Your Pets Daily - Dog anxiety

Five ways to help your dog on Bonfire Night

LS93 — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 10:41:13 +0000

Bonfire Night can be highly stressful for dogs and owners alike. To make matters worse, firework displays don’t just take place on one day - they can be spread across a period of about a week. The effects of this can lead to some dogs becoming frightened and unhappy, and can impact on training.

The good news, according to Danny Nelis-Rouse, co-owner and managing director at interactive dog toy company Tug-E-Nuff, is there are quick and simple ways to minimise the stress caused to your dog during fireworks season.

Five ways to help your dog on Bonfire Night

Go for an early walk “Now the darker nights have set in, many of us will be opting for earlier walks than usual and this can be a particularly good idea around Bonfire Night. “It’s important that dogs are indoors where they are safe and secure before any fireworks start. If you do walk in the dark on Bonfire Night, it’s a good idea to keep your dog on a lead.”
Act normal “Your dog will react to your body language, and if you seem worried, it will make them feel worse. Stay calm, behave as normally as possible and follow your dog’s lead. “If your dog is giving off nervous energy or you need to redirect their attention, consider reaching for your dog’s favourite toy. Play can both provide distraction and help your dog form positive associations with the noise.”
Use distraction techniques “Close your curtains or blinds to limit the flashes and explosions, and reduce the stimulation your dog is exposed to. Keeping the television or radio on in the background to drown out some of the noise and provide a sense of normality too. “Don’t underestimate the power of play either! Interactive toys like Tug-E-Nuff’s The Clam are brilliant for helping to keep your dog distracted whilst building positive associations to the bangs on fireworks night.”
Provide a den “Your dog might want to hide away under a bed or in a crate with a blanket draped over the top to feel more secure and you shouldn’t try to coax them out before they are ready. “If you don’t have a space like this for your dog to go to, you can try setting up a cosy area in the quietest area of the house - remember to do this before fireworks night, so your dog has time to get used to it.”
Create positive associations “Helping your dog overcome a fear of loud noises like fireworks is something that takes time, so think about putting a long-term plan in place to gradually introduce loud noises to your dog in a way that builds their confidence. “For example, introduce noises slowly and initially at a very low volume, and match tolerating them with a calming reward. You won’t see instant results, but if you put the effort in, you should notice a big difference by the time Bonfire Night comes round.”

Category

Dogs

Tags

Expert shares top tips to keep your pets happy when you're away from home

Tom Stone — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Dogs are incredibly social animals, and with more and more of us are returning to the office and busy social calendars, this means our furry friends are more likely to be left at home. Leaving your pet alone for too long can be a distressing experience, especially if they are used to regular company.

Bella & Duke's Natural Canine Behaviourist, Caroline Spencer Dip.AdvCanBhv, shares her recommendations for monitoring and keeping your pet occupied whilst home alone.

1. Make snacks fun and time consuming

Our pets can quickly get bored when left alone and without us there to shower them with affection, it's important to ensure they have things to do and play with whilst we are gone to keep them engaged and excited. Leaving a chew or a puzzle treat can help alleviate boredom and keep your furry friend satisfied. Bella & Duke's Yak Milk dog chews are the perfect long-lasting natural treat to keep your dog calm and content for long periods of time. The chews keep your dog entertained for hours and are proven to help relieve separation anxiety. Alternatively, try using puzzles or other interactive toys that hide your pup's favourite treats and keep them busy and entertained!

2. Create a safe cosy space

It's important that your dog has a safe space it can retreat to when alone in the house. A blanket or piece of clothing with your scent can often help anxious dogs feel more comfortable.

3. Use a monitor

For owners who are worried about leaving their furry friends home alone, there are a variety of pet camera options for monitoring your dog while you're away. Pet cameras let you keep tabs on your dog 24/7, from wherever you are. Being able to check in on them in this way can help to alleviate anxiety for pet parents.

