05/06/2025
What Is Vagus Nerve Stimulationâand How Can It Help Your Reactive Dog?
By Coty Cortez | K9 Elite Dog Training
Iâve been training dogs for a long time. Back when I got started, no one was talking about vagus nerve stimulation. It just wasnât part of the conversation. Youâd hear about obedience drills, balanced training, behavior modificationâbut the idea that you could support a dogâs nervous system to help with behavior? That wasnât something most trainers were thinking about.
But over time, things change. We learn more. Science catches up with what we see in real life. And as I started working with more reactive dogs, especially the ones who seemed like they just couldnât shut off or calm down no matter what we did, I started looking deeper.
Thatâs where I came across the vagus nerveâand it changed the way I train.
đ§ What Exactly Is the Vagus Nerve?
The vagus nerve is a long, powerful nerve that runs from your dogâs brainstem through the neck and into the chest and abdomen. It touches a bunch of major organsâheart, lungs, stomachâand it plays a massive role in how the body responds to stress.
More specifically, itâs part of something called the parasympathetic nervous system. You mightâve heard that term tossed around before. Basically, itâs the part of the nervous system responsible for ârest and digest.â It's the opposite of âfight or flight,â which is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system.
So hereâs the breakdown:
Sympathetic = fight, flight, freeze. Thatâs when your dog loses it on a leash, barks at every stranger, or freezes in fear.
Parasympathetic = calm, relaxed, grounded. Thatâs where we want your dog to be if weâre trying to teach them something new or help them handle triggers.
The vagus nerve acts like a switch between those two systems. If we can stimulate it, we can help the dog calm down, regulate their breathing and heart rate, and get them into a more focused, teachable mindset.
⥠What Is Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)?
VNS is just the fancy way of saying weâre trying to activate the vagus nerve to support that calming response. In the medical world, there are devices used to stimulate the nerve for anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. But in the dog training world, weâre not using machines or implantsâweâre doing it naturally through things your dog already enjoys.
And before I go any further: VNS is not a training method on its own. It doesnât replace structure, obedience, or accountability. Itâs a piece of the puzzle that helps training actually land. Think of it as clearing the fog so your dog can finally hear you.
đś How I Use VNS in Training (With Real Dogs Iâve Worked With)
đž Sniffing: Natureâs Reset Button
One of the easiest ways to activate the vagus nerve is to let your dog sniff. I mean really sniff. Not just a quick potty break. Iâm talking about decompression walksâlong-line walks in low-traffic areas where your dog can explore, follow their nose, and relax their brain.
I had a German Shepherd named Tank who was leash reactive to other dogs. Every walk was a battle. We started giving him 30-minute decompression walks dailyâno pressure, no commands, just sniffing. After a week, the edge started coming off. His nervous system was finally getting a break. Once he was calmer, we layered in obedience and exposure work, and thatâs when things really clicked.
𦴠Licking and Chewing: More Than a Distraction
Licking and chewing are natural vagus nerve activators. They help settle the nervous system and trigger calm. I often use stuffed Kongs, lick mats, or long-lasting chews during down time, after training, or right before stressful situations.
There was a Goldendoodle named Luna who trembled every time she saw the leash. I had her owners give her a frozen lick mat for 10 minutes before walks. After a few days of pairing that with structured leash drills, her anxiety started to fade. Her brain learned that walks didnât have to be a threat anymore.
𤲠Massage and Calming Touch
The vagus nerve is also stimulated by gentle touch. Soft, rhythmic strokes along the ears, neck, or chest can help slow your dogâs heart rate and ease tension.
One boxer I worked with, Juno, was terrified of people touching her. We introduced structured touch paired with reward-based handling exercises. It wasnât magic, but it helped her go from growling at guests to being able to calmly coexist and eventually enjoy affection.
đ§ Balance Work to Reconnect the Mind and Body
Another trick I love: balance work. Getting a dog to stand on a soft cushion or wobble board activates core muscles and promotes a grounded, focused state. Itâs subtle, but powerful.
I used this with a high-strung Malinois named Ryker. He had energy for days and zero self-regulation. Five minutes of balance drills before obedience made him twice as responsiveâand way less chaotic.
đŹ You Matter, Too
Your energy is contagious. If you're holding your breath, bracing for disaster, or tensing the leash, your dog feels it. One of the best ways to help your dog regulate is to check yourself first. Breathe deep. Slow down. Speak clearly. It makes a bigger difference than most people realize.
â So Can VNS Fix Reactivity?
No. Let me be very clearâvagus nerve stimulation wonât fix reactivity by itself. You still need structure. You still need obedience. You still need to address the behavior directly. But what VNS can do is make your dog more emotionally available to the work.
If your dog is stuck in a state of panic or high arousal, youâre not going to get far with training. Their brain isnât in learning mode. By using VNS techniques, we help their body settle. Thatâs when obedience actually sticks. Thatâs when desensitization starts to work. Thatâs when the relationship gets stronger.
đŁ Final Thoughts (and What to Do If You Need Help)
If youâve got a reactive or anxious dog, donât just focus on what theyâre doing. Start paying attention to how theyâre feelingâand what their body is going through. Sometimes, the problem isnât that your dog is ignoring you. Itâs that they physically canât respond because their nervous system is stuck in overdrive.
Thatâs where vagus nerve stimulation becomes a game-changer.
Used the right way, alongside a real training plan, it helps dogs come back to center. Iâve seen it help everything from leash reactivity to sound sensitivity to dogs who just couldnât settle in their homes.
If you feel like youâve tried everything and still arenât getting through to your dog, donât be afraid to reach out. Whether you're local here in OKC or working with us virtually, we can help you build a plan that supports both your dogâs body and their behavior.
Send us a message or book a transformation sessionâweâll meet your dog where they are, and weâll help them get to where they need to be.
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Coty Cortez
Master Trainer | K9Elite Dog Training
