11/04/2025
‼️Dysregulated Nervous Systems in Dogs: What It Means & How to Help‼️
➡️When a dog has a dysregulated nervous system, their body can’t shift smoothly between calm and alert. Instead of relaxing after a trigger, their brain stays stuck in “survival mode.” These dogs aren’t dramatic, stubborn, or “being bad”—their biology is overloaded.
➡️Why does this happen?
A dog’s nervous system becomes dysregulated when stress outweighs their ability to cope. Genetics, trauma, lack of structure, chaotic environments, chronic anxiety, pain, or overwhelming experiences can all keep their body locked in fight-flight-freeze. Their amygdala fires fast, adrenaline spikes, thinking shuts down, and the dog loses the ability to settle or learn.
➡️Common signs: pacing, hyper-vigilance, reactivity, inability to relax, scanning, barking at small triggers, trembling, or shutting down.
✨3 ways to help regulate a dog’s nervous system✨
1️⃣ Predictable Structure
Routine lowers stress. Clear rules, consistent boundaries, crate training, and daily patterns help the dog feel safe and in control.
2️⃣ Teach Stillness & Recovery
Place training, guided leash pressure, and impulse control exercises build the ability to turn off the adrenaline and access the thinking brain.
3️⃣ Controlled Exposure, Not Flooding
Slow, thoughtful exposure builds confidence. Keep the dog under threshold, reward neutral behavior, and avoid overwhelming environments that push them over the edge.
❤️When we regulate the nervous system first, behavior begins to make sense, and true training can finally happen.
