An Introduction to Calm Dog Training Methods
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Calm Dog™ training is based on the concept that high energy behaviors (Fear, Aggression, Hyperactivity) are caused by the dog stimulating the production of Adrenaline and other high energy chemicals. On the other hand, CALM DOGS are under the influence of Serotonin and other low energy chemicals.
While many studies, such as the 2001 World Small Animal Veterinarian Association World Congress report: Impulsivity in Dogs – Assessment and Treatment, Juame Fatjo, Spain, have found these types of associations; this book will present these concepts anecdotally and not scientifically. Therefore, some of the concepts in this book are analogies used for the general public, not specific scientific references. Some dogs seem almost addicted to Adrenaline and will go out of their way to keep finding triggers to produce adrenaline in their system. Other dogs simply have a quick adrenaline response to any new stimulus (such as the doorbell or seeing another dog while walking), so they get hyper very quickly. |
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Just like a child who has eaten too much sugar and caffeine, a dog on adrenaline is in a Chemically Hyperactive State. The key is to disrupt the adrenaline process and replace the adrenaline with calming chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine naturally through conditioning the brain to produce these chemicals more often in order to receive attention.
This concept of brain chemical reduction and stimulation makes Calm Dog Training fundamentally different from other training methods.
Most training methods introduce some sort of reward or treat, almost as a bribe, to get the dog to perform a PHYSICAL action –such as sit or lay down. This type of training can get a dog to sit, but generally fails to teach your dog how to Calm Down, because the training keeps the dog in a high energy state of mind.
Adrenaline is the primary “fight, flight or hyperact” chemical in dogs. When released it floods the dog’s body with energy. This energy must then be dissipated –generally through jumping, barking, running, lunging, and shaking or trembling. The physical response that adrenaline produces in your dog depends on your dog’s basic nature/ If your dog is basically friendly, then the response is typically hyperactive friendly behavior. If your dog is basically skittish, then the reaction may look like fear –trembling, hiding, running, barking and even fear based aggression. If your dog is strong and protective, then the reaction turns into barking and possibly lunging and even biting.
Adrenaline is produced in FEARFUL, EXCITING and AGGRESSIVE SITUATIONS. That is why Calm Dog training is so effective for Fearful, Excited and/or Aggressive dogs –because it addresses the root cause of the problem. The goal of Calm Dog Training is to disrupt the adrenaline release process and to reinforce the production of serotonin and other calming chemicals. These methods are not a replacement for anxiety medication, and we can not guarantee to rehabilitate traumatized dogs.
This concept of brain chemical reduction and stimulation makes Calm Dog Training fundamentally different from other training methods.
Most training methods introduce some sort of reward or treat, almost as a bribe, to get the dog to perform a PHYSICAL action –such as sit or lay down. This type of training can get a dog to sit, but generally fails to teach your dog how to Calm Down, because the training keeps the dog in a high energy state of mind.
Adrenaline is the primary “fight, flight or hyperact” chemical in dogs. When released it floods the dog’s body with energy. This energy must then be dissipated –generally through jumping, barking, running, lunging, and shaking or trembling. The physical response that adrenaline produces in your dog depends on your dog’s basic nature/ If your dog is basically friendly, then the response is typically hyperactive friendly behavior. If your dog is basically skittish, then the reaction may look like fear –trembling, hiding, running, barking and even fear based aggression. If your dog is strong and protective, then the reaction turns into barking and possibly lunging and even biting.
Adrenaline is produced in FEARFUL, EXCITING and AGGRESSIVE SITUATIONS. That is why Calm Dog training is so effective for Fearful, Excited and/or Aggressive dogs –because it addresses the root cause of the problem. The goal of Calm Dog Training is to disrupt the adrenaline release process and to reinforce the production of serotonin and other calming chemicals. These methods are not a replacement for anxiety medication, and we can not guarantee to rehabilitate traumatized dogs.
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YOU HAVE FELT ADRENALINE
You have probably felt the effects of adrenaline. Two very common causes of adrenaline are roller coasters and almost getting into a car wreck. The car wreck is the most telling because in that case you didn’t have any control over your response. Imagine, or remember, almost getting into a car accident. You probably noticed afterward that your hands were shaking. Some people have trouble breathing or even cry. The interesting thing is that Nothing Actually Happened in the wreck. You almost got into a wreck and yet your body acted like you did get into a wreck. Your body immediately produced adrenaline. That chemical energy surged throughout your body to prepare your muscles, organs and blood vessels for ACTION and REACTION to danger and even injury. You had no control or choice over your body’s adrenaline reaction to the near accident. Your body just reacted. This is very similar to how many dog behaviors happen. Hyperactive, aggressive and fearful reactions are very commonly adrenaline based. The dog has little control, as long as the adrenaline is dictating what his body and mind are doing. |