The Working Dog's Off Switch: Why Recovery and Settling Matter
Understanding arousal regulation, behavioral recovery, rest, and the ability to settle in working-line German Shepherds, police K9s, detection dogs, and other high-performance working dogs.
A working dog that can switch on is valuable. A working dog that can switch off—and recover appropriately—is better prepared for the demands of sustained, reliable performance.
In working dog training, considerable attention is devoted to drive, motivation, intensity, persistence, and the ability to perform under demanding conditions.
These characteristics matter. A capable working dog must possess the motivation and behavioral qualities appropriate to its intended assignment.
However, another essential characteristic receives considerably less attention: the ability to transition from heightened activity into an appropriate state of rest, recovery, or controlled engagement.
Commonly described as a dog's off switch, this capability is particularly relevant to working-line German Shepherds, police K9s, military working dogs, detection dogs, search and rescue dogs, and personal protection dogs.
A dog that demonstrates intense motivation during training but struggles to recover afterward may experience difficulties with emotional regulation, sustained performance, rest, or adaptation to ordinary environments.
At Kriegerhund K9, we consider recovery and settling important components of a working dog's overall behavioral profile.
The objective is not to reduce working drive. It is to develop a dog capable of expressing motivation when appropriate, maintaining behavioral clarity under pressure, and returning to a functional state when the task is complete.
1. What Is a Working Dog's Off Switch?
The term off switch is commonly used among working dog trainers to describe a dog's ability to disengage from heightened activity and settle when continued activity is no longer required.
It is not a formal veterinary diagnosis or a single scientifically standardized temperament trait.
Rather, it describes a collection of observable behaviors associated with arousal regulation, learned settling, environmental adaptation, and recovery.
A working dog with an effective off switch may demonstrate the ability to:
Transition from active training into a calm resting state.
Disengage from toys, equipment, or other anticipated rewards.
Remain settled when no task is being presented.
Rest in familiar and appropriately introduced unfamiliar environments.
Recover after exciting, frustrating, or challenging experiences.
Maintain appropriate behavior during periods of inactivity.
Reengage in work when given a trained cue or presented with a familiar task.
Importantly, settling does not mean a dog must remain motionless or show no interest in its surroundings.
A dog may observe environmental activity, change resting positions, or briefly orient toward a sound while remaining behaviorally regulated.
Likewise, lying down does not necessarily indicate that a dog is relaxed.
A dog may remain physically still while exhibiting significant tension, vigilance, or distress.
A reliable off switch is better understood as appropriate behavioral flexibility than as simple inactivity.
2. High Drive and the Ability to Settle Are Not Opposites
One of the most persistent misconceptions in working dog culture is that an exceptionally driven dog must also be constantly active, restless, or difficult to manage.
This assumption confuses motivation with dysregulation.
A dog may possess strong motivation for tracking, detection, apprehension-related training, or
interactive play while remaining capable of appropriate rest between activities.
Conversely, a dog that continually paces, vocalizes, demands engagement, or struggles to disengage from stimulation is not necessarily demonstrating superior working drive.
These behaviors may reflect anticipation, frustration, learned reinforcement patterns, environmental stress, unmet needs, discomfort, or other influences.
Drive Is Task-Related Motivation
In professional training discussions, drive is often used to describe motivational tendencies associated with activities such as chasing, searching, possessing, or engaging with reinforcement.
Although useful as training terminology, drive should be connected to observable behavior rather than treated as a single measurable quality.
Arousal Is a State of Activation
Arousal refers broadly to the level of physiological and behavioral activation occurring at a particular moment.
Arousal can influence attention, movement, responsiveness, and performance.
Higher arousal is not inherently beneficial or harmful.
Its usefulness depends on the task, intensity, duration, and the dog's ability to function effectively.
Regulation Is the Ability to Adapt
Behavioral regulation involves adjusting responses as conditions and demands change.
For working dogs, this may include moving from vigorous activity to controlled obedience, disengaging from a reward, recovering after a distraction, or settling during downtime.
The desired outcome is not maximum intensity at all times. It is appropriate intensity for the task, combined with the ability to transition when circumstances change.
3. Why Recovery Matters for Operational Working Dogs
Operational working dogs frequently encounter alternating periods of activity and inactivity.
A police K9 may spend extended periods waiting before being deployed.
