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# The one thing many trainers overlook when working with reactive dogs
- URL: https://www.traincanine.com/reactive-dog-training-course-teach-relaxation-skills/
- Published: 2024-11-17T01:20:56.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-08T15:24:02.000Z
- Author: Sarah Filipiak
- Tags: #course-promo-email, reactive dogs, professional trainers

What's the one thing trainers tend to overlook when working with reactive dogs and their people?

👉 ****Instilling relaxation early in the behavior modification plan!**

Many trainers focus on managing reactivity by addressing triggers head-on—but without teaching relaxation, your plans might be missing a vital foundation.

Relaxation isn’t just a "nice-to-have" behavior; it’s a core skill that helps dogs build resilience, regulate emotions, and respond calmly to their environment. It’s the skill reactive dogs (and their humans!) desperately need to succeed.

## Here’s a Do’s and Don’ts Guide to adding relaxation into your training plans 👇

### ✅ DO: Teach relaxation in low-stress environments

Start in a space where your dog already feels safe—like their crate, a mat, or a quiet room. Use high-value rewards to reinforce calm behaviors, like lying down with a soft body or placing their chin on their paws.

### ❌ DON’T: Wait until a trigger shows up to work on relaxation

If relaxation isn’t practiced and reinforced beforehand, expecting a dog to stay calm around a trigger is setting them up for failure.

### ✅ DO: Use active relaxation techniques

Pair calm behaviors with cues, like “settle” or “relax,” and gradually add mild distractions to build fluency. Think of this like a “relaxation muscle” you’re strengthening over time.

### ❌ DON’T: Assume a dog will “just relax” without guidance

Relaxation is a trained behavior, not a default one—especially for reactive dogs. Build it step by step.

### ✅ DO: Use strategic antecedent arrangements

Set up scenarios to make relaxation the easiest choice. For example, use visual barriers during training sessions or increase distance from triggers.

### ❌ DON’T: Skip the foundation work

Jumping straight into counter-conditioning or desensitization without teaching relaxation first can lead to slower progress and more frustration for both you and the dog.

### ✅ DO: Reinforce calm body language regularly

Catch and reward those small, relaxed behaviors throughout the day—even when it’s not a formal training session.

### ❌ DON’T: Only reward calmness during training time

Make relaxation a part of everyday life to create lasting habits!