Marianne and Max: A Tale of Calming an Anxious Dog Through Relaxation Training

Disclaimer: The techniques described in this story are general advice from a veterinary perspective and should not be considered a substitute for professional assessment and training by a certified dog trainer. To achieve the best results, it is important to have your dog’s behavior and health evaluated by a qualified veterinarian and a certified trainer before implementing any training techniques.

Marianne had always been a dog person, so when she and her husband decided to adopt a rescue dog, she was over the moon. They named their new furry friend Max and brought him home.

Marianne and Max drawing illustration.

Max had clearly been mistreated in the past and was extremely anxious. He barked incessantly, cowered at the slightest noise, and even growled at Marianne and her husband on occasion.

Marianne was determined to help Max feel safe and loved in his new home, but she didn’t know where to start. She did some research and found a local dog trainer who specialized in working with anxious and fearful dogs.

The trainer emphasized that before Max could learn any new commands, he needed to be calm and settled. An anxious dog focuses on the perceived threat, not on learning a new task, so the first goal was to teach Max to settle and relax on a verbal command. A calm, relaxed pet can be taught many new things.

The trainer suggested that Marianne start by picking a location to begin the training, such as a specific corner of a room or Max’s bed. For many dogs, the task can be facilitated with a head collar and a leash. In the beginning, training should take place in a quiet, distraction-free environment.

Food rewards usually yield the best results, especially tasty ones, such as people's food. If the food makes the dog too excited, the owner should use a less-palatable treat or a toy. Food should be divided into very small pieces and always paired with a reward phrase, such as “good dog.”

Marianne started by giving Max a command, such as “sit” or “down,” and asked him to remain in that position while being calm. She used a key phrase, such as “easy” or “steady,” to help Max associate relaxation with sit/down and stay. Commands must only be given one time, not repeated over and over. Marianne was able to gauge Max’s relaxation by watching his facial expressions and body postures. The ears should be relaxed, the tail still, and the body relaxed and loose-not stiff and tight. Pupils should be a normal size, the eyes should not dart from side to side, and the brow should not be furrowed.

In most cases, it was necessary to watch Max closely and reward small increments of relaxation. For example, if Max was lying down but wagging his tail vigorously, no reward was given until he stopped wagging his tail. Then the command was given again. Over several repetitions, Max learned not to wag his tail. Noncompliance was ignored by either looking or walking away.

Training sessions were brief, about 5 minutes, to help reduce frustration for both Marianne and Max. Marianne progressed slowly and did not rush the training. In some instances, Max let out a big sigh or put his head down, indicating total relaxation. It was essential that Marianne reward such behavior with a large reward, typically known as a “jackpot,” which could just be a handful of treats all at once. A jackpot is used to mark the response in a very noticeable way. Since the performance was excellent and will be hard to replicate, the training session ended on that day. It was always best to end on a high note.

Once Max was calm with Marianne nearby, Marianne took a few steps away from Max and then returned. If Max did not move or change his emotional state, Marianne could begin to add minor distractions, such as clapping her hands or stamping her feet. Even at this stage, training sessions remained short so Max was successful most of the time.

Finally, Max could use relaxation techniques to begin desensitization exercises to address the problematic target stimuli. To properly desensitize Max, a target stimulus must be kept at a low enough intensity so that Max can respond in a relaxed manner. This is accomplished by developing a stimulus gradient, including all the relevant details of the stimulus, such as size, location, speed of approach, and noise level.

Marianne started by exposing Max to low levels of the stimulus, like a recording of a doorbell, and reinforcing his calm behavior with treats. Over time, she gradually increased the volume of the doorbell recording and moved Max closer to the sound source. Eventually, Max became desensitized to the sound of the doorbell and no longer responded with fear or anxiety.

Using this technique, Marianne was able to help Max overcome his fears of various stimuli, including thunderstorms and fireworks. She also made sure to avoid punishing Max for his fearful behavior, as this would only reinforce his anxiety.

With Marianne’s help, Max became a much more confident and relaxed dog. He no longer cowered at the sound of loud noise and was able to enjoy walks and time outdoors without constant fear. Marianne’s dedication to Max’s training and well-being had paid off, and she was overjoyed to see him living a happy and healthy life.

In conclusion, with patience, persistence, and the right training techniques, it is possible to help anxious dogs like Max overcome their fears and live happier, more relaxed lives. Marianne’s story is a testament to the power of positive reinforcement training and the importance of understanding the root causes of a dog’s anxiety. By working together with her furry friend, Marianne was able to achieve a beautiful transformation that brought joy and fulfillment to both her and Max.

Here is a summary of the relaxation and desensitization techniques used to help Marianne’s dog Max overcome his anxiety:

Relaxation Techniques:

• Teach the dog to settle and relax on a verbal command.
• Start training in a quiet, distraction-free environment.
• Use a specific location, like a dog bed or rug, as a relaxation spot.
• Use food rewards, preferably high-value treats.
• Reward small increments of relaxation.
• Use a key phrase to help the dog associate relaxation with the desired position (like “easy” or “steady”).
• Commands must only be given one time, not repeated over and over.
• Reward the dog with a jackpot (a large reward, typically a handful of treats) when it shows total relaxation.

Desensitization Techniques:

• Develop a stimulus gradient, including all relevant details of the stimulus.
• Keep the stimulus at a low enough intensity so that the dog can respond in a relaxed manner.
• Gradually intensify the stimulus until the dog responds to it in a relaxed manner.

By using these techniques, Marianne was able to help Max overcome his anxiety and become a happy, well-behaved dog.