Should You Try the Relaxation Protocol for Dogs?

• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

One of the best skills you can teach your dog is how to relax in different settings. While there are different techniques to achieve this, one of the most well-known approaches is Dr. Karen Overall’s relaxation protocol for dogs. But what exactly does it entail, and does it work?

According to certified dog trainer Michelle Reindal of The Paid Pup, it’s a trusted positive-reinforcement method in the dog training world. “Dr. Overall’s relaxation protocol is the standard for guardians who want to help their dog unwind—for good reason,” she says. “The protocol is a meticulously laid out step-by-step plan designed to teach dogs that calm, relaxed behavior pays off—without the use of invasive techniques.”

In this piece, we’ll dive deeper into how the relaxation protocol works and how to troubleshoot issues. We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of this particular method and offer alternatives to help your pup find their inner zen.

Why It’s Helpful: Benefits of the Relaxation Protocol

“Unlike ‘obedience’ type skills, this protocol focuses on what the dog is feeling, not just what they’re doing. The goal is to increase calmness as the dog’s new emotional baseline,” says Reindal. “Consistently practicing this protocol can increase confidence and help overall with anxiety, frustration, and fear.”

While every dog will have their own timeline, fans of the method say many dogs show a noticeable improvement—being able to relax—within a few days to a few weeks.

The relaxation protocol teaches dogs how to:

• Defer to their humans in a variety of situations
• Regulate their emotional response
• Focus through distractions
• Cope in stressful situations
• Decrease unwanted behaviors like jumping, barking, and reactivity

Once these foundations are learned, dogs can take them out in the world. That might mean behaving calmly in a dog-friendly store or being less stressed at the vet.

Can it help with separation anxiety?

Karen Overall’s relaxation protocol for dogs has two tiers. The first tier teaches general relaxation, while the second tier focuses on dogs with separation anxiety.

In tier two, pet parents work on desensitizing and counter-conditioning their dog to departure cues, like walking to the door or touching the door knob. The goal is to teach dogs that they have control over their big feelings when their human leaves. Distress isn’t the only choice.

How the Relaxation Protocol Works: A Sample Day

The relaxation protocol consists of a series of tasks over a 15-day period, with the difficulty gradually increasing each day. In the exercises, dogs learn how to stay in a sit or a down as pet parents introduce new distractions, like jogging in place and clapping. For each task successfully completed, pet parents reward their dogs with a tasty treat.

Here’s what a task set might look like:

• Sit for 10 seconds
• Sit while you take 1 step back
• Sit while you take 3 steps back
• Sit for 10 seconds
• Sit while you take 3 steps to the right
• Sit while you take 3 steps to the left
• Sit for 10 seconds
• Sit while you take 3 steps to the right and clap your hands
• Sit while you take 3 steps to the left and clap your hands
• Sit for 5 seconds
• Sit for 10 seconds
• Sit while you walk one-quarter of the way around your dog to the right
• Sit while you take 4 steps back
• Sit while you walk one-quarter of the way around your dog to the left
• Sit for 10 seconds
• Sit while you take 5 steps back from your dog, clapping your hands
• Sit while you walk halfway around your dog to the right
• Sit while you walk halfway around your dog to the left
• Sit for 5 seconds
• Sit for 10 seconds
• Sit while you jog quietly in place for 3 seconds
• Sit while you jog quietly in place for 5 seconds
• Sit while you jog quietly in place for 10 seconds
• Sit for 10 seconds
• Sit while you jog one-quarter of the way around your dog to the right
• Sit while you jog one-quarter of the way around your dog to the left
• Sit for 5 seconds
• Sit for 10 seconds

Before you start

There are a few things the relaxation protocol for dogs requires before you can get started.

• Cues. Dogs need to be familiar with a “sit” or “down” cue.
• Staying power. Dogs must be able to sit or lie down for 15 seconds without moving.
• Body language. Pet parents need a good grasp of canine body language and what relaxation looks like for their dog.
• Past history. It’s best if a dog has some idea of household expectations and a history of being rewarded for calm behavior.
• Treats. Pet parents should have treats ready that are small in size, high in value, and quick to chew. Good options are boiled chicken, cheese, and freeze-dried liver.
• Treat delivery. It helps if pet parents know how to deliver treats without distracting or confusing a dog. Keep treats out of sight in the palm or in a treat pouch and offer them close to your pup when the task is correctly completed.

