The ‘Off Switch’

The ability to ‘switch off’ and relax is often impossible for higher drive and very anxious dogs before training.

In this video, you’ll hear me coaching Hilde in how to relax her body when her impulses are compelling her to be over alert, busy and anxious.

Hilde is an anxious dog who did a lot of pacing, whining, barking and reacting before training so one of the major areas we are working on is teaching her how to keep her body still and relaxed and her mind calm when asked to do so by her handler. This is called passive training but it is far more difficult and tiring for Hilde than all of our active training combined!

Since having a calm mindset and a relaxed body is a totally foreign and extremely difficult task for Hilde, holding a calm and relaxed place command every day along with a very consistent crating routine are going to be part of her lifelong prescription for keeping her anxiety and separation anxiety tightly managed and minimized. Great work Hilde!