Try this Dog Relaxation Protocol by Karen Overall (Day One through Day Five!) //THE KIND CANINE

[@SleepyZoop]

its always bothered me that theres basically no videos showing a real life real time example of stuff like this. its so useful, thank you so much. your videos are awesome

[@TheKindCanine]

So glad it was helpful for you! I love visual representations like this, too. 🙃

[@ellenfrank1067]

Doing this is real time is very useful. Thank you.

[@jordeningtanya1462]

Thank you for sharing something like this in full. I am going to do this with Espy. Already she has become so happy and contented using the training I have learned from you. Everyone who met her when we rescued her is surprised that she is the rescue dog they met before. Thank you.

[@TheKindCanine]

So wonderful to hear! 🫶

[@rochelleunangst3856]

Ohh great content! How was i not already following?! Thank you for sharing this, i love the editing with the green/red with appropriate sound effects, it kept me engaged.

[@TheKindCanine]

Welcome aboard! Glad it was helpful!

[@robinrutherfordcost4748]

This is a wonderful video for working up to an out of site stay too! Will fwd to my students - TY so much! Hope that helps.

[@TheKindCanine]

Definitely some great splitting in this protocol - I use this framework for a LOT of things! ❤️

[@valoreilly9917]

I have just discovered your channel today and have loved watching a few of your videos. You make everything so clear and much easier than some training I have been looking at, which has not really fully worked with my Border Collie. I will be starting tomorrow with the mat training and then with LAT. Thank you so much for your videos and information. This video is one of the best I have seen for clear, and full 'instructions'. I am looking forward to trying day one! 🥰

[@TheKindCanine]

So glad it was helpful for you! I try my best to create resources that are comprehensive and thorough, while also leaving room for your dog’s individual personality and preferences by giving lots of options and strategies to try. ❤️ Good luck on your journey!

[@fukkireta0097]

Before, I know only about protocol when we give the treat when dog looks more relaxed. And it's always failed because dog just tried to find "right" pose. This protocol looks easier, so I definitely try this.

[@bethcolman1980]

Thank you so much for this in-depth video! We are getting ready to adopt a rescue dog and I'm sure your tips will be invaluable.

[@TheKindCanine]

Glad it was helpful! This can be a wonderful starter skill especially for new-to-you dogs!

[@suziq1533]

I just adopted a very young std poodle pup. He is brilliant and independent minded; so, I must up my game to succeed with him. I discovered your channel when browsing for advice about using a long lead for training. What a great find!! The step by step, followed by the demo, is awesome! I immediately subscribed and am embarking on this relaxation technique, the targeted touch and the long lead. Going great so far! Thanks!

[@TheKindCanine]

Best of luck!

[@theresa7777]

I’ve always wondered if I needed to say ‘sit’ when the dog is already in a down. And I have not seen the marking used or addressed, either. This is so very, very helpful. Thank you!

[@shawnabaskette3387]

Me too. I read the protocol and imagined that I would have to make my dog stand and then sit or lay again before going to the next protocol. But if the goal is to have her completely relaxed then that would be counterproductive. Thanks for the detailed video!

[@thisbeingspace]

Thanks for making and sharing this. This 'relaxation' protocol mentions the need for mastering two other foundational protocols before doing this one, is there a reason you're not utilising the 'taking a breath' protocol before the treats?

[@TheKindCanine]

In my experience, incorporating TAB is not always necessary in this process for most of my clients. 👍🏻 But it’s a good question!

[@enrica1877]

HI I LOVE THIS!! I'm currently on day 3 and I love it, I'm doing it because my 1 year-old dog as some difficulties on relaxing. Is there a specific moment of the day in which we should do this? Like as soon as he wakes up, for example? I kind of realized that my dog can't stay relaxed as soon as he wakes up, this means that he wakes up at 6 am wanting to play, does it make sense id I try to do it when he wakes up to help him stay relaxed in those moments? thankssss :)

[@TheKindCanine]

Good question! I'd say to do this when you can get the most success out of it. Maybe this could be a good thing to do after a good long walk so that you're getting a dog that is primed for relaxation. You certainly could do this at more active times of day as well, but you're kind of swimming upstream if you will. Go deep first, then broad. Meaning, get success on multiple days first before you try to generalize this to other parts of the day or in other locations! The skills will transfer to those other situations more quickly that way!