How to progress

Once your dog is able to perform all the tasks in one location, both on- and off-leash, you can start practicing in other areas. That might include:

• Different rooms in your home
• Your backyard, front porch, and driveway
• A neighborhood park
• Outside your vet’s office
• At a dog-friendly cafe or patio

You can also use the relaxation protocol to create your own customized program based on what triggers your pet. For instance, if your dog tends to react to certain noises like the doorbell ringing or dogs barking, you can add these sounds into your training.

Troubleshooting: Difficulties with the Relaxation Protocol

The relaxation protocol may not be a great fit for everyone. Common critiques include:

• It takes a lot of time. “While Dr. Overall’s relaxation protocol is the gold standard in the industry, it is time-consuming and can be difficult for guardians to stick with,” notes Reindal. One way around this is to break the daily tasks into smaller training sessions throughout the day. Build them around your daily habits and routines, like when you’re drinking your morning coffee.
• It requires a lot of space. Pet parents who live in apartments, condos, or other smaller living spaces might not have enough room to complete the tasks indoors, which can make early stages hard. Feel free to modify the actual distance to suit your living situation.
• Patience is required. Progress can seem slow, and pet parents need extra patience to avoid rushing the process. To stay motivated, get another pet parent to do the protocol with you and support each other through the challenge.
• Accuracy can be difficult. Some pet parents might struggle with accurately timing their rewards. Recording your sessions and watching them back can help. Or consider working with a professional trainer familiar with the protocol.

Alternatives to the Relaxation Protocol

If Karen Overall’s relaxation protocol isn’t a good fit for you and your pup, don’t worry. There are other relaxation training techniques for dogs you can try. Here are a few popular methods.

Capturing calmness when it happens

“My go-to protocol for increasing relaxation and calmness in dogs is a combination of Emily Larlham’s Capturing Calmness, Kathy Sdao’s Smart x50, and general magnetizing to a mat,” says Reindal. “This combo of methods focuses on catching your dog when they’re already relaxed (or any behavior they’re already doing that you love) and dropping a piece of food when they’re not expecting it,” she adds.

Reindal says that instead of a grueling step-by-step process, this combo is more fluid and flexible. “These are daily routines that become muscle memory, which is easier for many people,” she says.

Crate training

Training your dog to be comfortable in a crate can also help with relaxation. Giving a dog their own secure space away from the bustle of your household can help them settle and rest. Puppies especially need help taking things down a notch, and a crate can help pet parents enforce naps and downtime.

Teaching your dog to settle on a mat

Another approach is to teach your dog to settle on a mat using methods like Suzanne Clothier’s Really Real Relaxation Protocol.

Using this protocol, pet parents will initially lure their dog to lie down on the mat, then build and reinforce the time spent there with treats. You’ll also capture and reward any calming behavior like yawning, taking a deep breath, and grooming.

The key is to also stay in a relaxed position, with your focus shifted away from your pet. Eventually, you’ll be able to fade out the mat and your dog will learn which of your body cues mean it’s time to relax.

Medication

Some dogs with more serious behavioral issues, like reactivity, aggression, and severe separation anxiety, may also benefit from being prescribed anti-anxiety medication by a vet or vet behaviorist.

Other pups will just need temporary help during stressful situations. The Chill Protocol, for example, suggests giving dogs a combination of meds (usually gabapentin, melatonin, and acepromazine) before stressful events like going to the vet.

When To See a Vet or Trainer

“Guardians should seek help from a force-free trainer if they notice their dog is unable to relax even after their needs have been met. This might look like pacing or constantly trying to engage—a general inability to settle,” says Reindal. “If their dog is escalated to the point of dilated pupils, jumping up and mouthing, biting, panting, and seemingly hyperactive, it’s time to consult a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.”

Knowing when to see a general vet can be a bit trickier. But Reindal advises pet parents to pay close attention to their dog’s body. “If anything seems physically off, a call to their vet should be first on the agenda,” she explains.

If your dog is mentally and physically able to do the relaxation protocol, however, we think it’s worth trying. If anything, it can build stronger communication and a deeper bond. And time spent with your dog is time you won’t regret!