Why Settle and Rest Are the Foundations of Successful Dog Training

One of the most common patterns I’m currently seeing across group classes and 1-2-1 sessions is something that often goes unnoticed — yet has a huge impact on a dog’s behaviour and progress.

That missing piece ?The ability to settle and self-soothe.

If a dog isn’t in the right mental state, learning becomes harder. Frustration increases. Progress slows. And both dogs and owners can end up feeling overwhelmed.

In the early stages of training, the most important question isn’t “How quickly can my dog learn this behaviour?”It’s “Is my dog in the right mental state to learn at all?”

Exercise is more than just physical activity

When people hear “exercise”, they often think of long walks, running, or high-energy ball play. While physical movement is important, exercise should be balanced, not exhausting.

Dogs need a combination of:

• Mental exercise

• Physical exercise

• Enrichment

This might include:

• Scenting and sniffy walks

• Calm, decompression walks

• Short bursts of play where dogs can be silly and let off steam

• Scatter feeding in the garden so dogs work to find their food

  
  

Mental stimulation and enrichment count as exercise — and for many dogs, they are far more regulating than constant high-energy activity.

Rest is just as important as training

The other key piece of the puzzle is rest.

Dogs who aren’t getting enough rest often appear:

• Wired or overstimulated

• Unable to fully switch off

• Reactive to sudden movement or noise

• Constantly “on the go”

This is why I often ask owners:

• How much does your dog sleep?

• Do they go into a deep, relaxed sleep?

  
  

Without enough rest, dogs don’t regulate well. They struggle to process learning, and their tolerance for frustration drops.

This is also why I place such a strong focus on teaching settle and place behaviours. These aren’t “nice extras” — they are essential life skills that help dogs self-soothe and disengage from constant working mode.

When obedience is prioritised over rest

A common issue I see is settle work being pushed aside in favour of obedience training. Owners focus on sits, stays, heelwork, and recall — but don’t always prioritise teaching the dog how to switch off.

The result?Dogs build stamina instead of regulation.

They can work for longer, but they don’t understand how to relax. Without those skills, calm behaviour in real-world settings becomes difficult.

A helpful way to think about it

Imagine running on a treadmill but keeping the same speed no matter how fast or slow the treadmill is set.

Sometimes you’ll match it perfectly.Other times, you’ll be thrown forwards — or fall off the back.

We wouldn’t expect ourselves to do this, because we know we need to adapt.But we sometimes forget to make those same adjustments for our dogs.

Effective training means working with the dog in front of us, not the dog we think should be there by now.

What improves when we get this right?

When dogs are supported in settling and resting properly, owners often see improvements in:

• Focus

• Handler engagement

• Confidence

• Emotional regulation

• Overall demeanour

This isn’t about suppressing energy or personality. It’s about replacing manic, hyperactive behaviour with calm, contented confidence.

What we want for our dogs

In an ideal world, our dogs can:

• Express themselves

• Be silly and playful

• Feel confident

• Communicate when they feel unsure

• Rest deeply and safely

We want to enjoy adventures — but also be able to sit in a café, visit new places, or relax at home without worrying about behaviour.

This balance is achievable, but dogs need to be taught how to get there.

How to start teaching settle at home

Settle training can start very simply.

Using a mat:

• Build value in the mat itself

• Reward the dog for choosing to be on it

• Gradually increase duration

• The long-term goal is relaxation — even sleep

How to reward:

• Deliver food on the mat or between the dog’s front legs if lying down

• Reward frequently at first, then slow the rate as duration increases

• Use a calm verbal marker like “good” to bridge time before payment

• When first introducing the mat, mark with “yes”, then pause briefly before treating

Important reminders:

• Eye contact is not required

• The dog doesn’t need to perform

• We don’t want “training mode”

• Watching the world go by is fine

• Standing, sitting, or lying down are all acceptable

Avoid forcing the dog onto the mat or running long sessions too soon. Keep sessions short and build gradually as your dog progresses.

Accountability and support

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be watching closely to see which dogs are improving in this area, so it’s important that settle and rest are being practised at home alongside class work.

If your dog struggles to switch off, or you’d like extra support strengthening this away from classes, booking a 1-2-1 session can make a huge difference. These sessions allow us to tailor settle work to your dog, your environment, and your lifestyle — setting them up for long-term success.

Training isn’t just about teaching behaviours. It’s about helping dogs feel calm, safe, and capable in the world around them.

— Zoe

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