Good Morning Friends!
Happy Friday!
The weekend is almost here, and I can't wait!! I hope your week went well, mine was perfect (I'm a dog so my weeks are always perfect, BOL!!). This week I am barking about stress in dogs and the signs to look for as well as tips to help your stressed dog, so let's get into it…
5 Signs Of Stress In Your Dog You Might Not Expect:
Us dogs usually live a pretty laid-back life, but there are times when we get stressed like when we hear loud noises (thunder or fireworks) or are unsure of what we see out on our walks (people, other dogs or cats), so here are 5 signs of stress that you may not know about when your dog is feeling stressed:
Shedding - Sure, most of our dogs shed most of the time, but during times of increased stress you’ll notice tufts coming off your dog in big puffs.
Yawning - We all yawn when we are tired, but did you know your dog will yawn (often accompanied by a squeak or whine) when stressed? This is one way your dog is trying to calm himself when he feels himself getting stressed.
Pacing - A stressed-out dog might walk back and forth. Imagine the old sit-com portrayal of the expectant dad pacing the waiting room. It’s the same thing; your dog is trying to blow off steam and expend that nervous energy.
Hiding - If your dog ducks behind you, scoots under the bed, or crawls behind the couch, she’s not feeling confident. In these instances, if your dog chooses to hide behind you, provide comfort as much as possible, but if she’s in a closet or under the bed, it’s okay to leave her alone and wait her out.
Drooling or Panting - If your dog hasn’t run a couple miles, but your dog is drooling or panting, then she’s stressed. It’s just like when you are in a period of stress and your breathing becomes shallow. When a dog is panting or drooling, it’s time for you to step in to counteract the stress before your dog melts down which brings us to how to help your stressed-out dog…
3 Ways To Help Your Stressed-Out Dog:
Remove the Stressor or Remove Your Dog - If something (fireworks, bicycle, crowded sidewalks, hot air balloons) causes your dog acute stress, either remove the thing or remove your dog. We are not talking permanent avoidance; you will want to plan some training to help your pup in the long-term. This is just short-term management to help your dog get through the moment.
Provide Comfort - Recently someone told me she doesn’t want to “coddle” her dog when she’s hiding from fear. Imagine saying something like that about a baby or child. No one would ever dream of saying something like, “Oh, your kid’s terrified of lightning? Well, you should never comfort a frightened child! It’ll just reinforce her fear!” If your dog, your friend, your partner, your child, whoever, feels scared, provide comfort. The end.
Implement Interventions - For daily anxiety management, you may want to consider CBD for dogs (there are a lot of different formulations of CBD for dogs, so do your research before deciding to try CBD with your dog). For stressors that are unexpected or particularly acute (fireworks, thunderstorms, company visiting, whatever it is for your dog) other options include using an anxiety vest. For stressors you can plan for (vacuuming, company visiting) you can organize a bunch of interventions, like combining a CBD dose with an anxiety vest or moving your dog to a cozy corner with their favorite toy, treats or chew stick or a snuffle mat to take his mind off his nerves.
Remember, these tips will help your dog through a stressful situation, but these tips are not a substitute for training, but for dogs who are wired for stress, training alone simply can’t mitigate all the stress your pup will ever experience, so training your dog to not attack the vacuum while in use or not attacking visitors in your home is something you can do, but change doesn’t happen overnight. Train your dog consistently and in the long run, your dog will be less stressed and more calm and content.
That's all I have for you this week! I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and I will bark with you all next week and remember, Adopt, Don't Shop!
