Dealing With Doggie Anxiety

Anxiety is a very common behavioral issue for dogs. Some dogs are anxious only in certain situations (going to the vet, when visitors arrive, etc) while others have anxiety in numerous situations. In the latter case, the anxiety becomes chronic. We aren't sure why some dogs handle stress better than others but then again, some people are better equipped at dealing with stress as well. If you believe your dog's anxiety is chronic, there are certain basic steps you can take to help calm him.

1.) Take him for a walk- Exercise is not only great for your pup physically, but helps him settle down mentally. I recommend at least three 30 minute walks per day for big dogs and three 20 minute walks per day for the little guys with anxiety. The walk satisfies your dog's need for mental stimulation in that he gets to see, sniff, and hear sounds that he wouldn't be exposed to in his own house or yard. Just like humans, dogs need to both venture out into the world and get plenty of exercise to maintain health. For those days when you're short on time, you can also switch one of these walks out for a vigorous 15 minute game of fetch. Just make sure he is still getting his pee break every five or six hours. When your pup has to hold it, this can exacerbate his general anxiety.

2.) Let him meet some furry friends - Dogs have their own "language". Part of this language includes a series of gestures called calming signals. These signals not only allow for peaceful interaction between dogs but they remind dogs how to calm themselves as well. A dog that doesn't have the opportunity to use "doggie language" much will soon forget it and therefore will not be as well-versed in calming himself during stressful situations. Social interaction also supplies more mental and physical stimulation for your pup too.

3.) Set boundaries and adopt a routine - Imagine for a second that when you went to work everyday your boss kept moving your desk. Some days you'd be next to the noisy copier and other days you'd be isolated in the storage room. While this scenario is a bit far-fetched, this is how your dog feels when he doesn't know where he is allowed in the house and where he is not. If you decide your dog shouldn't sit on the sofa, then this needs to be reinforced every time he attempts to climb up. All of us get lazy with rules at times but having consistent boundaries is especially important for anxious dogs. When your dog knows what is expected of him, he can relax. This goes for his feeding and walking routine as well. If that routine changes too much, he becomes uneasy.

4.) Praise the correct behavior - This activity is probably the most crucial of all. Watch your dog for signs of anxiety and don't pet or comfort him while he is in this state. Our instinct as pet parents is to want to soothe our dog when he is uncomfortable. We hate seeing him worked up for no reason. Unfortunately, when we pet our pup during fits of anxiety, it has the opposite effect. We are communicating to him that we like this behavior. The best solution when your dog is whining, shaking, etc is to ignore him. I know it's difficult but remind yourself that you are helping him. You can coo at him and pet him until your heart is content once he is calm again.

Slow Motion Doggie

It's the end of a long stressful day of work. You come home and let your dog out in the backyard to do her business. You're tired and all you want to do is take off your work clothes and relax.  You call your pup to come inside, but she acts like she's ignoring you. You call her more intensely and this time she moves slowly in your general direction but makes a wide arc around the yard. Growing more frustrated, you yell her name.  This time she slows down even more and stops to sniff the azalea bush. You also see her yawn or maybe, half-close her eyes. Exasperated, you leave her and go inside in a huff and shut the door. At this point, she comes running to be let in and you're wondering why your dog is vexing you. Does this sound familiar? 

We think our dogs are being passive aggressive during such occasions, but the truth is that everything your pup was doing in this scenario was an effort to get you to relax. Dogs are excellent as sensing tension and stress. In the dog world, such tension would usually lead to an altercation, so your dog wants to calm you as quickly as possible. The only problem is that you aren't versed in dog language. Slow movements, lack of eye contact, an wide-arcing approach, slow yawns, half-closed eyes, and sniffing the ground or pretending to do something else are all signals that tell other dogs to please calm down. And they work too! Usually other dogs will respond by mimicking these same techniques. It's the same as when we ask a friend who is agitated to breathe deeply or sit down with us.

Even when we aren't aware that we're tense, our dogs know. So, if you see your dog doing any of these behaviors, your best bet is to try and relax. Clear your mind. Lower your shoulders. Maybe stop and sniff the flowers too.   When you do, you'll notice how obedient your dog suddenly becomes.

Cultivating A Fresh Start

So, you are at your wit’s end with your dog's behavior and you have decided to hire a trainer. You’ve scheduled a session, you've straightened up your house, and you are ready for this professional to come in and see the hair-wringing frustration that you've been dealing with on a daily basis.  You’re hoping this person can save the day with a myriad of tips and techniques. Then, something miraculous happens. The trainer shows up and your dog behaves like an angel.  Now you are left only explaining your dog’s incessant chewing, leash pulling, etc. Why does this happen? 