A detection dog may complete several searches separated by transportation, staging, and rest.
A search and rescue dog may work demanding terrain, recover, and later resume searching.
A military working dog may need to remain manageable through transportation, unfamiliar environments, equipment handling, and changing operational conditions.
These circumstances place demands on more than task-specific motivation.
They also require appropriate behavioral recovery, physical conditioning, and the ability to remain functional during transitions.
Recovery Supports Sustained Performance
Dogs cannot perform demanding physical or cognitive activities indefinitely without appropriate recovery.
Fatigue can affect movement, attention, motivation, and performance.
Insufficient recovery may also complicate the interpretation of training results.
For example, a dog that shows reduced engagement during a later exercise may be experiencing fatigue rather than a lack of working aptitude.
Recovery Supports Behavioral Clarity
A dog that remains excessively aroused after an exciting exercise may have difficulty responding to cues requiring precision or controlled behavior.
This does not mean that all highly aroused dogs are incapable of accurate performance.
It means that handlers should understand how the individual dog's arousal state affects its work.
Recovery Supports Operational Adaptability
A working dog may need to remain settled during transportation, veterinary examinations, equipment preparation, or periods of operational inactivity.
The ability to tolerate these transitions can contribute to safer handling and more practical deployment.
However, a calm appearance during one situation does not establish that a dog will settle reliably in every environment.
Operational adaptability must be developed and evaluated across relevant conditions.
4. Behavioral Recovery Is Not the Same as Physical Recovery
The word recovery can describe several different processes.
Distinguishing them is important when evaluating working dogs.
Behavioral Recovery
Behavioral recovery refers to observable changes following excitement, distraction, frustration, or a challenging experience.
A handler may examine how quickly the dog resumes an appropriate activity or returns to a previously established behavioral state.
For example, after an unexpected sound, a dog may briefly orient toward the source, investigate, and return to its task.
This may demonstrate adaptive recovery under those particular conditions.
Physical Recovery
Physical recovery involves physiological processes associated with exercise, fatigue, hydration, temperature regulation, and restoration of normal function.
A dog may appear behaviorally calm while still requiring substantial physical recovery after demanding work.
Similarly, a dog may remain mentally engaged despite physical fatigue.
Emotional Recovery
Emotional recovery concerns the dog's response to experiences associated with fear, frustration, uncertainty, or other emotional states.
Because a dog's internal emotional experience cannot be measured directly through casual observation, handlers should avoid treating isolated behaviors as definitive evidence of a particular emotion.
Instead, examine patterns of behavior, context, body language, and changes over time.
A complete recovery assessment considers behavioral, physical, and environmental factors rather than relying on a single observation.
5. What Does a Dog That Can Settle Actually Look Like?
A dog capable of settling does not necessarily behave identically in every situation.
Individual differences, age, training history, health, and environmental conditions influence resting behavior.
Nevertheless, several practical indicators can help handlers evaluate the ability to settle.
Voluntary Resting Behavior
The dog chooses to lie down, sit comfortably, or otherwise rest when no task is required.
Voluntary resting is particularly informative when the dog has freedom to select an appropriate resting position.
Reduced Unnecessary Activity
The dog does not continuously pace, jump, vocalize, or demand interaction during ordinary periods of inactivity.
Occasional movement or attention-seeking does not automatically indicate a problem.
The overall pattern matters.
Appropriate Environmental Awareness
The dog may notice people, sounds, or movement without repeatedly escalating into intense reactions.
An environmentally aware dog does not need to ignore everything around it.
Ability to Disengage
The dog can transition away from a completed activity or reward opportunity without prolonged frustration or excessive difficulty.
Recovery Following Stimulation
After a period of excitement, the dog gradually returns to behavior appropriate to the environment.
Rest Across Different Environments
With suitable preparation and training, the dog can settle in more than one familiar location and progressively adapt to new settings.
Readiness to Reengage
After appropriate rest, the dog remains capable of participating in training or work.
A dog that appears unusually lethargic, weak, or reluctant to move should not automatically be considered well regulated.
Such changes may indicate fatigue, illness, pain, or another condition requiring attention.
A functional off switch involves both the ability to settle and the ability to return to appropriate activity.
6. Why Lying Down Does Not Always Mean a Dog Is Relaxed
One of the most common mistakes in evaluating settling behavior is relying exclusively on body position.
