15-Day Relaxation Protocol Worksheets

Prepare for success

Teach relaxation without creating stress

Dr. Karen Overall designed this progression to help dogs remain comfortable while ordinary movement, sounds, distance, doorways, and short absences happen around them. The exercises deliberately mix easier and harder moments so the routine does not become completely predictable.

Before starting Day 1, practise until your dog can comfortably sit or lie down for about 15 seconds. Choose whichever position helps your dog relax. Prepare small rewards and begin in a quiet, familiar room with secure footing or a comfortable mat.

This is not a race

A numbered day is a set of exercises, not a deadline. A single day may take several sessions or need to be repeated. Move forward only while your dog remains loose, comfortable, interested in food, and able to recover easily.

A simple routine

How to use each worksheet

Begin easy. Start with the first exercise in a quiet place and keep your movements calm.
Reward each success. Calmly praise and give a small treat after each completed task.
Watch the whole dog. Reward soft muscles, easy breathing, a relaxed face, and genuine settling—not only staying in position.
Break up difficult steps. Reduce distance, duration, sound, or movement if an exercise is too hard.
Finish well. If attention fades, do one easy, enjoyable exercise, reward it, and stop.

Most practice blocks take about 15 to 20 minutes, but three or four short sessions may be easier than one long session. Stop sooner whenever continuing would make the experience less comfortable.

Daily web worksheets

Open the day you are practising

The checkboxes are a convenient on-screen guide and reset when the page is refreshed. Repeat familiar settling exercises between the listed challenges, reward after every successful task, and return to an easier day whenever needed.

Day 1Short duration, small steps, gentle claps and counting

Keep the first session close and easy. Mix short settling periods with very small movements.

Settle comfortably for 5 seconds, then 10 seconds. Take 1 step back and return; later try 2 and 3 steps. Take 1 or 2 steps to the right and return. Take 1 or 2 steps to the left and return. Clap softly once; later clap softly twice. Count aloud to 10, then to 20, while your dog settles. Finish with easy 3-, 5-, and 10-second settles.

Day 2Wider movement and quiet jogging

Increase movement gradually while returning often to brief, easy duration.

Settle for 5 to 10 seconds between movement exercises. Take 3 steps right and left, then return. Take 3 steps sideways while clapping softly. Walk one-quarter of the way around your dog in each direction. Walk halfway around your dog in each direction. Jog quietly in place for 3, 5, and then 10 seconds. Jog one-quarter of the way around in each direction and return.

Day 3More distance, movement and sound

Work toward longer distances while keeping the dog comfortable with your movement.

Settle for 10, 15, and 20 seconds. Walk 10 steps left and right, returning calmly each time. Walk halfway around while clapping softly. Jog 10 steps to the right and left and return. Jog in place for 10 seconds, then up to 20 seconds. Jog 5 steps backward or sideways and return. Add short 5- and 10-second settles while clapping.

Day 4Circling, quicker movement and approaching an entrance

Introduce larger arcs around the dog and the first calm approach toward a doorway.

Jog 5 steps backward and return. Jog halfway around your dog in each direction. Move three-quarters of the way around in each direction. Walk all the way around your dog and return. Move quickly backward 10 steps, then 15 steps. Walk about 20 steps toward an entrance and return. Repeat an easy settle between the more active tasks.

Day 5Doorway approach and touching the doorknob

Make entrances ordinary by approaching and returning before leaving the room.

Walk quickly 15 steps right and left and return. Walk about 20 steps toward the entrance and return. Repeat the entrance approach while clapping softly. Walk around your dog while clapping softly. Touch the doorknob or nearby wall and return. Move briefly into the entranceway and return. Finish with 5-, 10-, and 15-second easy settles.

Day 6Opening the door and brief out-of-sight moments

Introduce the idea that you can pass through an entrance and come back calmly.

Walk around your dog, with and without soft clapping. Touch the doorknob or wall and return. Open the door or step into the entranceway for 5 seconds. Repeat for up to 10 seconds and return. Go through the doorway and immediately return. Disappear from view for 5 seconds and return. Use calm 10-, 20-, and 30-second settles between challenges.

Day 7Longer doorway and out-of-sight practice

Build on doorway work without making your absence feel sudden or difficult.

Walk around the dog, then go through the doorway and return. Go through the entrance while clapping softly and return. Disappear from view for 5 seconds. Disappear for 10 seconds, then for 15 seconds. Jog in place for 10 seconds. Jog three-quarters of the way around in each direction. Return to short 5-, 10-, and 15-second settles.

