The Vagus Nerve - Hype Or Reality?

In order to understand the vagus nerve and the role it plays in our dog's behaviour, we need to understand a bit about what the vagus nerve really is, its function and how it impacts our dog's overall health. This stuff also applies to humans!

The nervous system is broken down into many different sections, so im gonna draw you guys a lovely little flow chart.

The nervous system is incredibly complex system that controls and coordinates all bodily functions in us and our dogs. On the left we have the Central Nervous System (CNS) which is made up of the brain, spinal cord and brain stem - think of this part of the brain as the master control system. Then on the right we have the Peripheral Nervous system (PNS).

The Peripheral Nervous System is then divided in to different subdivisions - think of this as the body's link to the outside world. This then is broken down in to a few more subdivisions of the Nervous System.

Okay, so here's the fun stuff. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is responsible for all of the things your body does without you having to think about. This would be things like breathing, your heart beating, and digesting food, and this is all where our story starts!

The Sympathetic Nervous System is responsible for our fight or flight (survival) response and the Parasympathic nervous system is responsible for rest and digest. Both of these systems have 'branches' in different areas of the body such as the skin, the eyes, saliva glands, heart, lungs, stomach, circulatory system and all of the other involuntary body functions.

As both these Nervous Systems have branches in both the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic areas, depending on which one is 'active' will determine what effect that will have on the body.

The vagus nerve runs the entire length of the dogs body and supplies nerve function to all of the areas of the body and its main role in the parasympathetic nervous system is to regulate the involuntary bodily functions associated with it. The vagus nerve doesn't 'run' the parasympatheic nervous system, it IS the parasympathetic nervous system.

So how do we tap into to this and 'activate' the vagus nerve?

Well, if we've ever worked together in the past you might know that my approach to helping ANY behaviour struggle will most likely start with growing more calmness (rest and digest, i.e. activating the vagus nerve and the parasympathetic nervous system).

We can do this in many different ways, but massage is a good one but only when the dog is still, consents to touch and is in a place of moderate arousal. The T Touch technique has been around for quite a few years - this isn't a new thing, but massage isnt always appropriate.

How else can we activate the parasympathetic nervous system (and the vagus nerve)?

How about a sniffari, or a long lasting chew? Maybe some patterned walking followed by some boundary games?

Calmness is a skill we can grow, and its something that I start most behaviour modification plans with because it really is vital for a happy, healthy dog.

Any good dog trainer or behaviourist should already be doing these things, and not simply following a fad. This stuff is backed by science, but the buzz on the internet lately certainly feels like a marketing approach to sell a training programme.

I hope this has helped, and as always please let me know if you've got any questions, or if I can help in any way.

Chrissy x