Does the trainer have some sort of magical mojo that soothes dogs? Possibly. More likely however, your dog is responding to your new frame of mind. When the trainer arrives, you are envisioning a fresh start. You may be imagining having all the answers in an hour or so. You are probably excited and hopeful that today everything will start to change.

It’s true that your dog may respond better to someone else because he knows you so well. He knows how far to push you and he knows that the tenth time he jumps on the couch, you’ll cave in and let him sit down. Dogs are also very sensitive creatures, though. Thousands of years of surviving on the whims of humans have led them to be in touch with our emotional states. This is why your state of mind is so important when training your pup. Cultivating a fresh start is a great way to add some oomph to adjusting your dog’s behavior. When you find yourself getting overwhelmed or frustrated, take some time off and start again the next day in a new frame of mind. Tell yourself that tomorrow will be different and you’ll begin to feel stronger and calmer. Add in a different tool like a new collar or leash. Take your pup on a different route for your morning walk. Take that walk before instead of after breakfast. Little changes here and there can rejuvenate your training. If you feel consistently overwhelmed or if you are dealing with dangerous behavior, definitely hire a trainer. For the smaller and peskier issues though, sometimes all you need is a new beginning for you and your favorite furball to create progress.

LFP Newsletter Issue #2

The LFP Newsletter - Issue #1

Food, Collars, and Training Techniques, Oh My!

  As a new dog owner, the variety of canine accoutrements, methods of daily care, and training techniques can be quite overwhelming. Our knowledge of dogs has grown in leaps and bounds over the last 15 years thanks to behaviorists conducting research and people like Cesar Milan who have come into our homes via television to explain the inner workings of the canine mind.  The dog accessory industry has kept pace with this newfound knowledge. Every few months, a new style of training collar or harness will hit the market and promise to be the next cure-all for dogs that pull on leash. There are hundreds of trainers writing hundreds of books. There are new videos and interactive toys and all kinds of different products to help with behavioral issues. And just try picking out a brand of food. Your vet will tell you one thing, your groomer another, and the guy at the dog park has his opinion as well. You can make yourself crazy trying to figure out what’s best for your pup. Now, just to add one more opinion to the pile, here are my thoughts: don’t stress about any of it.

There is no one correct way to train your dog. Go to the bookstore and grab a book on dog training or watch a few episodes of the Dog Whisperer. Pick up little tidbits here and there and always keep an open mind. What works for your neighbor’s dog, may not work for your pup. A good professional dog trainer will use a variety of methods from a host of sources because no two dogs are alike. We are very much like doctors in that we are given a problem, we diagnose it, and then prescribe the treatment that works most often. If that doesn't work, we go to plan B, or plan C.  Feel free to look at your dog and his problems the same way and try not to get frustrated if it takes many tries to find the perfect remedy for your pup's issues. 

There is also no perfect collar for walking your dog. You will hear people say that prong collars are cruel and that you should use regular chokers instead. You will hear people say to only use a halti or only use a harness. There is no correct answer here. I’ve actually taken a prong collar and tightened it around my neck to see if it was, in fact, cruel. It didn't feel like a silk scarf but it wasn’t damaging either. All of the collars mentioned above are safe for your training your dog to walk on leash.  There is a phrase..”It’s the fool not the tool” and I think that applies to collars. My only note is not to use regular collars to walk dogs that pull because the force of them pulling can damage their windpipe. All of the other training collars discourage pulling and that’s really what you want so they don’t hurt themselves.

On the subject of food, buy something that looks nutritious. There is a great website called Dog Food Advisor that lists all the brands of dog food and treats and whether there have been any bouts of sickness or recalls associated with them. In general, it’s best to buy pet food from the pet store instead of the supermarket because the brands tend to be healthier.

Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy your dog. You are giving him the best life possible.  Dogs are like little sponges that absorb our emotions. The last thing you want to do is actually cause a behavioral problem with your canine because you are consistently stressed about his care. Let your dog remind you how to relax and stop worrying. He’s an expert at it.  

Paw Photo Contest Winner!!

Please say hello to Jake, the LFP Paw Photo Contest Winner!! Isn't he a cutie pie? Jake and his parents, Valerie and Andy, will receive a FREE one-hour dog training session.  Everyone give them a big round of applause for this adorable photo!