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Life can be stressful, but there is no greater relief than coming home to your pup. But like humans, our beloved canines can also feel stressed out, leaving your fun-loving pup feeling restless and scared. This guide will help you understand your dog’s stress signals, the potential causes, and how you can provide a peaceful, happy environment for them to destress.
Importance of Recognizing Stress Signals
Unless you understand barks and growls, your dog won’t be able to sit you down and explain its feelings. However, it does showcase a variety of common stress signals. It may be wise to note how your dog typically acts, as certain actions may come across as normal canine behavior.
Common Stress Signals
The common signals can be broken down into three different forms of communication: body language, vocalizations, and strange behaviors. We’ll break down body language first.
Body Language
While dogs cannot speak our language, their bodies can tell us a lot about their stress levels. Take note of these common changes in their body language:
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Their tail is tucked between the legs
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Trembling and shivering when not excited or cold
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Cowering posture or shrinking into a fetal position
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Showing the whites of their eyes, aka “Whale Eye”
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Become stiff and tense but remain standing
Vocalizations
Many dogs attempt to communicate if they are feeling stressed. When around your dog, watch to see if they start whining, growling, or barking. If they continue to do it in a loud and repetitive pattern. These are vocal signs that your dog feels uncomfortable in the current environment or situation.
An odd vocalization to note is consistent yawning. Typically this is a sign that they are bored or sleepy, but it can also indicate a high stress level. Yawning is a way for them to physically get rid of their built-up stress. See if your dog begins yawning at strange times such as when meeting new people, as this indicates them feeling stressed.
Other Signs
In some cases, dogs express their high stress levels in much more odd displays. Odd behaviors to look out for are:
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Excessive Licking: Constant licking around their mouth and nose could communicate that your dog feels stressed. The action of licking can be a way for them to comfort themselves when they feel uncomfortable.
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Pacing or Restlessness: Similar to how humans may pace around when feeling stressed, dogs do it just as well. Your dog may make wide circular movements around the house in a repetitive manner. Them doing this is typically a showcase they are panicking due to a change in the environment.
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Loss of Appetite : Dogs have a regular habit of eating even when they are full, but a sudden refusal to eat indicates they are stressed out.
Causes of Stress in Dogs
Once you get a better understanding of how your dog showcases their stress, the next step is finding out the cause. Stressors can be triggered due to new environments, loud and sudden noises, or even social issues.
Changes in the Environment
Change can be stressful for humans, let alone your canine companion. When their feeling of comfort suddenly changes, they begin to show a high amount of stress. Environmental changes can include moving to a new home or introducing them to a new family such as another dog. These issues your dog can adjust to over time, but at the beginning, they may feel distressed.
Loud Noises
Those floppy ears are not just for show. Dogs are much more sensitive to loud sounds than humans. Sudden noises such as thunderstorms, fireworks on the 4th of July, and even construction noise can heighten your dog's stress level.
Lack of Socialization
Keeping your pup in contact with the rest of the world is important. When a dog has limited social interaction with people and other dogs, any chance encounters with someone new can cause them great distress.
How to Recognize Stress Early
Observing your dog is the best way to recognize their stress level before it becomes too much for them. Recognizing early gives you the time to adjust to the environment and eliminate any stressors, keeping your furry friend happy and healthy. You can recognize stress early by:
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Monitoring any changes in behavior
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Observing their reactions in different social and environmental settings
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Noting down any observed/potential stress triggers
How to Help a Stressed Dog
It’s tough to see your dog under a lot of stress, so what do you do to make your pup feel better? You can ease their stress level by:
Creating a Safe Space
Distance your dog from the stressor, by bringing them back to your home or in a more calm area Remember to stay calm and collected as actions like raising your voice might only add to their stress. Provide them with some comfy bedding so they can lie down and get a little peace and quiet.
Use Calming Products:
Sometimes having the right tools on hand can ease your canine’s tension. Products such as anxiety wraps act like a big hug for your pup while items like calming treats give them something good to eat and manage their stress levels.
Practice Positive Reinforcement
When faced with a stressful situation, providing a form of reward can give your pup the confidence it needs. When they exhibit positive behavior, give them their favorite treat or toy, loving praise, and sometimes a nice belly rub.
Punishment is never a proper way to respond to a dog’s stress. Discipline, when they exhibit their distress, may only give you an angry growl or a bite mark. So when your dog is stressed, keep things calm and provide them the comfort they need.
When to Seek Professional Help
In certain circumstances, stress can remain persistent and severe even after you provide the needed support. If your dog exhibits the following behaviors, you’ll want to contact a professional right away as they are exhibiting severe signs of stress:
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Sudden aggressive actions, like biting or growling
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Self-harm or destructive behavior
These are extreme cases where your canine companion’s distress has become too much. Exhibiting behaviors may only escalate over time, but experts can assist. Consulting with a licensed, experienced veterinarian or dog trainer can provide you with insight and methods to relieve their stress such as medication.
Keeping Your Dog’s Safe and Stress-Free
Nothing cures a bad day like a happy, wagging pup. But when our fuzzy friends seem tense, scared, or restless, it's up to us dog owners to provide the same relief. Whether it's finding a quiet space away from fireworks or giving them a calming treat in a new home, erasing that distress only helps to make your bond even stronger.
Another way of giving your dog a sense of relief is by pampering them with the best bathtime tool. With The Absorber. This towel utilizes a sponge-like structure that picks up water in no time flat, giving you less time in the bath and more time for fetch. For your pup’s next bath, give them the best possible clean with The Absorber from Dog Lover’s Towel Towel.