[@enrica1877]

@@TheKindCanine thank you so much!! ❤️❤️

[@jenniferguirado4827]

Great video

[@noelia6636]

Me: *Starts clapping randomly in the middle of the day* My neighbors: 👁👄👁

[@TheKindCanine]

This made me laugh so hard 😂

[@nyrhockeychick4life655]

😂😂 win 🏆🏆

[@marian1576]

I met with Dr. Overall to get her assistance with my young dog. She discussed the protocol for relaxation with me and I remember her saying that she wants lots of talking to the dog during it. This next quote is from her writeup, and The Kind Canine has included this handout in the description above. This should NOT be a silent process. "Note that you talk non-stop to the dog or cat at the beginning of these programs. This type of talking is not allowed in obedience classes, but is desperately needed with inexperienced puppies and kittens and problem dogs and cats. These dogs and cats need all the cues that they can get. They need the constant guidance and reassurance of hearing your voice with clear instructions. These instructions and reassurances should occur in the context of shaping or gradually guiding their behavior towards more appropriate behaviors. You will have to learn to read subtle cues that your dog or cat is giving and using these to your advantage. You will find this easier to do than you believe. The one thing that you absolutely cannot do is to talk a continuous stream to the dog or cat without receiving the context appropriate responses to your requests. If you just rush through everything you will only stress the dog or cat and teach him to ignore everything you say. This is not good. A corollary of this admonition is that it is necessary to use consistent terminology of brief phrases and to do so in an environment when no one else is carrying on long, loud, distracting conversations."

[@TheKindCanine]

I think this is a valuable contribution to the conversation, so thank you! And I agree with you - we want to provide support to our animals by giving them as much information as we can and preventing stress and/or frustration in the process of relaxation, especially since these two concepts are particularly antithetical to the state that we’re after! I also think that there are so many benefits to people learning how to be quiet observers of their dog. The more that people learn to listen to what their dogs are saying through their body language, the better they can cultivate their responses accordingly. Trust me when I say that, even though this process is very quiet in its execution with my own dogs, there is an extensive conversation being had between the two of us. ❤️

[@cindyscholz2209]

This is a great video. When Chester is 'sitting' is Eric giving eye contact?

[@TheKindCanine]

Hey @cindy - usually not. Direct eye contact is pretty forward (just like for humans), so he's usually just clocking Chester using his peripherals. Since we have a good relationship with Chester, it wouldn't be taken as too intimidating, but we're trying to project a calm, relaxing energy, so we're avoiding direct eye contact when possible!

[@robinrutherfordcost4748]

Think it depends on your dog too. Like my one Dobe gives me love eyes and actually prefers when I give love eyes back. When I'm not looking at him, he tends to get distracted and starts looking elsewhere. My Beagle/JRT mix I can't look at or she will just move towards me, off the mat or even off a raised bed. So I look off to the side for her. Hope that helps.

[@LaurenClemison]

Should the dog remain down in between steps, or is it okay if they stand to get the treat and then after I direct them back down?

[@TheKindCanine]

They should remain down between steps, but if they stand up, I redirect them back to the mat and try that step again. If they fail a second time, that means I need to break that particular step down into smaller pieces and retry that “day” in the following session.

[@Isagine]

❤je m abonne! I want to change the barking of my Yorshire 🤔

[@marydwyer2775]

Does it have to be a mat like one in video or can it just be his dog bed?

[@TheKindCanine]

I personally like to use a portable blanket/mat because it makes it easier to generalize to new places, but you can absolutely do it with a bed!

[@nyrhockeychick4life655]

Anything placed on the floor (dog beds included; are immediately shredded by the nugget. Even new beds. His own beds! Even after allllll the sniff walks, parks, playtime, dog stores we go to)….it Drives me nuts. He’s 11 months. If I put a Matt down - he will hands down destroy it within 2 minutes. I try SO hard with him. I’m honestly breaking myself

[@TheKindCanine]

@@nyrhockeychick4life655 you might try a raised cot instead! It sounds like your dog might find a cushy bed too tempting to chew. 😅

[@marydwyer2775]

Thank you for your reply!

