Motion is easy, stillness is hard
Preview
1. Most focus on getting your dog to do things. Sit, down, heel, walk. Exercise. Play dates.
2. We're focused almost to an obsession on action. There is no on and off switch. There is only go, go, go.
3. A well rounded dog needs both an on and off switch
4. The focus on commands, play, creating play dates, dog parks, figuring out how to "socialize"... and it's all in the name of creating a "relaxed" dog.
I just had a dog person tell me they were taking their dog to see Christmas lights so they had something to do! It's extreme.
5. Action—motion, doing stuff, is wildly easy for dogs.
6. Being calm and still, especially in the face of tempting distractions, is anything but easy.
7. We've adapted to constant anxious behavior by staying in motion, physically and mentally and we're now fostering that same behavior on our dogs.
8. Training dogs to do nothing for extended periods of time instead of constantly over stimulating them is one of the most misunderstood part of successfully training a dog for calm and confidence.
9. This is not be misunderstood as a dog doesn't need exercise and motion training... it's just that most never think about how important teaching a dog to relax is to a balanced happy dog life. For your dog and for you.
10. Teach your dog to "Park It".
Here's one example. I like to use this elevated bed "Park It" concept in many areas and for longer and longer durations whether there are distractions or not.
A calm dog is a good. A tired dog can be a good dog too, but not know how to be in a calm, relaxed state even with distractions going on all around, likens it self to be in an anxious state all the time.
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