A decompression day is dedicated time for your dog to unwind, reset, and lower its stress and excitement levels. While a 'decompression period' is often associated with newly adopted rescue dogs, decompression days are an excellent practice for all dogs. Just as humans benefit from downtime and relaxation, decompression days provide dogs with the opportunity to find their 'baseline' and regain a sense of calm. Decompression days can be especially helpful for dogs that are nervous, reactive, or have high energy levels and are always on the go. Decompression days can help teach these dogs to self-regulate after exciting or frightening incidents and generally encourage some chill time.

Decompression activities focus on allowing your dog to engage in natural behaviours. They are intended to promote relaxation and mental well-being. You can offer these activities during dog walks or while hanging out at home.

To improve your dog's behaviour, it's essential to understand the factors that influence it. Behaviour modification in dogs is a complex process that involves addressing specific issues and considering various factors. By working with or changing these factors, you can have a significant impact on your dog's behaviour without formal training. Let's have a look some of these factors.