Let’s Talk Calmness: Part 2-Causes of Arousal

Key Topics

• Every dog has a bucket

• What can cause arousal

• What does over-arousal look like

• Two strategies for growing calmness

• Why you want a calm dog

In my June post, I talked about growing calmness in your dog by rewarding calmness.  Today, I am going to talk about what causes over-arousal and give you two more strategies for building calmness.

Every Dog has a Bucket

Let's start by picturing a bucket.  Buckets come in a variety of sizes and shapes.  They hold a variety of substances.  But what happens when you put a bit too much into that bucket…it overflows!
 

*From Absolute Dogs ‘Calmness’ ebook

Think of your dog’s arousal level as a bucket.  Some dogs have a small bucket to contain their arousal and others have a large bucket.  For those with a small bucket, it only takes a few positive or negative experiences to cause that bucket to fill and then spill over.  For dogs with a larger bucket, they can handle a lot more of what life throws at them before their bucket begins to overflow.

What can cause arousal 

Any positive or negative event can increase your dog’s arousal level.  For example, playing with another dog, doing an agility run, seeing a dog they are worried by, the doorbell ringing, or a car driving by.
The effect is cumulative so for some dogs their bucket might fill as follows:

• See their best friend on the morning walk, bucket is 15% full
• Watch a delivery person walk past the window, add another 30% to their bucket
• Their person comes home from work, another 45% increase
• Person grabs the leash to take them for a walk, add 10% and their bucket is now at 100%
• See a cat on the walk……overflow!

When your dog’s bucket hits 100%, they are at their threshold.  Beyond this threshold, you may see over-arousal, frustration, or a fear response.   If your dog’s bucket overflows, it can take up to 72 hours for their bucket to empty!

What does over-arousal look like? 

Lunging, barking, unable to listen, zoomies, biting and mouthing, separation anxiety, whining, not eating, humping, destruction.

Why you want a calm dog

A calm dog is better able to take in the environment and remain calm.  A calm dog can make better choices.  If your dog isn’t always close to bucket overflow, they will be better able to disengage from:

• The other dog
• The person on the bike
• The squirrel they hear in the tree!   

Two strategies for growing calmness

Utilize Calm Zones and Calmness Time to help your dog learn to access the emotion of calmness.

Calm Zones:

For a dog that needs to learn calmness, think about setting up a room in your house that is just for calm activities.   This space will be used for chilling and won’t be used for play, or high arousal training.  The distinction between calm space and fun space will become an environmental cue for when to settle and when to get excited about possible play time with you!
In your dog’s calm space, practice the energy that you want your dog to choose when in that space.  Calmness creates more calmness!

Calmness Time:

Make sure that your dog gets enough rest.  In a busy household, you may need to actively select times during the day to put your dog into a safe and quiet space where they can relax.

You might use a crate, a pen, a suitable boundary or a smaller room in the house.  The goal is to limit choices for anything but rest. 

Before you use the space, it’s important to build value for the space that you are going to use so that your dog can be happy and relaxed in this area.

Initially keep your calmness sessions short, staying nearby (visit often) and make the area super rewarding by providing calm feeding opportunities.

Conclusion

By utilizing Calm Zones, and Calmness Time, you can help your dog empty an overflowing bucket, practice calmness, and grow the emotion of calmness.

Watch for and celebrate the small wins on your dog’s calmness journey.  Over time, those small moments will accumulate until one day you notice that your dog has grown into an overall calm dog!

Reference:

Adapted from the Calmness ebook by Absolute Dogs.

Additional Resources:

Help! My Dog podcast Ep 21: Calmness Training that Fixes Barking, Reactivity, Jumping Up, Not Settling & So Much More!

To learn more from Dr. Mitchell, check out the 'Help! My Dog podcast' at:

Apple Podcast 

Spotify

Other Resources:

Sexier Than a Squirrel Podcast Calmness is King! Here's Your Key to a Calm K9!

YouTube Absolute Dogs How to Teach Your Dog to be CALM and SETTLED!

YouTube Absolute Dogs Pro Tips On Growing Calmness In Your Dog, Try Them Today!

YouTube Absolute Dogs  My Dog is Struggling With Calmness