Erin Ollila
|November 24, 2019
You're probably all too familiar with your own responses to stress. And you can probably tell when your closest friends or family members are feeling anxious, too. But what are the signs of a stressed-out dog?
As their pet parent, you are your dog's best ally when it comes to defeating stress, so it's important to be able to identify when they're stressed and to know how to help them relax.
Here's everything you need to know to understand, identify and relieve dog stress.
Your dog can feel stressed for a number of reasons. According to the American Kennel Club,the three most common causes of anxiety in dogs:
Additionally, recent studies indicate that your own emotional health and stress levels could impact your dog's stress. According to research published in Scientific Reports, "dogs, to a great extent, mirror the stress level of their owners."
Below are some of the more common situations that may stress a dog out with resources to help you guide your dog through each of them.
According to the American Kennel Club, there are a number of ways your dog may display their stress, including:
It's important to note that many of these behaviors could easily be confused with backslides in training or accidents. If you notice your dog engaging in behaviors that could be stress-related, first consider your dog's unique personality and situation, as well as your own emotional state. Speak to your veterinarian if the situation persists. If the issue is stress-related, scolding your pet may only exacerbate their stress and make the situation harder to address.
There are a number of ways you can help prevent your dog's anxiety and help an already stressed out dog:
It's true — dogs can get stressed! But luckily, there's a lot you can do to support your pup. By paying attention to their behavior, you can identify the signs and causes of their stress and help your pooch chill out.
Erin Ollila believes in the power of words and how a message can inform—and even transform—its intended audience. Her writing can be found all over the internet and in print, and includes interviews, ghostwriting, blog posts, and creative nonfiction. Erin is a geek for SEO and all things social media. She graduated from Fairfield University with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Reach out to her on Twitter @ReinventingErin or learn more about her at http://erinollila.com.
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