5 Things You Might Do That Stresses Your Dog

As humans, we are used to discussing stress. In reality, the majority of us experience it daily. However, as strange as it may sound, dogs can also experience stress. A stressed dog will show many symptoms such as hyperactivity or apathy, behavioral changes, or repetitive behaviors. The way we deal with these symptoms may be what’s causing the issue in the first place.— even if you didn’t mean to annoy your four-legged friend.

That is why you must understand what stress means to a dog. And, because we know you want the best for your canine companion, decided to conduct some research to learn more about what to do and what not to do when it comes to stress and dogs. Also, don’t forget to check out our bonus at the end of the article.

1. Leaving them alone for a long time

Stress is common in young dogs who haven’t been left alone before. Separation anxiety affects very old dogs as well because they lose their ability to care for themselves. When you leave or return home, it shows up as persistent barking, destructive behavior, or howling. Some dogs may poop or pee inside the house.

It’s not advised to leave your pet alone for more than 6 to 8 hours at a time until they’re used to it. Before you go, you should lock the doors and windows to prevent escape, make sure they have enough water and food, and leave toys for them to play with. You should also ignore them for about 20 minutes before leaving. When you return, do the same thing: don’t greet or pet the dog until they’ve cooled down. Then you’ll be able to spend some quality time with each other.

2. Taking them out with a very tight leash and not ever letting them run free

It’s common knowledge that dogs require outdoor exercise and enjoy releasing energy while running. This is especially right for dogs who live in apartments and don’t have access to a yard. If your city prohibits dogs from being walked unleashed, you should pay careful attention to how tight the rope you’re using is. A tight leash not only causes physical harm to your dog (think back injuries), but it also stresses them out. Finally, this can have an impact on your dog’s behavior.

Try taking your pet to a square, park, or open area where you can let them run free. To avoid your dog being stressed and to keep them in good physical condition, do this at least a couple of days a week. If you can’t let them run free for any reason, make sure the leash you’re using is loose enough for them to feel free when running. Of course, if we’re talking about a large dog, this isn’t an easy task, but there are other options here. For example, you can purchase an ahead harness or a training harness. These encourage you to take your pet for a walk without worrying about them being stressed.

3. Ruling with an iron fist

According to a study, dogs that are raised in a hostile environment are more likely to suffer from stress. Frequent punishments, yelling, pulling the leash, or forcing them to sit down by pressing on their back can cause anxiety. It can also make your dog develop a bad temper and be reluctant to play with other dogs.

Instead of being too tough, try positive reinforcement. When the dog obeys an order, congratulate it, pet it, or give it a treat. If it doesn’t obey your order as you’d hoped, never hit them or yell at them. Just firmly say, “No,” and then ignore it. By repeating this, the dog will end up understanding what you want from it.

4. Pretending to throw the ball

There’s nothing that makes your dog happier than when you play with them. Playing together creates an emotional bond between you and your dog. But there are some kinds of games that are only fun for humans. For example, when you pretend to throw a ball for your friend to catch but actually just hide it behind you. At first, the dog will be happy to go get it. But if you do the same thing over and over, the dog will start feeling anxious and confused. Clearly, they will no longer find it fun. Little by little, this behavior will make your pet lose trust in you.

Research has shown that playing with your pet has an effect on their cortisol levels. Cortisol, by the way, is the hormone that regulates stress. So don’t pull pranks on your dog. Play with the dog, throw the ball, and let them pick it up. You can also use this time to teach them other tricks, such as pawing.

5. Exposing them to very loud sounds

Being constantly exposed to very loud sounds, such as high pitches, strident music, firecrackers, traffic noise, a horn, or other similar sounds is stressful for anyone. The same goes for dogs. The difference is that they don’t know where the noise is coming from. So they just get scared, their heart rate increases, and their stress levels skyrocket. Imagine hearing sounds and not knowing where they were coming from!

To avoid them stressing out like that, it’s important for your pet to have a shelter to go to when they need to feel safe. It’ll probably choose the place itself: it could be under the bed, a table, or in a large box. Don’t try to get the dog out of their safe place. Let them calm down and come out on their own. Try to reduce their exposure to loud sounds, and if that’s not possible, try playing some soft music in the background.