Calming an agitated dog: Relaxation grip [Part 6]

The relaxation grip is part of a series of articles and training sessions on the topic of calmness and stress in dogs. We explain how much calmness and activity a dog needs and what happens in the dog's body when your dog is stressed and does not calm down. Possible causes and reasons for restlessness in dogs are also part of this series. Finally, we show you training approaches with free training plans on how to teach your dog calmness with the help of a calmness signal. Calmness means being able to show calmness outside your own four walls. There is a special blanket training 2 Go for this. In this article, we show you how you can build up and use a learned relaxation grip with your dog.

Rest and relaxation

General measures

House rules

The 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 further behaviour. If you don't manage the basics in the house, you don't 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", where we also provide you with a free checklist for setting up your dog.

Boundaries offer security and security offers relaxation

- vitomalia

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 dogs

Ein 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 Hund fördern und deinen H

To ensure that dogs that don't calm down easily get enough exercise but don't get over-excited with too much action, movements that require concentration and calm movement sequences are suitable.

The following activity ideas are ideal for restless dogs:

Salad of sticks or Mikado, over which your dog should climb slowly and with concentration

Rest management

Calm management refers to 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. When it comes to aids, there are a number of 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 convey 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 Dog doesn'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 that 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 antagonist for 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 beginners, advanced and professionals.

Conditioned relaxation with touch: the relaxation grip

If your dog does not calm down, touch can help to teach your dog to calm down. Tension can be eased by touch. The hormone oxytocin plays an important role in relaxation. Touch activates different fibres in the skin that distinguish a good touch (stroking) from a bad touch (biting). This information is passed on to the brain and more oxytocin is released when there is a good touch. The increase in oxytocin has a relaxing effect.

Conditioned relaxation with touch is built up in the same way as conditioned relaxation with a rest signal.

Start in a calm situation where your dog is relaxed.
Stroke your dog gently and, if possible, keep one hand on the dog at all times until deep relaxation is triggered.
While your dog is breathing deeply and lying relaxed, touch him with gentle pressure according to your relaxation touch and hold it for a few seconds.
- Let your dog rest and do not approach him any further.
- If you irritate your dog too much with the relaxation touch so that he comes out of deep relaxation every time, you should consider a different relaxation touch.
Do not look at your dog particularly during the exercise and do not draw attention to yourself.
Continue with the gentle strokes and continue the relaxing touch at intervals of approx. 3-5 minutes.

Procedure: Relaxation → Relaxation grip → Relaxation → Relaxation touch

Repeat the resting exercise of conditioned relaxation over the next few days and weeks.
Only use the relaxation touch 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. "relax touch" and "move on").
Conditioned relaxation must be refreshed regularly in resting situations and should never be regarded as "fully learnt".

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