After a stressful workday, we often take a few moments to relax. This might mean taking a walk, going to the gym or simply watching a favorite show on Netflix. Like people, dogs need down time after a stressful event. The term “decompression” is often used among trainers in reference to newly adopted dogs or dogs with behavior challenges, but in general decompression is anything that reduces the pressure and stress on a dog. Service dog work by its very nature involves quite a bit of pressure and stress, so decompression plays an especially important role for service dogs.
There are a number of situations where decompression is important for a service dog. An important one is when a program-trained service dog is matched and placed with a person with a disability. This is an exciting but stressful time for both members of the team. The handler has been waiting, oftentimes for years, for the service dog and is expecting the dog to dramatically improve their life. The service dog, even though well trained and prepared, is still a dog and needs time to adjust to the new home and living environment, as well as time to develop a relationship with the handler. New service dog handlers need to be educated about the details of how to implement decompression, including how long decompression will take and how to select low-key activities that will help the dog adjust.
Working service dogs also benefit from decompression time after any potentially stressful event. This could be after a particularly long day of public access work, a difficult experience, travel or any other change to the dog’s routine or environment. The amount of time a dog needs to decompress will of course vary based on both the individual dog and the nature of the experience. An adolescent service dog candidate may benefit from having a few days to decompress after a public access training experience in a busy setting. On the other hand, a confident working service dog may only need a few hours.
Decompression activities for service dogs must work with both the needs of the dogs and the handlers’ abilities. Sniff-and-explore walks on a long line are wonderful decompression opportunities, but some handlers may have difficulty safely handling a long line. Trainers can help handlers experiment to see if they can more safely handle a different leash that still gives the dog some freedom to sniff and explore. Alternatively, the owner may be able to recruit a friend or neighborhood volunteer, or hire a dog walker to assist. Quiet downtime at home with a snuffle mat and food-filled toys in a crate or on a dog bed are additional ways to help a service dog decompress.
In the same way that employees often need short periods of decompression time during the workday, service dogs can also benefit from small breaks. Service dog handlers can be taught how to find appropriate mini-decompression areas in various public access environments that they frequent. Of course, there are often limits in public access, but even a less-than-perfect decompression area can be helpful. For example, a less frequented, quieter area in a mall, a grassy patch in a parking lot, or an area in front of elevators in a medical facility can be appropriate mini-decompression spaces in which the owner may be able to provide a small chew, give the dog an opportunity to play with a toy, or even simply let the dog rest quietly. Providing small breaks within a busy day of working in public can make a big difference in the quality of life for a working service dog.
The best way to ensure that service dogs have the opportunity to decompress is for service dog trainers to teach handlers how to incorporate decompression activities into their routine. Whether it’s a sniff-and-explore walk after a public access training session, down time with a chew in a quiet space for a few hours after a training session, or a chance to engage in a favorite game with a beloved human friend or family member after time away from home, decompression is critical to service dogs’ well-being. Help clients brainstorm creative ways to allow their service dogs to decompress, and make sure they understand that these activities are essential to keep overall stress levels lower and help the dog work at their best.
