7 Minute Training Game to help your dog settle

Some dogs wake up ready to party.

They bounce out of bed, follow you from room to room, and always seem to be looking for the next thing to do.

You know the type.

They're fun. But also exhausting sometimes (most of the time?)

We live in a world that constantly asks for our attention. Notifications. Schedules. Screens. Noise. And believe it or not...our dogs are navigating that same level of stimulation every day.

This 7-minute training game helps your dog practice something that doesn't always come naturally: settling.

Watch the Training game in Action

Why Settling Can Be Hard

A lot of dogs spend their day moving from one exciting thing to the next: Walks. Toys. Visitors. Meals. Squirrels. Training sessions.

And what most pet parents don't realize is...calmness is a skill. Just like recall or leash walking, some dogs need opportunities to practice finding that calmer state and staying there for a little while.

This game helps your dog experience the full cycle of arousal and recovery.

That matters because life isn't always quiet. Sometimes we get excited. Sometimes we get activated.

Then we need to come back down again.

Your 7-Minute Behavior Builder

Minute 1: Get the wiggles out

Start with movement. Play with your dog. Be silly. Be playful. Move your body, too.

The goal isn't exhaustion. We're simply creating a little bit of activation before we start working on the recovery side of the equation. Keep it fun and keep it light.

Minute 2: Introduce the settle station

Bring out a towel, blanket, mat, or bed that will become your dog's settle station.

Guide them onto the station and reward them for lying down. Keep things simple. A few treats. A few easy repetitions. We're creating value in this space before we ask it to do any heavy lifting.

Minutes 3–4: Turn the energy back up

Now it's time for the fun part. Play tug. Throw toys. Bring out whatever gets your dog excited and engaged. For some dogs this is tug. For others it's fetch. For others it's zoomies around the yard while you cheer them on. Spend a couple of minutes letting them enjoy themselves.

Minute 5: Bring the energy down one notch

Now switch to an active food game. Toss treats for your dog to chase. Let them catch treats in the air. Scatter food into the grass. We're still moving, but the intensity starts to soften. This transition matters.

Minute 6: Head back to the station

Take a deep breath. Slow your own body down. Walk back to the settle station and invite your dog to join you. Reward them for lying down. Reward them for staying there. Give them time to settle into the space.

Minute 7: Practice calm

Now we spend a minute reinforcing relaxation. Some dogs are ready to simply hang out on the station. Others benefit from a calming activity such as:

• a lick mat

• a chew

• a stuffed toy

This is the moment where we allow the nervous system to fully settle.

Why This Game Helps

Many dogs spend plenty of time practicing excitement. Far fewer spend time practicing recovery.

This routine gives your dog repeated opportunities to experience both.

They learn that excitement can happen. Movement can happen. Play can happen.

Then calm can happen too.

Over time, that transition becomes easier and more familiar.

Where People Tend to Get Stuck

The biggest challenge is usually asking for calm before the dog is ready for it.

A dog who has spent the last hour rehearsing high-energy behavior may need more support finding their way back down.

That's why this flow works so well. We're guiding the process instead of expecting calmness to appear on command.

Pay attention to what actually helps your dog relax. Some dogs melt into a lick mat. Some prefer gentle petting. Some need a little extra time on the station before they fully settle.

If Your Dog Is Always Ready to Party

This isn't about trying to change your dog's personality. It's about building a new skill.

A dog can be the life of the party while also knowing how to relax when the moment calls for it.

If you'd like help creating a settling plan for your dog, you can book a free consult and we'll talk through what regulation and relaxation could look like for your individual dog.

Save This 7 Minute Training Game for Later

Move. Play. Then practice coming back down together.

That's where the magic is.