A dog lying on the ground may be relaxed.
It may also be highly alert, uncomfortable, fearful, or intensely anticipating the next event.
Consider two dogs maintaining a down position.
The first rests with a relatively loose body, changes positions comfortably, and shows little difficulty remaining settled during ordinary environmental activity.
The second maintains the same position but displays sustained muscular tension, repeated scanning, frequent vocalization, and difficulty disengaging from surrounding stimuli.
Both dogs are technically lying down.
Their behavioral states may be substantially different.
Observe the Whole Dog
Useful observations may include:
Overall muscular tension.
Ease of changing resting positions.
Frequency and intensity of environmental scanning.
Vocalization and repetitive movement.
Ability to disengage from anticipated activity.
Recovery following ordinary distractions.
Willingness to rest voluntarily.
Changes in behavior over time.
No single indicator provides a definitive assessment of emotional state.
For example, panting may occur because of heat, exercise, stress, or medical conditions.
Yawning, licking, and other behaviors also require contextual interpretation.
The objective is to evaluate the complete behavioral picture.
7. Environmental Adaptation and the Working Dog's Off Switch
A dog may settle easily at home but struggle in unfamiliar environments.
This difference is particularly relevant to working dogs expected to travel, train, compete, or deploy across multiple locations.
Environmental adaptation involves learning to function appropriately despite changes in surroundings.
A working-line German Shepherd may encounter unfamiliar flooring, buildings, vehicles, kennels, training grounds, equipment, people, and animals.
The ability to settle in these environments should be developed progressively.
Familiar Environments
Begin by establishing appropriate resting behavior in locations where the dog already feels comfortable.
These environments provide a foundation for learning.
Mild Environmental Changes
Introduce manageable variations, such as different rooms, familiar outdoor areas, or quiet training locations.
Increasing Complexity
As the dog demonstrates readiness, introduce additional environmental activity, unfamiliar settings, and appropriate distractions.
Operationally Relevant Settings
For mature working dogs, training may include suitable staging areas, transportation environments, training facilities, and other locations relevant to the dog's assignment.
The objective is not to overwhelm the dog with increasingly intense stimulation.
It is to develop confidence, adaptability, and appropriate behavior through carefully managed experiences.
A dog that settles reliably in one location has demonstrated a useful skill. A dog that can generalize settling across relevant environments has demonstrated a broader capability.
8. Teaching a Working Dog to Settle Without Suppressing Drive
Settling can be developed through clear training, appropriate reinforcement, environmental management, and consistent routines.
The objective is to teach the dog what behavior is expected during periods of inactivity.
Step 1: Establish a Predictable Resting Area
Choose a safe, comfortable location where the dog can rest without unnecessary disturbance.
This may be a bed, mat, crate, kennel, or other suitable resting space.
The location should be appropriate to the dog's age, health, temperature needs, and physical comfort.
Step 2: Reinforce Voluntary Calm Behavior
Observe moments when the dog naturally chooses to rest or disengage from activity.
Appropriate reinforcement can help strengthen these behaviors.
Reward delivery should remain calm and should not unintentionally produce renewed excitement.
Step 3: Introduce a Consistent Cue
A verbal cue such as "Settle" or "Place" may be introduced once the dog understands the expected behavior.
The cue should have a clear meaning.
A place cue requiring the dog to remain on a designated surface is not necessarily identical to genuine relaxation.
Both can be useful, but they should not be confused.
Step 4: Build Duration Gradually
Increase the amount of time the dog remains settled according to demonstrated readiness.
Avoid increasing duration, distance, and environmental difficulty simultaneously.
Step 5: Introduce Manageable Distractions
Progressively incorporate ordinary environmental activity while maintaining achievable criteria.
If the dog becomes unable to settle, reduce the difficulty and reassess the exercise.
Step 6: Practice Transitions
Teach the dog to move appropriately between activity, controlled behavior, and rest.
For example, a training session may include a short engagement exercise followed by a clear release into a resting period.
Step 7: Generalize the Behavior
Practice in multiple suitable environments.
Maintain realistic expectations and recognize that unfamiliar settings may initially require additional support.
Step 8: Evaluate Voluntary Recovery
Over time, observe whether the dog begins settling appropriately without constant prompting or reinforcement.
The goal is not simply to command inactivity. It is to develop a dog capable of making appropriate behavioral transitions.
