As a Christian, I believe Jesus Christ is the creator, and it’s only logical that He designed a similar blueprint for most sentient beings. One of these blueprints, known as Polyvagal Theory, helps us understand how our nervous systems manage stress and safety. I applied this theory during my own EMDR treatment, which was instrumental in my healing from trauma. In this blog, I want to explain how we can use this understanding, along with Jay Jack’s Layered Stress Model, to enhance our approach to dog training.

What Is Polyvagal Theory?

Polyvagal Theory focuses on the vagus nerve and how it influences our nervous system’s response to stress. It describes three main states:

1. Social Engagement: When a person or dog feels safe, they are open to socialising, connecting, and learning.
2. Fight or Flight: When faced with a threat, the body prepares to either fight or flee.
3. Shutdown: If the threat feels too overwhelming, the nervous system might trigger a shutdown response, leading to withdrawal or freezing.

This theory doesn’t just apply to humans; it also explains how dogs react in different situations. Dogs, like humans, switch between these states based on their perception of safety or danger.

Jay Jack’s Layered Stress Model

Jay Jack’s Layered Stress Model complements Polyvagal Theory by showing how various stressors can accumulate over time, making it more difficult for a dog to function or learn. Here’s how it works:

1. Genetic Stress: Some dogs are predisposed to higher levels of anxiety or reactivity due to their breed or genetics. For example, a working breed might have more genetic stress if not given a suitable outlet for its instincts.
2. Environmental Stress: This includes everything around the dog—loud noises, new environments, or sudden changes. Even something like a vacuum cleaner can cause environmental stress.
3. Nutritional/Physical Stress: A dog’s diet and physical health are often overlooked as stressors. An unhealthy diet or lack of exercise can make a dog more prone to stress, which affects its ability to cope with other layers.
4. Social Stress: Poor socialisation or negative experiences with humans or other animals can cause stress that builds over time. This could manifest as fear of other dogs or avoidance of strangers.
5. Training Stress: If training is too challenging or not tailored to the dog’s current emotional state, it can add yet another layer of stress. Overloading a dog with difficult tasks can lead to frustration and shutdown.

Bringing It Together: Polyvagal Theory Meets the Layered Stress Model

By combining Polyvagal Theory and the Layered Stress Model, we gain a holistic view of how dogs experience and manage stress. Here’s how we can apply this to training:

1. Recognising Stress Responses: Polyvagal Theory helps us recognise when a dog is feeling safe (social engagement), when it’s becoming reactive (fight or flight), and when it’s shutting down. By identifying these states, we can adjust our approach, ensuring we don’t push the dog too far, too fast.
2. Managing Stress Layers: Jay Jack’s model reminds us that stress is cumulative. A dog might seem fine, but if they are experiencing stress from multiple sources—like a poor diet, loud noises, and social anxiety—they might reach a breaking point. By addressing these layers one by one, we can reduce the dog’s overall stress load.
3. Building Resilience Through Safe Training: Just like in humans, the goal in dog training is to build resilience, not just obedience. A dog that feels safe and understood is more likely to be engaged in training. This is where
4. Polyvagal Theory plays a role—helping the dog stay in that calm, social state where learning can happen. The Layered Stress Model ensures we don’t overload them with too many stressors at once.

Practical Steps for Trainers and Dog Owners

• Evaluate the Dog’s State: Before diving into training, assess where the dog is mentally and emotionally. Are they in a calm state, or are they already showing signs of stress? Use Polyvagal Theory to determine their nervous system state.
• Identify Stress Layers: Look at the different layers of stress the dog might be dealing with. Are they stressed from their environment? Are they getting enough exercise? By reducing one or more stressors, you can make training more productive.
• Train in a Safe Space: Make sure the environment is conducive to learning. This doesn’t mean eliminating all stressors but managing them so that the dog can stay engaged without becoming overwhelmed.
• Pace Training Sessions: Don’t overload the dog with too many new commands or situations in one go. Introduce challenges gradually, ensuring the dog stays in a state of social engagement and safety. Use rewards and positive reinforcement to keep the dog’s stress at a manageable level.

By blending the insights of Polyvagal Theory and Jay Jack’s Layered Stress Model, we gain a comprehensive understanding of how dogs process stress. This helps us build a training environment where they can thrive rather than merely survive. Dogs, like humans, are influenced by multiple stressors, but with the right approach, we can help them manage these layers, stay calm, and remain open to learning.

Just as I found healing through Polyvagal Theory in my EMDR treatment, our dogs can find balance and calm through compassionate, well-informed training. Let’s remember that every dog has its own unique layers of stress, and our job as trainers is to help them peel back those layers, creating space for growth, trust, and lifelong learning.