Show 54: Alone Time + Breaks: Why Dogs Need These to Stay Calm and Happy

I cannot emphasize enough how the skill of knowing how to calm dogs down can go a long way for dog owners wanting the best for their pets. As a dog trainer, I always emphasize the calmest dogs are the happiest dogs. When your dog’s body becomes less stiff, they settle peacefully in one corner, and their breathing regulates—there’s just no better sight. But there’s so much advice and tips out there about helping dogs calm down that I totally understand if you feel unsure, uncertain, or overwhelmed on what to do. Calming dogs down is a passion I have as a dog trainer. I actually have a dog calming course called The Dog Calming Code™ to help calm dogs down! I believe that when our dogs have a period of time to regularly unwind, take a break, and enjoy alone time to let off steam, it will TREMENDOUSLY benefit them—physically, mentally, and emotionally. In this blog, you will learn how to calm your dogs, how to reduce their stress, and how to help them find ways to release stress. Key Takeaways: One of the major causes of stress in dogs comes from the dog assuming the role of leadership. Quiet times can help your dog switch off and de-stress, so it’s important that they have them. Dogs can absorb a great deal of stress from us, their dog owners, so we should be careful with our energies, too. CALMING DOG DOWNS START WITH KNOWING THE IMPORTANT BASICS. START NOW WITH THE DOG CALMING CODE™️. Table of Contents: How to Calm Dogs Down: What I Learned From Car Rides With My Dogs Signs That Tell You Your Anxious Dogs Need to Calm Down How to Calm Dogs Down: Why Your Dog Is Stressed How to Calm Dogs Down: Taking On the Role of the Leader Doggy Dan, How Can Your Dog Calming Code Course Help My Dog? Help Dogs Relax With Alone Times and Breaks Calm Dogs Down With Their Own Retreat Corner How to Know If Your Dog Has Calmed Down How to Calm Dogs Down: 7 Best Tips to Reduce Stress and Anxiety in Dogs Dogs Absorb The Energy of Dog Owners… So Be Calm, Too Conclusion: Wondering How to Calm Dogs Down? You Might Need to Take a Step Away How to Calm Dogs Down: What I Learned from Car Rides with My Dogs My dogs adore my ute (pickup truck with a canopy on the back)! Whenever I feel like my dogs need a break, I just make them hop inside the back of the vehicle, and drive around with the windows down.   Car rides calm my dogs down because they always hop off my ute significantly relaxed — and YES! — happy. All I do is prepare the back of the ute by adding pillows and blankets all around, just to make my dogs feel comfortable. I let them feel the wind, and after a while, they become less tensed, their breathing becomes more steady, and they look almost sleepy! Seeing firsthand that my dogs respond positively to car rides taught me three things. Lesson #1: There Are Free Solutions That Can Help Your Dogs Relax, De-Stress, and Calm Down A simple—but free!—solution such as a car ride can really help our dog’s mental and emotional health. During one of our car rides, I asked myself “What makes these car trips so relaxing for our dogs?” THE PROGRAM THAT HELPED MORE THAN 80,000 DOG OWNERS KNOW HOW TO CALM DOGS DOWN THE RIGHT WAY. LEARN MORE HERE. And the answer: my dogs get their moment to simply turn off the world. No home to guard. …or strangers to worry about. …no overwhelming environment! All they enjoy in the ride is fresh air and a moment of blissful calm. Lesson#2: Apart From Knowing How to Calm Dogs Down, We Should Also Know When to Calm Them Down Now this part is important as it’s easy to misinterpret our dogs. Sometimes, we look at our hyperactive, jumpy dogs and think “Oh, they’re probably just being playful.” However, in reality, they’re actually so stressed. Knowing the cues when to calm dogs down can spare your dogs from stress exhaustion! Signs That Tell You Your Anxious Dogs Need to Calm Down Is your dog simply rowdy or already exhibiting signs of stress and anxiety? Here are common signs to look out for. Sign #1: Excessive Pant