9. The Role of Reinforcement in Developing an Off Switch
Reinforcement can support settling behavior, but the method of delivery matters.
Food rewards may help establish and maintain calm behavior when used thoughtfully.
However, repeatedly presenting food in a manner that creates intense anticipation can undermine the intended objective.
For some dogs, a quiet delivery of a small reward may be appropriate.
Others may respond better to environmental management, reduced stimulation, predictable routines, or reinforcement delivered after a defined period of settling.
Handlers should observe whether their chosen strategy actually improves the dog's ability to rest.
Reward the Behavior You Want to Maintain
If the objective is quiet resting, reinforcement should support that behavior.
Avoid accidentally reinforcing repeated jumping, vocalization, or other behaviors that interrupt settling.
Avoid Creating Constant Reward Anticipation
A dog that remains intensely focused on the handler's reward pouch may be performing a stationary behavior without genuinely disengaging.
The handler should distinguish between obedience maintained through anticipation and voluntary relaxation.
Use Appropriate Reward Value
The most exciting available reward is not always the most useful choice for a settling exercise.
Reward selection should reflect the desired behavioral outcome.
For additional guidance, read Training Rewards for Working Dogs: Selection, Timing, and Reinforcement Value in Kriegerhund K9 Field Notes.
10. Rest and Sleep Are Essential to Working Dog Development
Rest is not wasted training time.
Sleep and recovery support normal physical and neurological function, and they are important considerations in learning, development, and overall welfare.
Dogs' sleep requirements vary with age, health, activity level, and individual characteristics.
Puppies generally require more sleep than mature dogs, while older dogs and dogs recovering from demanding activity may have different resting needs.
A working dog that receives insufficient rest may demonstrate changes in attention, engagement, behavior, or physical performance.
However, these changes are not specific to sleep deprivation and may have other causes.
Working Puppies
Young puppies require frequent opportunities for uninterrupted rest.
Excessive training demands, constant stimulation, and insufficient recovery can interfere with appropriate development and welfare.
Adolescent Working Dogs
Adolescent dogs may demonstrate changing activity levels, responsiveness, and emotional regulation as they mature.
Training expectations should account for developmental variability.
Adult Operational Dogs
Mature working dogs require recovery appropriate to workload, environmental conditions, physical fitness, and individual needs.
Long training days, travel, demanding searches, and physically strenuous exercises may require additional rest.
Recovery should be planned as part of the training program rather than treated as an afterthought.
11. The Off Switch in Working-Line German Shepherds
Working-line German Shepherds are often selected for characteristics associated with demanding training and working applications.
Depending on the breeding lines and individual dog, these characteristics may include strong motivation, persistence, environmental engagement, and responsiveness to reinforcement.
However, working-line breeding does not mean that every dog will possess the same behavioral profile.
Nor does it mean that constant activity or difficulty settling should be accepted as inevitable.
A well-matched, appropriately developed working-line German Shepherd may demonstrate substantial working motivation while also functioning comfortably during ordinary household and kennel routines.
What Breeders and Puppy Buyers Should Observe
When evaluating breeding dogs or prospective working puppies, useful considerations include:
Behavioral recovery after exciting activities.
Responses to ordinary environmental changes.
Ability to disengage from play.
Resting behavior when stimulation decreases.
Appropriate social behavior.
Patterns of frustration or persistent arousal.
Parental behavioral characteristics.
The quality of early developmental experiences.
Early puppy observations can provide useful information, but they cannot guarantee adult temperament.
Settling behavior changes with maturity, training, and environmental experience.
For further reading, explore Selecting a Working Dog Puppy: Why Pedigree Alone Is Not Enough.
12. Off-Switch Development for Police, Military, and Detection Dogs
Different working assignments create different demands for arousal regulation and recovery.
Police Patrol Dogs
Patrol dogs may encounter periods of transportation, staging, controlled movement, and operational activity.
Appropriate settling behavior can contribute to safer handling and practical deployment.
However, operational control and behavioral recovery must be evaluated according to the agency's requirements.
Detection Dogs
Detection dogs may conduct multiple searches separated by rest periods and transportation.
Handlers should observe whether the dog maintains functional engagement across repeated assignments and receives appropriate recovery between demanding exercises.
Tracking and Trailing Dogs
Tracking and trailing may require sustained concentration over variable terrain and environmental conditions.
