Stress

We know there is a lot of stress in the world. We have stress, stress is all around us so therefore our dogs feel that stress in you. Dogs will even show their own stress if something is bothering them enough.

Sometimes without knowing it we put our dogs through unknown stress. We can do that by putting them in situations they’ve never been in before and expecting them to act normal.

We can put stress on them by demanding a command that they haven’t generalized. We can put stress on them by yelling at them, chasing them while we are heightened and also by repeating the command over and over. 

These types of stress for the dog can all be avoided if we take a minute to check how we are feeling before interacting with our dogs. If you are tired, irritated, aggravated or upset when it is time to play with, walk or train your dog take the time to reset before starting the activity with your dog. It will benefit both of you in the long run.

For the most part dogs want to spend time with you, however, if you are the reason for their stress their reactions can become volatile and dangerous. This is almost always the reason for child, or adult dog confrontations. People will say they had no idea what happened yet the dog gave many warning signs during the time of stress.

Some sign to look for in a dog showing stress;

*cowering, backing away

*lip lifted over gums, growl or no growl

*hair on back or rear standing

*whale eye, seeing the whites of their eyes

*licking- paws, lips

*whining, strange noises in the throat

Dogs are precious animals because they are smart, savvy and have to work very hard to fit into a human world. Give them the kind caring you. It is hard in this world to be stress free when handling dogs but to try and be mindful of how you are both feeling is the best way to build a strong relationship.