😴 The Most Overlooked Skill in Dog Training

Hey friends,

Last week we kicked off this series by talking about motivation and the role treats play in meeting our dogs’ needs. But this week, we’re going even more foundational—to something so basic, most people don’t even realize it needs to be taught.

Let’s talk about sleep. 🧠🐾

🧱 The Foundation: Rest Isn’t Optional

According to the adapted Maslow’s hierarchy for dogs, physiological needs form the base of everything else. Food, water, movement, vet care—and yes, sleep.

But here’s the part most trainers don’t talk about:
Not all dogs know how to rest.

Some dogs need to be taught to relax—especially high-drive dogs who go, go, go until they crash. And when that happens, their brains are running on fumes, not focus.

Here’s what that looked like in real life.

🐺 Meet Enzo: My Reluctant Napper

Enzo is a 2-year-old Husky/Shepherd mix who came to me for boarding and training. Super sweet, very smart… and completely incapable of chilling out.

• He was constantly moving.

• Didn’t sleep during the day.

• Didn’t take breaks on walks.

• Would literally pass out from exhaustion at night.

But just because a dog doesn’t choose to rest doesn’t mean they don’t need to.

So I did something different:
I started teaching him how to rest.

🧘 Day One: Crate-Free Calm

I clipped him to a leash in the living room and sat nearby. I marked moments of stillness, used gentle touch to reinforce calm, and gave him a chance to just be still.

At first? He protested. Pacing, panting, whining. But then—he melted into it.

🛏️ Day Two: Teaching the Crate as Recovery

The next day, I used the crate proactively. Not as punishment. Just as a tool for recovery.

He fussed for a minute or two. Then… full belly-up nap.

From that day forward, things changed.

🧠 Rest = Better Behavior

After learning to rest, Enzo’s training took off:

• His leash walking improved

• His reactivity came down

• He started offering calm behavior on his own

• He began syncing with my own dogs’ natural nap schedule

📊 How Much Sleep Does Your Dog Need?

Here's a quick breakdown of daily sleep needs by life stage:

💡 Big Idea: Sleep Isn’t Lazy. It’s Smart.

If your dog is wild, overstimulated, or constantly "on"...
before reaching for more training, ask: Are they getting enough rest?

Sometimes the best thing you can teach your dog…
is how to do nothing.

📆 Coming Next Week…

Next week we’ll move up the pyramid and dive into safety—what it actually looks like from your dog’s point of view, and how it affects everything from leash reactivity to household anxiety.

Until then:
Let your dog sleep. And then maybe go take a nap yourself.

See you next week,
Steve 🐾
Dog Trainer | Choice-Driven K9 Care

P.S.
Want to see more behind-the-scenes like Enzo’s progress?
Follow me on Instagram: @hms7799

📩 Forward this to a friend who has a high-energy pup.
They can subscribe here: choicebasedk9care.beehiiv.com