STRESS
Is your dog stressed? And why is it important to know?
Stress is everywhere. Stress is in everything we do. It’s part of everyday life. It is part of our dogs’ lives too, but too much of the wrong type of stress can lead to serious physical and behavioral problems. There are 3 types of Stress, Good, Tolerable and Toxic. Let’s take a quick look at each of these and see what they entail.
The Good, The Tolerable, The Toxic
Good Stress – these are events like getting married, graduating HS, writing a paper for a course you are taking, etc. This type of stress can lead to personal development. Yes, it can be a bit difficult to do, but once done you feel you have accomplished something.
Tolerable Stress, as the name implies, we can tolerate it, but it’s something we are not looking forward to doing. We know we can get through it. Afterward the person may feel that it wasn’t a great experience but “I survived it”. It may take a little time, but our bodies will recover from this.
Toxic Stress. This is the type that overwhelms our systems, both physically and behaviorally. Stress hormones that are released during this long-term event can lead to many serious problems.1) Digestive Issues 2) Diabetes 3) High Blood Pressure and other Cardiac issues. 4) Reproductive problems 5) Suppression of our immune response. Behavioral issues like increased aggression or depression or being in a Shut-Down state. Stress affects the entire body. If these systems continue to decline, this can lead to pre-mature death. As you can see, Toxic stress is truly TOXIC.
Dogs, like other mammals, experience stress too. It affects all animals differently, depending on their genetics, learning history and current state of health.
So How Do I know If my dog is Stressed?
Dogs express their feelings through body language. And by being better observers, we can start to recognize the signs of stress in our dogs. Most people can recognize the common signs: 1) Shaking 2) tail tucked between legs 3) Cowering and looking small 4) Big eyes. 5)Ears held tightly back by their heads 6) Growling, showing of teeth or even air snapping. There are other signs that indicate the stress is building in a dog, that can be more subtle, may include 1) Lip Licking 2) yawning 3) excessive panting with a long tongue 4) hair raised on the back – Hackles Up 5) Hyper vigilance. Vigilance in an animal is usually good, it helps to keep us safe and aware of our environment. However, hypervigilance, when the animal is expecting danger around every corner, keeps our body prepared for the Fight or Flight response all day long. What about a tail wag? Well, a wagging tail does not equal a happy dog. It depends on the type of wag. The key with body language is not to use one sign to evaluate the dog’s mood. Everything must be considered, the eyes, ears, mouth, posture and the behavior of the dog. If you need help in decoding your dog, working with a qualified trainer can help you better understand your dog’s unique language.
Are some dogs more prone to stress than others?
Let’s break it down according to age.
Adolescents seem to be particularly prone to the damaging effects of stress. Their developing brain and nervous systems are very vulnerable at this stage of life. Adolescent period generally is between 8-16 mos. Depending on the breed and the dog.
Pregnant dogs and their puppies are also a high-risk group. Pregnancy is stressful and added stress can be just too much for the dog to handle. Studies have shown that the stress hormones released by the mother can cross the placenta and into the developing puppies. This can affect the way their brains and nervous systems develop, making them more vulnerable to stress and anxiety in later life.
Senior dogs are generally 8 yrs. and over, depending on the breed. These guys can have underlying health issues that can weaken their systems. Chronic pain, from arthritis or maybe dental related is not uncommon to see. Some Cognitive Decline could also be in the beginning stages.
Adult dogs – generally 2-8 yrs. of age seem to be the most resilient group to the effects of stress. However, no dog is immune. The dog’s history and genetic make-up, as well as its current state of health, play important roles in how well the dog tolerates stress.
My Dog Is STRESSED! What can I do about it?
There are ways to mitigate stress and empty the dog’s stress bucket.
