Settling, calm behaviour and enrichment

A Weimaraner's off switch is taught, not found: reward calm on a mat, protect rest, and use sniffing, chewing and food puzzles to help them wind down.

Written by

James

Updated

21 October 2026

A Weimaraner's off switch is taught, not something they arrive with. Calm comes from three things working together: rewarding relaxation, protecting rest, and giving your dog's brain and nose enough to do. This guide covers mat settling, rest, enrichment that calms rather than winds up, and settling in cafés and when visitors come. It is part of our training and behaviour hub.

An off switch is taught

The Weimaraner Club of America describes a big, active hunting breed with the stamina and desire to work and play for long stretches,¹ and a dog like that will happily keep going all day if nobody shows them another way. Many owners respond with more exercise. That helps up to a point, but a Weim who is only ever fitter and busier can end up with a bigger engine and still no brakes.

Calm is a behaviour like any other. If you reward it, you will see more of it. That means noticing the quiet moments you normally ignore, because you are relieved they are happening, and paying for them. AVSAB recommends reward-based training for teaching everyday skills as well as for changing unwanted behaviour,² and calm is one of the most useful everyday skills there is.

It also means arranging the day so calm can happen. AVSAB points out that management, setting the dog up to make good choices and avoiding situations that trigger unwanted behaviour, has a vital role in training.²

Mat settling

A mat (or a folded blanket) becomes a portable "this is where we relax" cue you can take to friends' houses, cafés and the vet. Keep sessions short and regular, and end on something easy; RSPCA UK gives the same advice for all training.³

Never use the mat as a punishment or physically hold your dog on it. It should always be somewhere good.

Rest and sleep budgets

Rest is not wasted time. Puppies and adolescents in particular need a great deal of sleep, and an over-tired young dog often gets wilder, mouthier and less able to listen, not more tired. We do not give fixed hours here, because dogs differ; the principle is that your dog's day should include plenty of genuinely undisturbed rest.

Ways to protect it:

• give your dog a quiet resting place near the family but out of the main traffic of the house
• build in rest after walks, play and training, rather than another activity straight away
• let sleeping dogs lie: teach children and visitors not to wake a resting dog
• watch for a dog who follows you from room to room and never fully rests; that dog may need help learning to switch off, and in some cases it can be a sign of anxiety (see separation anxiety)

For puppies, the first 30 days guide shows how rest fits into a puppy's day.

Enrichment that calms

RSPCA Australia describes enrichment as activities that engage a dog's mind, body and senses, and says it can promote relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety, and help prevent unwanted behaviour.⁴ Not all enrichment calms, though. A wild game of fetch is fun but winds many Weims up. For settling, choose activities that are slow, repetitive and nose-led.

RSPCA Australia notes that scent enrichment has been shown to increase engagement, reduce stress-related behaviours and increase time spent resting, and that dogs are less likely to get bored with activities that involve chewing or feeding.⁴ It also warns that poorly done enrichment can backfire: the same toys every day soon become boring, and relying heavily on food can lead to weight gain, so take treats from your dog's daily food.⁴

For more ideas see scent games for Weimaraners. If chewing is getting your dog into trouble, see destructive behaviour.

Café and visitor settles

Settling somewhere busy is an advanced skill. Build it in stages, and choose the easy option while you are learning.

At a café or pub:

• go at a quiet time, after a sniffy walk and a toilet break
• sit at the edge, with your back to a wall and your dog tucked out of the way
• bring the mat and a long-lasting chew
• reward settling quietly and keep the visit short
• leave before your dog has had enough, not after

When visitors come:

• before the doorbell goes, set your dog up with a chew in another room or behind a gate
• let your dog greet once they are calmer, on a lead if needed, and reward four paws on the floor
• ask visitors to ignore an excited dog and greet calmly once your dog has settled
• if your dog is worried by visitors rather than excited, give them space and do not let guests approach; this is a job for a behaviourist

Signs of over-arousal

Learning your dog's signs of being over-aroused lets you step in before things go wrong. Common signs include:

• not taking food they would normally love, or snatching it
• frantic sniffing, scanning or not responding to their name
• mouthing, grabbing clothes or the lead
• barking, whining or zoomies that build rather than burn out
• a hard, fixed stare, or not being able to lie down

When you see them, lower the excitement: move away from the trigger, scatter some food, offer a chew, or take your dog somewhere quiet. Do not punish an over-aroused dog; it adds stress to a dog who already has too much.

When to get help

Talk to your vet if your dog cannot settle even when they are tired, fed and safe, if restlessness is new, or if they seem uncomfortable lying down; your vet can check whether a health problem is contributing.² Your vet can refer you to a qualified behaviourist if your dog's arousal tips into aggression, fear or obsessive behaviours such as spinning or tail chasing. Look for professionals who use reward-based methods only, as AVSAB and the Pet Professional Guild recommend.²⁵ Our editorial policy explains why. To understand where a Weim's energy comes from, see Weimaraner temperament.

Common questions

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