Dog Anxiety - Understanding the Signs

Feeling Stressed? Anxious? Well, you might not be alone.

Our best friends and canine companions feel anxiety and fear as well.

Whether it be separation anxiety. New people visiting their home.

Weather, a thundering storm. 

Or maybe they are feeding off your emotions.

You and your partner had a fight.

You are sad after losing a loved one.

Stressed because you lost your job.

Our pets experience changes in mood and temperament alongside their human family.

How they express their anxiety can manifest in different ways.

Tearing up their bed.

Hiding under furniture.

Attaching themselves to you – to the point you continue to trip over them.

Whining incessantly.

To help guide your dog through these spells you can take many of the same actions that you would for a child or close friend.

Take them for a walk. Run them. Exercise can help relieve stress by providing beneficial endorphins.

Play Music. Whether to drown out upsetting noises or confusing sounds, music has been known to sooth the not-so savage beast. Classical music has shown that it can have a sedative effect on dogs (as well as humans).

Calming shirts – can have the same effect as swaddling blankets on a baby. The snug pressure can help make a dog feel safe.

Massages.  Soft petting and rubbing can help loosen muscles that tighten during stressful situations. Just as some humans carry stress in their lower back or neck, dogs can have specific stress spots.

Our dogs can’t tell us what is bothering them. Sometimes it is easier to yell or dismiss. Always Instead, take the time to really note and act with kindness and understanding.