Training "Calm": Species-specific examples

Calm is not a one-size-fits-all behaviour. Each species expresses regulation differently - and training must respect that.

The goal is always the same: Lower arousal + faster recovery + better thinking.

How we get there depends on the animal.

Dogs

What calm looks like in dogs:

• Loose body

• Soft eyes

• Ability to pause

• Choosing stillness without being asked

How to train it:

• Mat or place work with duration, not tricks

• Reinforce disengagement from stimuli

• Reward choosing stillness over movement

• Long-line decompression walks (sniffing > marching)

• Calm exits and entries — no exploding out of doors or cars

Avoid:

• Endless fetch

• Overusing obedience when arousal is high

• Expecting calm after frantic play

👉 Calm dogs aren’t tired — they’re regulated.

Horses

What calm looks like in horses:

• Lowered head and neck

• Soft chewing or licking

• Ability to stand quietly

• Reduced scanning and tension

How to train it:

• Standing tied without constant fidgeting

• Groundwork focused on pauses, not movement

• Reward immobility and softness

• Predictable routines

• Short sessions with clear start/stop cues

Avoid:

• Constant drilling

• Moving every time the horse gets unsettled

• Flooding with stimulation

👉 Calm horses aren’t shut down — they feel safe enough to stop.

Cats

What calm looks like in cats:

• Relaxed posture

• Choosing rest in shared spaces

• Reduced pacing or vocalising

• Comfortable disengagement

How to train it:

• Environmental enrichment (vertical space, safe retreats)

• Scheduled play followed by intentional wind-down

• Reward calm presence, not just interaction

• Reduce visual triggers (windows, outside cats)

• Predictable feeding and routines

Avoid:

• Constant stimulation

• Forcing interaction

• Expecting cats to “self-regulate” without support

👉 Calm cats feel in control of their environment.

Livestock (Cattle, Sheep, Goats)

What calm looks like in livestock:

• Smooth movement

• Reduced startle responses

• Willingness to pause

• Staying with the group

How to train it:

• Low-pressure handling

• Slow, predictable movements

• Pauses during mustering or yard work

• Reward stillness with release of pressure

• Avoid rushing tasks unnecessarily

Avoid:

• Over-driving

• High-pressure handling

• Expecting calm after chaos

👉 Calm stock move better, think better, and stress less.