[@watchmoivies123]

I want to start this but I can’t watch a video and do it at the same time. Is there somewhere where it’s written down and I could actually print it and put it on the wall

[@TheKindCanine]

There is a link to the protocol in the description! 👍🏻

[@inthelandofwinter-1]

On Day 2, 3, 4, etc do you start from the beginning of Day 1 and go through all of the tasks up to whichever day you're at? Or is each day just working on that days tasks with no repeat of previous days?

[@TheKindCanine]

Once your dog has mastered the task set for Day 1, you move onto Day 2 (and do not repeat Day 1, unless you’re working in a new environment - in which case, I would consider starting back at Day 1 to help with generalization and work your way up from scratch). I hope this helps!

[@stephaniefournier2818]

My gs puppy is kinda intense and high-strung. If she is still sitting after the first original sit - do I need to keep asking her to sit for each next step of the task? I’m asking because she seems to find it irritating / frustrating / confusing to be asked to sit when she’s already sitting… Do I read the tasks out loud as shown in the video or just ask her to sit once, give treat after 2 seconds. If still sitting, maybe tell her ‘wait’ and give next treat after the 5 seconds, then ‘wait’ and treat after 10 sec?

[@TheKindCanine]

I strongly recommend that you watch the step by step with Chester in this video, if you haven’t! We are not asking him to sit in between tasks, and we are not reading the tasks out loud. We are simply reading them so that people can follow along with the audio. :) I hope this helps!

[@stephaniefournier2818]

Oh yes that does help, I thought you were reading them out loud to Chester. Thanks for your reply!

[@hearnoevilaustraliandeafdo7484]

What is an alternative to clapping your hands for a deaf dog?

[@TheKindCanine]

I would try out waving your hands (individually or together, for a set amount of time), in this case!

[@anastasiaforbes7084]

I’ve been doing this with my dog and she’s passed every time. However she will get up to stretch. Should I correct that?

[@TheKindCanine]

If the dog is getting up from the mat, at any point during the protocol, I would consider it to be a “failure” on the given step in which it happened. In the moment, I will redirect the dog to the bed and try the step again. If they are successful, I will move on with the rest of the checklist for that day - and repeat that day the next time I do the protocol. If they fail a second time (getting off the bed during a given step), I will break down that step into digestible pieces and help get them to the point where they can be successful. For example, if a dog gets up two times in a row while I am jogging a full circle around them, I might break down that step into quarter turns, half turns, three-quarter turns, and then eventually a full turn - or try it at a walking pace and work my way up to jogging. Once the dog is successful, I will usually proceed with the remainder of the protocol if I think they have the stamina for it. In this case, again, I will repeat that checklist the following day. I hope that helps!

[@eliseives345]

I haven't seen all your videos, so this may have already been addressed, but why do you use 'Yes' rather than 'Good dog,' 'Well done,' or something like that?

[@TheKindCanine]

Great question Elise! This isn't really something that we've covered elsewhere either! For the skinny on marker words, read this: susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/09/three-verbal-markers-in-dog-training/ You could use "good dog" or "well done" or any other short word or phrase to mark the behavior you want to see. We chose "yes!" because it is easy to say, and we can be pretty consistent in "how" we're saying it Ideally, we could use a clicker here. It would serve the same purpose!

[@crookedriverranchman]

Great Job Erica.

[@nyrhockeychick4life655]

Gary sits on the couch. He sometimes snuggles in his cuddler bed after 3 hours at the park & 30 mins of soccer. Is the couch okay? - legit wasn’t even kidding

[@TheKindCanine]

I often tell my clients that there isn’t a book of “dog training rules” - if you are cool with your dog being on the couch with you, then great! :) A lot of trainers who use outdated information perpetuate this idea that your dog shouldn’t have access to the furniture - and, when it comes to the overall picture of behavior, that’s just nonsense. Unless your dog is guarding the couch, there is no reason why you can’t allow him up there!