Stress in dogs: causes and how to alleviate it

Much is known about human responses to stress, yet most people can almost certainly recognize when their loved ones are feeling anxious. But can a dog be stressed?

When it comes to dealing with stress, a dog can’t have a better ally than its owner. Therefore, it is important that the owner knows how to recognize when the dog is stressed and how to help him calm down.

In this article, everything you need to know to identify and relieve stress in your dog.

Causes of Stress in Dogs

An animal can experience stress for a variety of reasons. According to the American Kennel Club, the most common causes of anxiety in dogs include:

1. Confusion and memory loss due to aging.

2. Fear. For example, in front of loud noise, new surroundings, voluminous or strange objects, and large groups of people.

3. Parting.

Recent research suggests that the owner’s own emotional health and stress levels can affect a dog’s condition. According to a study published in Scientific Reports, “dogs mirror the stress of their owners to a large extent.”

In addition, there are a number of situations in everyday life that often cause anxiety in dogs:¿

• Loud sounds. Dogs have super-sensitive hearing, so a noise that a person considers loud will sound deafening to them. How to help your dog not be afraid of loud sounds, such as fireworks, in this article.

• Moving. Whether it’s moving to a new home, changing owners after the loss of a loved one, or just getting to know a new family after adoption, new places can cause anxiety for any dog. If the dog behaves strangely, pees in the house, or vomits frequently, it is possible that he is simply unnerved by the new environment.

• Stay at home alone. There are many reasons why you have to leave your pet at home alone for a long time. This could be a new job or coming out of maternity leave, a long shopping trip, etc. A pet used to company can develop separation anxiety.

How stress manifests itself in dogs

According to the American Kennel Club, signs of stress in a dog can show up in several ways:

• Damage to things in the house.

• Urination and defecation in the house, despite the fact that the dog is trained to go to the toilet outside. 

• Sudden aggression.

• repetitive behavior.

• Walking back and forth or restless mobility.

• Dyspnea.

Many of these behaviors can easily be confused with training regressions or unfortunate accidents. In order to figure out whether a dog is really stressed, you need to take into account its unique nature, as well as your own emotional state. 

If there is no improvement, you should contact your veterinarian. If the dog is stressed and the owner also scolds him, this can complicate the situation.

How to help your dog calm down

There are several ways you can help a stressed pet:

• Feed your dog healthy food and provide her with plenty of exercise. Quality nutrition and active movement are crucial for the animal’s mental health. It is important to make sure that the pet runs and plays a lot, and be sure to feed him high-quality food in the right quantities.

• Consistent training. Good training creates a platform for communication between the owner and the pet and defines expectations that the dog will be able to navigate. This helps to get rid of the uncertainty associated with anxiety.

• Reduce pet stress. There are situations due to which some animals will unnecessarily worry anyway. For example, you should not bring your dog to places where loud music is played. At home, it is better to listen to music at a comfortable volume. This can help your dog stay calm. If a stressful situation is unavoidable, you need to do everything possible to mitigate it. It is better to act depending on the circumstances, for example, when leaving home, give the pet his favorite toy or sweatshirt that smells like the owner. This can reduce his stress.

Dogs can really get stressed. But, fortunately, the owners are able to do a lot to support their pet. By carefully observing your dog’s behavior, you can identify the signs and causes of stress and help him calm down.