Body energy and the influence it has on your dog.
Just breath…
Yoga, Chi Gong, Tai Ji, or any meditation practice focuses on breathing, calmness, and controlled movement. So why not incorporate that into dog training?
Dogs are finely tuned to the emotion and energy levels of their humans and often will mirror behaviour. If you are calm and collected, it can help your dog feel secure and focused. On the other hand, if you are excited or anxious, your dog may become hyper or nervous, making them more challenging to manage.
Dogs thrive on routine, consistency, and the energy you bring to the relationship. Balancing energy can play a significant role in training and affect how your dog responds to you and your environment. Confident, assertive body language can reinforce training and encourage positive behaviour. Keeping your energy levels consistent will help your dog understand what to expect, give them confidence and look to you, its handler, for direction.
Different activities may require different energy levels. High-energy activities, like some dog sports, may benefit from higher energy, while more focused obedience tasks like sit and stay may require a more calm energy. Environmental factors can affect your energy too. A loud and busy setting may increase stress or excitement, and being aware of that can help you adapt to the environment to create a more balanced atmosphere.
During training, when rewarding your dog, your energy can enhance the effectiveness of the reinforcement. An enthusiastic tone and positive body energy while rewarding your dog with treats or praise can make the reward more appealing.
Being mindful while training will help identify when your dog becomes overstimulated, over-tired or hyper and will lead to better training sessions. Keep it short, don’t get frustrated, and set yourself and your dog up for success. Always end on a positive and successful note.
Being aware of your body’s energy can enhance the experience for both you and your dog. Matching energy for the task at hand can benefit learning and behaviour for a happy and successful training session.