1) Exercise and Long sniff walks. 2) Enrichment games and activities – Kongs, puzzle feeders and snuffle mats are all great fun. 3) Play Time and Social Interaction – dogs are playful their entire lives and this is an excellent way to empty the stress bucket. Finding an appropriate play mate with the same style of play as your dog, is important for play to be fun. Just like people, we all have a preference for who we like to spend time with. 4) Freedom of Choice. We control almost every aspect of our dogs’ lives. They should have some choices too. You may like to go to the Brewery, but if your dog is hiding under the table, it is not a fun experience for him. Leave him home next time. Maybe he does not want to meet that stranger, he should be able to choose. 5) Nutrition and proper Sleep. Without rest and good fuel, our bodies will struggle with having enough resources to function properly. 6) Vet Visit. Even though this is listed last, it may be the most important step to take. Your vet can determine if there are underlying health issues affecting your dog. Some dogs can benefit from added medications. Just like people, some dogs need a little extra help and there are many medication choices available for this.
We all want our dogs to live long, happy, healthy lives. Addressing their levels of stress early on is an important part of this. If you are unsure about your dog’s stress level, contact a certified professional trainer, one that is Force and Fear Free, to help you, help your dog.
MOOD MATTERS
Mood and Emotion in Dogs and Why It Matters
to Owners and Trainers.
Debbie Thomas
Most people would agree that dogs have emotions. We can see their emotions by reading their body language. Tail wagging, relaxed body posture, playful activities. Physical changes can also be measured, such as changes in heart rate, pupil dilation, respiration, etc. Emotions have a function - Emotions motivate behavior. Emotions can be brief and can come on the animal quickly. Think of seeing a snake in the grass - you react quickly with fear and move away from the snake. In this way, emotions also play a role in our survival.
Do dogs have moods? Again, most people would say yes and could identify the mood their dog is in. Happy, Playful, excited, calm, fearful, etc. Moods are core emotional affective states that last longer than emotions. They can be positive or negative. The strength of the mood can also vary from mild to severe.
We know that dogs can feel a certain way, but why is this important? Why does Mood Matter? If we are training our dogs, we are looking at changing behavior. Behavior serves a function. It is either to gain a reward or avoid a punishment. If emotions motivate behavior, then the animal's emotional state is critical in behavior modification or the learning of new behavior.
In a Negative or Pessimistic state, the animal is anticipating a bad outcome in the face of uncertainty. Anticipating that a punishment is just around the corner. This inhibits learning because the animal is behaving to avoid the punishment. The dog is afraid to take a risk. Trying new things brings uncertainty and could bring punishment. Problem-solving skills are poor because the dog avoids new ideas for fear that they could have a negative effect.
Positive or Optimistic states, the animal is expecting good outcomes. The dog is anticipating a reward or a reinforcement. Positive emotions promote risk-taking and seeking behavior, because new things could result in a reward. Good things could be just around the corner. It makes the mind more flexible in creative thought, thus promoting problem-solving skills. The dog is not inhibited in showing new behaviors because these could lead to reinforcement. There is no risk in trying something new.
In humans, studies have shown that a negative mood results in higher avoidance of situations. Hypervigilance of the environment and an attention bias toward threats. In adolescents, it can present with higher levels of social withdrawal and anxiety. Dogs and many other mammals have similar brain structures that are involved in emotional processing. Therefore, it is not unlikely that dogs experience emotions and moods similar to humans. With the adolescent stage being the most vulnerable to toxic stress, this is a very concerning age from a welfare point of view. Negative emotions lead to toxic stress. This stress has been linked to many physical and emotional conditions that result in poor physical health and a damaged Dog-Human Relationship.
As trainers, we should strive to keep the dog in a positive state to enhance learning. Dogs in a positive state are more likely to recover faster from a negative situation and have more self-control. Emotions also drive goal-directed behavior. When dogs have their needs met, this leads to a feeling of well-being and a decrease in behavior problems.
Mood Matters!
Blog Post Title One
Here is a great article about Prong Collars and why you should NOT use them.
Blog Post Title Two
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Three
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.