Spa Days for Dogs

Why Giving Your Dog a Rest Day Is One of the Kindest Things You Can Do.

In the dog world — especially among trainers, working-dog handlers, and passionate pet owners — the idea of giving your dog a rest day can stir up surprisingly strong debates. Many people believe a dog must be walked every single day, rain or shine, no excuses. But at Curious Canine, we take a different view.

• A rest day isn’t about doing “less.”

It’s about giving your dog what they need — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Every dog, whether a high-drive working dog or a senior companion, benefits from learning that it’s OK to slow down. In fact, teaching a dog to take an occasional “do-nothing day” is one of the most valuable life skills you can give them.

At Curious Canine, this philosophy is woven directly into the way we train our own dogs, Arnhem and Atlas — for very different but equally important reasons.

• Why Rest Days Matter

Dogs are incredibly adaptable, but they are also creatures of habit. If every day is full of activity, walks, training sessions, and stimulation, dogs come to expect constant momentum. When that can’t happen, they struggle.

Benefits of Rest days:

• Allow physical recovery

• Support joint and muscle health

• Reset the nervous system

• Improve emotional regulation

• Reduce stress hormones

• Boost the quality of sleep and learning

• Prevent burnout (yes, dogs burn out too!)

A rest day is a chance for the dog’s entire system to recalibrate — something high-energy dogs and older dogs need just as much, albeit for different reasons.

• How Curious Canine Uses Rest Days

Arnhem - Protecting a Body That's Compromised

Arnhem, who has dedicated years to sports and an active lifestyle, is now dealing with compromised mobility. His body simply cannot manage the physical strain of daily outings anymore — and pushing him would be unfair and uncomfortable.

His rest days focus on:

• Joint protection

• Pain management

• Avoiding overexertion

• Allowing inflammation to settle

• Keeping his routine calm and predictable

For Arnhem, rest days are not just beneficial — they are essential for maintaining comfort, dignity, and quality of life. He still enjoys enrichment, affection, and engagement, but in a way that respects his physical needs.

Atlas – Managing a High-Drive Mind and Body

Atlas is the exact opposite in many ways — a high-energy, high-drive working and sporting dog who loves to go, think, and do. Dogs like Atlas can be brilliant partners, but their enthusiasm can also lead to physical and mental overload if not managed carefully.

For Atlas, rest days help:

• Prevent chronic over-arousal

• Support muscle recovery

• Improve focus and clarity

• Reduce frustration

• Keep training sharp

• Build emotional resilience

High-drive dogs often struggle to switch off. A rest day teaches Atlas that calmness isn’t just expected — it’s normal and safe.

Because he’s learned this from a young age, Atlas can now settle beautifully on quiet days without stress or frustration.

• Teaching the “Off Switch”

A dog who doesn’t know how to rest can become restless, anxious, vocal, or demanding when activity decreases. This isn’t “naughtiness” — it’s simply a dog who hasn’t been taught how to cope with stillness.

By building in rest days, you’re training:

• Impulse control

• Emotional flexibility

• Self-settling ability

• Independence

• Tolerance of routine changes

This skill becomes invaluable later in life, especially when circumstances change.

• Preparing Dogs for the Real World

Life is unpredictable. Illness, injury (yours or theirs), bad weather, emergencies, long shifts, travel days — sometimes, walks just cannot happen.

A dog who has never experienced a rest day will panic, pace, or display stress behaviours during these unavoidable situations.

A dog who has learned to cope with quiet days takes it all in stride.

At Curious Canine, we see this regularly:

Arnhem handles quiet days without anxiety, because he expects them.

Atlas knows that some days are “big days” and others are “brain rest” days — and he adjusts beautifully.

This adaptability is a gift to the dog and to the owner.

• Why Rest Days Are Controversial

Some trainers and owners worry that rest days are unfair or that they will contribute to behavioural problems. But the opposite is usually true. A structured, gentle, supported rest day is not neglect. It is intentional training for long-term wellbeing.

And importantly — rest days do not replace exercise. They enhance it.

Dogs with a healthy off-switch perform better, behave better, and feel better.

• What a Rest Day at Curious Canine Looks Like

A rest day is simple, calm, and intentional. It might include:

• Normal toilet breaks

• A short wander in the garden

• Natural sniffing opportunities

• Chews, or low-arousal enrichment

• Soft training like calm handling

• Grooming

• Lots of sleep

• Reduced stimulation

• Quiet companionship

It does not include intense training, long walks, dog parks, or anything exciting or physically demanding.

Think of it as a “reset day” — not a punishment, not deprivation, but restoration.

• The Takeaway

At Curious Canine, rest days are a core part of raising resilient, adaptable, emotionally balanced dogs. Arnhem relies on them to stay comfortable and supported as he ages. Atlas uses them to recover, reset, and come back sharper for working and sport.

Whether you live with a young, energetic dog or an older companion, teaching them that it’s OK to rest is one of the kindest gifts you can offer.

A dog who can rest is a dog who can cope.

A dog who can cope is a dog who can thrive.