Physical fatigue, environmental stress, and insufficient recovery can influence performance.
A dog's ability to settle between exercises may support practical workload management.
Search and Rescue Dogs
SAR dogs may experience prolonged travel, unfamiliar staging locations, demanding terrain, and extended periods of inactivity between assignments.
Environmental adaptation and appropriate rest are important components of operational preparation.
Personal Protection Dogs
Personal protection dogs require stable behavior and appropriate control in ordinary environments.
A dog that remains chronically reactive or unable to disengage from perceived threats is not necessarily demonstrating desirable protective capability.
Reliable protection work requires discrimination, training, behavioral stability, and appropriate responses to context.
13. Common Mistakes When Developing a Working Dog's Off Switch
Mistake 1: Assuming High Drive Requires Constant Activity
Strong working motivation does not inherently prevent a dog from developing appropriate resting behavior.
Mistake 2: Confusing Obedience With Relaxation
A dog maintaining a down-stay may still be highly aroused or distressed.
Evaluate behavior beyond position alone.
Mistake 3: Expecting Settling Without Training
Some dogs settle naturally, while others require more structured development.
Environmental management and reinforcement history influence the outcome.
Mistake 4: Using Excessive Exercise as the Only Solution
Physical exercise is important, but attempting to exhaust a dog into inactivity is not a substitute for teaching appropriate settling behavior.
Excessive exercise can also create health and welfare risks.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Medical or Welfare Concerns
Persistent restlessness, sudden changes in behavior, difficulty sleeping, or unusual agitation may reflect pain, illness, discomfort, or other concerns.
Veterinary assessment may be appropriate, particularly when changes are sudden or unexplained.
Mistake 6: Increasing Environmental Difficulty Too Quickly
A dog that settles at home may not immediately demonstrate the same behavior in a busy training environment.
Progression should reflect individual readiness.
Mistake 7: Treating a Single Observation as a Permanent Temperament Assessment
One successful settling exercise does not establish consistent behavioral regulation.
Likewise, one difficult session does not prove a permanent deficiency.
Repeated observations across relevant conditions are more informative.
14. How to Evaluate a Working Dog's Ability to Settle
A structured evaluation should examine observable behavior under defined conditions.
The objective is to understand the dog's current capabilities and identify areas requiring further development.
Practical Settling and Recovery Observation Framework
1. Baseline Behavior
Observe the dog during a routine period of inactivity in a familiar environment.
Record voluntary resting behavior, movement, vocalization, and environmental attention.
2. Post-Activity Transition
Following an appropriate training or play session, observe the dog's transition toward resting behavior.
Document the activity, intensity, duration, and recovery conditions.
3. Disengagement
Evaluate whether the dog can transition away from a completed activity or anticipated reward without excessive difficulty.
4. Environmental Adaptation
Observe settling behavior in a suitably introduced unfamiliar environment.
5. Ordinary Distraction Recovery
Record responses to manageable environmental events and the dog's subsequent behavior.
6. Sustained Settling
Evaluate whether the dog can remain appropriately settled for a duration suitable to its age, health, and training history.
7. Reengagement
After appropriate recovery, observe whether the dog can return to a familiar task with functional engagement.
What Should Be Documented?
A useful record includes:
Date and location.
Dog's age and relevant training history.
Exercise or activity preceding the observation.
Environmental conditions.
Observable behavior.
Time required to meet predefined settling criteria.
Handler interventions.
Relevant signs of discomfort or distress.
Recovery and reengagement observations.
Recommended follow-up.
There is no universal recovery-time threshold that proves a dog possesses an effective off switch.
The appropriate criteria depend on the dog's developmental stage, activity, environment, and intended application.
Evaluation should focus on repeatable, contextually appropriate behavior rather than arbitrary time limits.
15. Documenting Recovery With Kriegerhund K9 Training Log
Consistent documentation can help handlers identify patterns in behavioral recovery and settling.
A dog may settle reliably after short obedience exercises but require additional recovery following intense play or demanding scent work.
Another dog may demonstrate appropriate resting behavior at home while struggling in unfamiliar training environments.
Without records, these differences may be overlooked.
Kriegerhund K9 is developing Training Log, a digital canine training companion designed to support practical training documentation.
Training Log is intended to work alongside Kriegerhund K9 Performance Rewards.
