Manage stress in your Dog

by Melissa Kolmar, CPDT-KA, SBA

Dogs communicate with us every day, but sometimes we don’t understand what they are saying. View a body language chart for stress in dogs Dr Sophia Yin content.

Some other signs of stress include:

• Whining
• Whale Eye, or showing the whites of their eyes
• Submissive Urination
• Tail Tucked
• Shaking
• Paw Raise
• Sneezing Sequence (when he didn’t just sniff something that would cause him to sneeze)

If your dog is showing any of these signs, take a step back and see what is causing their concern. Did the door just slap and startle them? Did they just meet a larger dog that is bullying them? Is your child chasing them and trying to pull their tail? Depending on what is causing your dog’s stress, try to remove the stressor or the dog from the situation. Offer them a quiet, safe place for them to escape, such as a crate. Exercise is a great way for dogs to expel their energy and get their worries out. Obedience training can also help your dog build more confidence. Whatever is causing your dog to fret, look at your dog’s body language and act accordingly. Your dog will thank you!

If you have an exceptionally stressed or fearful dog, please contact our training facility, New Dawn Animal Behavior Center, at: New Dawn behavioral center or call 727–415-1567