Calm, Focused, and Ready to Learn: Training Anxious or Overexcited Dogs
If you've ever struggled with a dog who barks, lunges, or simply can't focus in exciting or stressful environments, you're not alone. Many owners find themselves frustrated when their dogs seem unresponsive or overwhelmed. This is where Laura VanArendonk Baugh’s book Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out offers a structured, science-backed approach to help dogs (and their humans!) develop calmness and self-control.
I’ve been working on my own dogs using these methods, and I’ll share my experiences in a future post. But for now, let’s take a look at the key steps in her training approach.
Step 1: Manage Arousal Levels
One of the key points Baugh emphasises is that dogs cannot learn when they are overexcited or stressed. Instead of waiting for them to get worked up and then trying to calm them down, the goal is to keep them in a learning state by controlling their exposure to triggers.
This might mean working at a greater distance from distractions or choosing a quieter training environment before gradually introducing more challenges. The idea is to set your dog up for success rather than expecting them to cope with too much stimulation at once.
Step 2: Reinforce Calmness
Rather than focusing on what you don’t want—barking, pulling, jumping—Baugh encourages rewarding the behaviours you do want. Mark and reinforce calm behaviour as soon as your dog offers it. This could be as simple as standing quietly, looking at you, or offering a loose leash walk.
One effective technique is the autowatch, where the dog naturally turns to check in with you. Rewarding this behaviour encourages your dog to stay engaged and seek guidance rather than reacting to distractions.
Step 3: Use Systematic Desensitisation
Many overexcited or reactive dogs struggle with triggers like other dogs, people, or noisy environments. Instead of exposing them to these situations at full intensity, desensitisation involves introducing triggers in a controlled way. Start with a level where your dog can remain calm, then gradually increase difficulty as they learn to cope.
Pairing exposure with positive reinforcement teaches the dog that staying calm leads to good things, rather than reacting out of fear or excitement.
Step 4: Implement Pattern Games and Predictability
Dogs thrive on predictability, and Baugh recommends using structured training routines to help them feel more in control. Pattern games—such as predictable movement exercises or controlled leash walking—can give dogs a mental framework to follow. This helps them shift from reacting emotionally to engaging thoughtfully with their handler.
Step 5: Practice Short, Successful Sessions
Long training sessions can overwhelm dogs, so Baugh suggests working in brief but effective bursts. Ending on a positive note keeps training enjoyable and ensures progress. If your dog is struggling, it’s better to take a break and set up an easier session rather than pushing through frustration.
Step 6: Teach Alternative Behaviours
Instead of just suppressing unwanted behaviours, teach your dog what to do instead. For example, if your dog jumps on guests, reinforce sitting calmly as the new way to greet people. If they lunge at other dogs, reward them for looking at you instead. Replacing problem behaviours with structured alternatives helps your dog succeed. This is even more beneficial if the alternate behaviour is mutually exclusive to the unwanted behaviour. By that, I mean the dog cannot possible be doing the unwanted behaviour whilst performing the alternate behaviour. Using the examples above, your dog cannot possibly be jumping up on guests if they are sitting down and cannot possibly be lunging our at other dogs if they are looking at you.
Step 7: Mat Training for Relaxation
One of the most effective ways to teach a dog to settle is mat training, a core component of Baugh’s approach. The idea is to create a designated safe space where the dog can relax on cue. Using a clicker to mark desired behaviours removes ambiguity, making it clear to the dog exactly what is being reinforced.
How to Train Mat Work:
1. Introduce the Mat – Place a comfortable mat on the ground and encourage your dog to investigate it.
2. Mark and Reward – The moment your dog steps on the mat, use a clicker to mark the behaviour and reward with a treat.
3. Shape the Behaviour – Gradually wait for more engagement, such as sitting or lying down, before clicking and rewarding.
4. Add Duration – Start reinforcing longer stays on the mat, rewarding calm behaviour rather than restless shifting. Look for signs of relaxation, such as the dog resting their head, moving onto their side (rather than keeping their legs underneath them ready to jump up), or taking deep breaths.
5. Introduce a Cue – Once your dog consistently goes to the mat, add a verbal cue like “Go to your mat.”
6. Use in Real Situations – Practice sending your dog to their mat in different environments, reinforcing calmness even around distractions.
Why the Clicker is Important
A clicker is a precise, consistent marker that tells your dog exactly which behaviour earned the reward. Unlike verbal praise, which can vary in tone and timing, a clicker is always the same, eliminating any ambiguity in communication. When the dog hears the click, they know they have done the right thing, making learning much faster and clearer. This is especially useful in mat training, where small incremental improvements—such as stepping onto the mat or lying down—can be reinforced immediately, helping to shape the final desired behaviour.
The Importance of Shaping
Shaping is a training technique where you break down a behaviour into small steps and reward each step toward the final goal. Instead of expecting a dog to instantly understand that they need to settle on the mat for an extended period, shaping allows you to reinforce gradual progress. This could start with rewarding a glance at the mat, then stepping onto it, then lying down, and eventually staying relaxed for longer periods.
Shaping is important because it allows the dog to figure things out for themselves, creating a sense of engagement and confidence in learning. It also prevents frustration, as the dog is never pushed too far beyond their understanding.
Step 8: Be Patient and Consistent
Like all good training, these techniques require patience, practice, and consistency. Progress won’t happen overnight, but with steady work, you’ll start to see your dog making better choices on their own. The key is to always stay calm, reward the right behaviours, and build your dog’s confidence over time.
I’ve been applying this approach with my own dogs and am excited to see how it works for them. I’ll update you all in a future post with our progress! In the meantime, if you have a dog who struggles with excitement or reactivity, Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out is definitely worth a read.