Now that you have an idea of what
a stressed dog looks like, it’s time to make sure you help your dog when he
is showing you he is stressed.
Give your dog space
One of the very best things you can do is to put more
distance between your dog and whatever is causing him stress. For some dogs,
this is a couple of feet, for some it will be two blocks. Taking away the pressure
of the situation will help your dog relax.
Understand what situations are stressful for your dog
In January, I went to both the Bay Area Pet Expo and The
Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show, and was struck by the almost polar opposite
behaviors of the dogs. Many dogs at the Expo were clearly overwhelmed by the
sheer amount of STUFF happening: dogs, people, noises, smells, tight quarters
and lots of activity. Unfortunately, a
lot of owners seemed to be completely unaware that their dog(s) just didn’t want
to be there and were completely over stimulated. In contrast, dogs at the dog
show were also surrounded by STUFF but were completely at ease, and many seemed
quite happy to be surrounded by
everything. The difference is that the dogs at the show are in that sort of
situation on a regular basis, and most likely grew up in that environment. For
some of the dogs at the Expo, they may have NEVER been in that sort of
situation before, and it was just too much without a history of prior (and
positive!) experiences.
Training!
If you find that your dog is stressed, in general or in
certain situations, one of the best things you can do is positive training.
Whether with a private trainer to specifically address certain issues or in a
general group class, teaching your dog new behaviors and skills will increase
his confidence and help him to calm down. Training is an opportunity for you
and your dog to have fun together, and for your dog to learn that you have
everything under control, so he doesn’t need to worry as much in stressful
situations.
A word of caution: not all trainers are created equal! You
want to find a Certified
Trainer who uses modern, science-based training methods. Using harsh,
corrections-based training on a stressed dog will just result in a dog who is
even more stressed.
A note about growling...
Does your dog growl when he is stressed? Great! Whatever you
do, do not EVER punish your dog for growling. Growling is your dog’s way of
stating that he is concerned about something. Dogs who are punished for
growling may learn they shouldn’t growl, but then have less options for showing
their concern. You hear about a dog who bit someone “out of nowhere” but I bet
somewhere down the line, they used a growl to try to express that they were upset. For more info on growling and why it is good, read this
great article by Nicole Wilde. The take home message from it is this: Growling is meant to avert aggression, not
cause it.
Here are some resources for those interested in learning
more about helping to alleviate stress in your dog:
- On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas
- The Cautious Canine by Patricia McConnell
- Click to Calm by Emma Parsons
My name is Tracey Lee Davis, and I'm a CPDT-KA, a graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers, and a Certified Kennel Operator. Got a dog related question? Ask me at traceylee@siliconvalleydogs.com
