What Do We Mean by Recovery?
When a dog reacts to something, like a noise, another dog, a visitor, we often focus on the reaction itself.
But an equally important question is: What happens next?
Recovery refers to how quickly and effectively a dog is able to:
- return to a calmer emotional state
- reduce arousal
- re-engage with their environment
- feel safe again
Research shows that chronic stress is not just about exposure to stressors, but about the ability to recover from them. (McEwen, 2007)
Why Recovery Matters
If a dog reacts and stays stressed for long periods, their baseline stress level remains high.
Over time, this can lead to:
- increased sensitivity
- more frequent reactions
- reduced ability to cope
- generalisation of triggers
This is where your Recovery Loop (created by our Canine Behaviourist Nico Joiner) becomes powerful.
The Recovery Loop
Instead of focusing only on stopping reactions, we can focus on improving what happens after.
The idea is simple:
Better recovery → lower baseline stress → improved behaviour over time
And importantly:
As recovery improves, we often begin to see change working backwards:
- First, improved recovery after the event
- then during the event (less intense and potentially seeking the Recovery Loop Exercise)
- then before the event (anticipation phase)
What Does Good Recovery Look Like?
- the dog can disengage from the trigger once past it
- their body softens (breathing slows, muscles relax)
- they can take food or engage in simple tasks
- they return to baseline more quickly
This doesn’t mean “perfect calm”. It means regaining control of their emotional state.
How to Support Recovery
1. Have a clear recovery plan
After a reaction, give your dog a cue and an activity that is predictable and familiar.
Examples:
- scatter feeding “Find it”
- simple treat chucking games - “Ready”
- calm, repetitive cues - “Sit”
These help shift the dog from reactive → thinking → regulated
2. Reduce cognitive load
After a stressful event, avoid asking too much, giving direction or trying to put your dog in a position
This is not the moment for:
- complex training
- high expectations
- pushing through the situation
Think: decompression first, learning later
3. Reinforce the feeling, not just the behaviour
We’re not just rewarding actions, we’re reinforcing:
- Behavioural signs of calming down
- choosing to disengage
- seeking support/interaction
Over time, many dogs begin to actively look for their recovery strategies, which is a huge step forward.
Supporting Emotional Regulation
Emotional regulation is the ability to move between states smoothly and recover efficiently.
We can support this through:
- consistent routines
- appropriate rest and sleep
- enrichment that promotes calm engagement
- predictable interactions
And importantly, by meeting the dog where they are, not where we wish they were.
Supporting the System Around the Dog
Just like with anxiety, some dogs benefit from additional support alongside training.
For example:
- Omni Stress & Anxiety supplements may help support the nervous system and improve a dog’s ability to settle and regulate. Being able to reduce your dogs baseline of stress using these supplements can be the key to improved learning
-
Pheromone diffusers can help create a calmer environment, making recovery easier.
Again, these are not replacements for behaviour work, they simply help create better conditions for success.
A Shift in Focus
It’s easy to measure progress by asking: “Did my dog react or not?”
But a more powerful question is: “How well did my dog recover?”, this is the key to sustainable long term behaviour and emotion change
When recovery improves, everything else tends to follow.
Final Thought
Your dog doesn’t need to get everything right. They just need support getting back to a place where they feel okay again.
Every time you see an improvement in your dog’s recovery, you’re not just helping them in that moment, you’re changing what’s possible next time.
References
Lenkei, R. et al. (2021). Behavioural differences in dogs with anxiety.
Beerda, B. et al. (1998). Chronic stress in dogs.
McEwen, B. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation.
Overall, K. (2013). Manual of Clinical Behavioural Medicine for Dogs and Cats.