Day 8Chair movement and absences up to 30 seconds

Add ordinary sitting and standing while continuing calm out-of-sight practice.

Jog and clap softly for about 15 seconds. Back up 15 steps and return. Circle your dog and return. Disappear for 20, 25, and then 30 seconds. Sit in a chair about 5 feet from your dog for 5 seconds. Briefly leave, sit in the chair, and return. End with a quiet 5- or 10-second settle.

Day 9Everyday body movement and mild surprises

Pair familiar settling with harmless actions that may look unusual to a dog.

Turn around while your dog settles for 10 seconds. Walk, jog, and gently clap while circling your dog. Repeat brief 10- to 25-second out-of-sight moments. Sit in a nearby chair, leave briefly, and return. Bend down and touch your toes. Stretch your arms, then add one gentle jump. Build to several toe touches or three gentle jumps only if comfortable.

Day 10Knocking sounds and repeated brief absences

Introduce quiet knocking only after ordinary doorway practice is easy.

Clap softly, touch your toes, and sit in a chair during short settles. Walk quickly 15 steps right and left and return. Walk toward the entrance and return. Disappear for 5, 10, and 15 seconds. Leave for 5 seconds, knock softly on the wall, and return. Repeat with a slightly quicker but still gentle knock. Finish with an easy 5- or 10-second settle.

Day 11Doorbell sounds and calm returns

Add the doorbell gradually, keeping the sound and absence manageable.

Practise soft knocking after a brief disappearance. Ring the doorbell and return immediately. Ring, wait 2 seconds, and return. Ring, wait 5 seconds, and return. Ring, wait up to 10 seconds, and return. Mix in walking, jogging, circling, and soft clapping. Use easy 10-, 20-, and 30-second settles between repetitions.

Day 12Humming, door sounds and saying hello

Combine familiar sounds and absences with a simple greeting routine.

Hum softly during a 20-second settle. Disappear for 20 to 25 seconds and return. Sit in a nearby chair, then briefly leave and return. Knock softly after leaving the room. Ring the doorbell and return immediately, then after 2 seconds. Leave, say “hello,” and return. Leave, say “hello,” wait 3 seconds, and return.

Day 13Combining greetings, sounds and movement

Combine familiar elements while keeping the order varied and the dog relaxed.

Hum, then hum while clapping softly during short settles. Repeat 20- to 25-second out-of-sight moments. Practise soft knocks and brief doorbell sounds. Leave, say “hello,” wait 5 seconds, and return. Knock or ring, say “hello,” wait 5 seconds, and return. Jog around your dog or jog in place while humming. Finish with a calm, familiar duration exercise.

Day 14A longer pretend visitor routine

Practise a more realistic arrival sequence without bringing in an actual visitor yet.

Clap and hum softly during a brief settle. Run gently around your dog, then return to calm movement. Walk back and forth to the door. Leave, knock or ring, and return. Leave, ring, wait 2 seconds, and return. Leave, say “hello,” wait 5 to 10 seconds, and return. Combine the knock or bell, greeting, and a 10-second wait.

Day 15Full greeting practice and calm conversation

Bring the learned elements together in a controlled imaginary-visitor routine.

Clap and hum softly during a 15-second settle. Leave, knock or ring, say “hello,” talk for 10 seconds, and return. Leave, greet and invite an imaginary visitor in; wait 5 seconds. Repeat the imaginary invitation with a 10-second wait. Leave and talk for 3, 5, and then 10 seconds. Walk back and forth to the door or gently run around your dog. Sit in a chair for 10, 15, and up to 30 seconds.

Generalize the skill

Repeat the progression in new places

After your dog can complete the exercises comfortably in the first room, begin again with the easiest days in a second room. Later, practise in a quiet backyard or another safe setting. Dogs do not automatically understand that a skill learned in one place applies everywhere, so lower the difficulty whenever the surroundings become harder.

Change only one thing at a time

A new room, more distance, longer duration, louder sound, or unfamiliar person can each make an exercise more difficult. Avoid increasing several of these at once.

Individual support

Pause when stress is increasing

Stop increasing difficulty if your dog cannot eat, repeatedly leaves, startles, pants when it is not warm, vocalizes, freezes, scans the room, becomes stiff, or grows more unsettled across sessions. Return to an exercise your dog knows well, reward the easy success, and finish.

If one task continues to be difficult, break it into two or three smaller parts. Sudden behaviour changes should be discussed with your veterinarian, and serious anxiety or behaviour concerns are best addressed with a qualified behaviour professional.

Read the Protocol for Relaxation introduction Ask Jollytails where to begin

Fifteen days of relaxation practice