest exercises are far more than just a break in everyday life. They offer your dog the opportunity to develop important skills that will improve his behaviour and emotional stability in the long term. At the same time, they promote your relationship and create a moment of relaxation for both of you.

Promotion of self-control
Calm exercises challenge your dog to control his impatience and engage with the situation. He learns that doing nothing is not a loss, but an opportunity to calm down. This ability to self-regulate has a positive effect on many everyday situations - whether it's lying relaxed with you in a café or staying calm when nothing exciting is happening.

Mental utilisation through patience
Even if it looks as if your dog is "doing nothing", staying in one place challenges him mentally. He has to suppress his impulses, allow himself to be distracted by external stimuli and learn to remain calm. This type of mental exercise is particularly effective for dogs that are otherwise easily agitated or stressed, as they learn to channel their energy in a new way.

Stress reduction and emotional stability
While active play often increases adrenaline levels, consciously staying still does the opposite: the production of stress hormones such as cortisol is reduced and your dog reaches a relaxed state. This helps him to remain emotionally stable even in exciting or stimulating environments.

Improving the perception of the environment
Targeted resting exercises teach your dog to perceive his surroundings in a different way. Instead of always being on the move, he has time to process odours, sounds and visual stimuli in peace. This strengthens his ability to concentrate on details without reacting impulsively.

Strengthening the human-dog bond
By giving your dog clear signals during calming exercises and helping him to stay calm, you will strengthen your co-operation. He learns to orientate himself towards you and to trust you, even if he is frustrated or impatient. This form of positive interaction not only promotes obedience, but also mutual understanding.

Trainingsplan Download

You'll find the perfect equipment with us

Summary

Calm exercises are an effective and often underestimated method of mentally challenging dogs and promoting their emotional stability. By taking targeted breaks in which your dog learns to remain patient and calm, you strengthen his frustration tolerance and help him to cope better in stressful everyday situations.

The gradual build-up of rest exercises - from short breaks in quiet environments to longer periods of time in places with more distractions - allows your dog to progress at his own pace. This is not only important for his development, but also for your bond together. Your dog learns that he can rely on you and that rest is an integral part of his life.

The exercises are flexible and require hardly any equipment, making them an ideal addition to your everyday life. Whether on a walk, on a bench in the park or simply at home - with calming exercises you can offer your dog a challenge that balances him mentally and emotionally.

Over the next few days, you can look forward to more exciting ideas to keep your dog busy in a variety of ways and make your time together even more enriching.

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Cocker spaniel walks on harness and on a lead in the Graf and looks at his owner

[Day 50] Food dummy search - The perfect activity 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 entirely 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.