The planned experience allows handlers to scan a QR code printed on a Performance Rewards pouch, open Training Log on a smartphone, and initiate a training session.
Planned documentation capabilities include training objectives, session duration, environmental conditions, observed behavior, performance, and follow-up notes.
Handlers may use these records to document settling exercises, recovery observations, and progression across different environments.
Training Log remains in development. Its proposed automatic tracking features and final functionality are not yet available as a launched service.
The goal is to make meaningful documentation easier and help handlers base training decisions on observable patterns rather than memory alone.
For further guidance, read How to Document Canine Training: Building Records That Actually Matter.
16. Behavioral Recovery and Operational Suitability
A working dog's ability to settle is one component of its broader behavioral profile.
It should not be evaluated in isolation from environmental confidence, task motivation, physical soundness, trainability, behavioral stability, and the demands of the intended assignment.
A dog may demonstrate excellent resting behavior while lacking the motivation or capabilities required for a particular working discipline.
Conversely, a highly capable working dog may require additional training to develop more reliable settling behavior in certain environments.
The significance of these observations depends on the application and the severity of any limitations.
Kriegerhund K9's K9-CWCE-001 Comprehensive Working Canine Evaluation & Operational Suitability Assessment is designed to support structured examination of working canine characteristics and demonstrated capabilities.
Behavioral recovery, environmental adaptation, and regulation are relevant considerations when examining overall working suitability.
However, no single settling exercise or behavioral observation can establish operational readiness.
Professional assessment should consider multiple domains, relevant environmental conditions, and the dog's demonstrated performance over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Working Dogs and the Off Switch
What does it mean when a working dog has an off switch?
A working dog's off switch generally refers to its ability to transition from heightened activity into appropriate rest or controlled behavior. It includes learned settling skills, behavioral recovery, and adaptation to changing environmental demands.
Can a high-drive German Shepherd have a good off switch?
Yes. Strong working motivation and the ability to settle are not inherently incompatible. A dog can demonstrate intense task engagement while also learning to rest appropriately between activities.
Is an off switch genetic or trained?
Both inherited behavioral tendencies and developmental experiences may influence settling behavior. Training, environmental management, health, maturity, and reinforcement history also contribute. No single factor determines the outcome.
How do you teach a working dog to settle?
Begin in a comfortable environment, reinforce appropriate calm behavior, introduce a consistent cue if useful, gradually increase duration, and progressively generalize the behavior across suitable environments.
Does a dog lying down mean it is relaxed?
Not necessarily. A dog may remain in a down position while experiencing tension, anticipation, discomfort, or distress. Evaluate the complete behavioral pattern rather than body position alone.
How long should a working dog take to calm down after training?
There is no universal time limit. Recovery depends on the dog's age, fitness, activity intensity, environmental conditions, health, and individual characteristics. Persistent or unusual difficulty recovering may warrant professional assessment.
Can too much exercise make a working dog harder to settle?
Excessive activity can contribute to fatigue, discomfort, and other welfare concerns. Exercise alone does not teach settling behavior. A balanced program should include appropriate physical activity, training, rest, and recovery.
Why does my German Shepherd settle at home but not in public?
Unfamiliar environments introduce new stimuli and competing demands. A dog may need progressive exposure and additional training before it can settle reliably across different locations.
Is the off switch important for police and military working dogs?
Appropriate behavioral recovery and settling can contribute to practical handling, transportation, staging, and sustained operational performance. The specific requirements depend on the dog's assignment and applicable standards.
Conclusion: True Working Ability Includes the Capacity to Recover
Working dog performance is not defined exclusively by intensity, speed, motivation, or persistence.
A capable working dog must also be able to adapt to changing demands, transition between activities, and recover appropriately from physical and behavioral challenges.
The ability to settle does not diminish working drive.
When properly developed, it can complement task motivation, behavioral clarity, environmental confidence, and long-term performance.
At Kriegerhund K9, we believe that professional canine development should evaluate the complete dog rather than focusing exclusively on its most dramatic working characteristics.
That includes what happens after the exercise ends.
A dog that can work intensely is impressive. A dog that can work intensely, recover appropriately, settle when necessary, and return to the task with clarity demonstrates a more complete working capability.
KRIEGERHUND K9 — TRAIN. DEVELOP. PERFORM.