Teaching a ‘Settle’ or ‘Calm’ Cue

This training technique will help to change the dog’s mood so that you can put a calm state on cue. It can also be done at the end of a play session so that the dog knows when play time is finished. Once your dog has learned the training, you can use it in lots of situations. This can be extremely useful for highly reactive dogs.

• Get a toy that your dog likes and one that you can join in and play with e.g. ball, tug toy, Frisbee etc….
• Take a food pot, training pouch or bum bag and fill with small tasty treats.
• Take your dog into the garden calmly.
• Ask the dog to sit (or another cue that they know well). Give 5-10 food rewards & praise (clicks if using a clicker).
• Now start playing with your dog. A verbal cue such as ‘Play’ can be used to signal this.
• Play with your dog and get excited so they know you want to have fun.
• After about one minute (or before the dog gets over excited) become very calm and stop the game. Use a consistent cue such as ‘finish’ or ‘No more’ in a calm tone. Don’t get angry.
• As they start to change emotions – becoming less excited – use another cue: ‘Calm’ or ‘Settle’ are fine. Use a soft and calming tone.
• The idea is that by pairing the verbal cue with the calmer emotion, over time, your dog will recognise the cue and understand what they should do (i.e. become calmer).
• Whilst the dog is responding (beginning to be less excited) praise them and offer small food rewards (no larger than a garden pea). Rewarding the behaviour you want helps them learn better.
• Don’t start another round of play again until your dog is calming.
• When you are ready to start play again, give the play signal as before and start the process again.
• For several minutes keep alternating between play and settle/calm with the praise/ click – treats- sequence.
• Finish the game by encouraging the dog to be calm for 10-20 rewards and then offer them something to chew or lick that will occupy him/her for a few minutes. A liki mat smeared with a thin layer of cream cheese or a safe, edible chew that can’t be consumed quickly are ideal. This enables them to end the game in a calm state (chewing and licking has a calming effect). Eventually it will become a signal to let them know the play session is over.

Regular practice will ensure that your dog quickly responds to the signal being given.  Once the settle/calm cue has been learned, this can be used in other situations when your dog becomes excited/agitated.  Gradually the treats (and clicker if you are using one) can be phased out. But do make sure this isn’t done until they understand the training and are consistently responding.

As with all training it does make sense to keep repeating the training regime from time to time. This ensures that the cue is remembered and learning is maintained.