4. Keep the house dog-friendly

It's important to remember that when left alone, When left alone for prolonged periods, some dogs may become disruptive as a way to express their frustration. This can appear in many ways such as urination, barking, chewing furniture or trying to escape. Safety is the most important measure when leaving your dog home alone so make sure your pup can't reach cords, harmful chemicals or anything else that could pose a danger.

Depending on your dog, crate training may be a good idea to ensure your dog is calm and comfortable whilst you're away. It's always important to remember that crate training isn't a one size fits all solution, and this may not be the best option for you and your dog.

5. Leave the radio on

Just like us humans, music can be a great stimulate for dogs. Studies have shown that leaving music playing for your dog can introduce variety into their day and combats boredom. It's best to play music with a low dynamic range that mimics their own heartbeat and avoids startling them. Whilst we're sure each pup has its own music taste; studies have shown that reggae and soft rock showed the highest positive changes in behaviour. Bella & Duke has put together its own Spotify playlist with the best music to ensure your pet is calm and relaxed.

Caroline Spencer, Natural Canine Behaviourist at Bella & Duke, added: "Dog parent guilt is a real thing and no matter how much time or affection we give them, we always find it hard to leave them behind. Implementing small steps into your everyday life is a great way of preventing separation anxiety and making it a time that your dog can actually enjoy. Remember every dog is different so take lots of time to go at a speed that works for them and creates longer, lasting results."

It's important to remember that dogs should not be left alone for long periods of time. Dogs older than 6 months should be left alone for no longer than 4 hours at a time. If this is difficult, the absolute maximum time for them to be alone is 8 hours, but this is only recommended if your dog has a way to get outside for a bathroom break. This time frame might change depending on your dog's age, breed, and personality."

Category

Dogs

Tags

Dog anxiety

Dog welfare

Signs Your Dog Is Feeling Stressed and Anxious in a Social Setting

Tom Stone — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 08:00:00 +0000

When it comes to hosting the ultimate party for our pooches, we all want their tails to be wagging and happy smiles on their faces.

Although social events like birthdays are usually joyous occasions, they can sometimes be a bit overwhelming for our four-legged friends if there are lots of people they don't know, loud noises and things that disrupt their daily routine.

With almost three in five (59%) of dog owners across the UK celebrating their dog's birthdays, behaviourist Carolyn Menteith at tails.com has shared the signs that your four-legged friend is feeling overwhelmed in a social setting, as well as sharing some helpful ways to help your dog feel a bit more relaxed.

Why do dogs become stressed in social situations?

Like humans, dogs can become stressed when there are changes to their regular routine that they are unfamiliar with. Social events, even well-intended, can cause our dogs anxiety or even fear, if not managed properly.

Though some of our four-legged friends may enjoy being around their known pals, others are less social - especially with dogs they don't know well - which can cause fear, anxiety or them to act defensively.

Not only that but socialising with pals can often involve changes to our dog's usual environment, including unexpected sights, sounds, people, or locations that are unfamiliar to them.

Unlike humans, however, our canine companions can't tell us or voice their feelings when things become too much, so it's important to understand their body language and what the signs are to look out for when our dogs become stressed.

Signs of stressed-out pups to look for

Whining or barking

For some dogs, being vocal is a normal form of self-expression, but if they become anxious or fearful, normal vocalisations may be intensified.

This is an obvious clue to owners that something in their dog's environment is causing them unwanted stress.

Licking or Yawning

Dogs will often lick their lips after a treat or if they've smelt something they want to eat but lip or nose licking is often a subtle sign that your dog is feeling stressed or worried. This is an indication that things are getting a bit much and you should remove them from the situation or interaction that is causing them concern.

The same applies to yawning. Similar to humans, dogs will yawn when they are tired or have just woken up but yawning in other situations could indicate that they are experiencing stress with a situation or an encounter.

Avoidance or Hiding Behaviour

When socialising, a dog that feels overwhelmed may display deflecting, avoidance or 'escaping' behaviours. This may manifest itself in lots of ways that are designed to 'excuse themselves from an interaction - and different individuals, breeds or types have different ways of doing this (just as humans have ways of deflecting a 'party bore'!).

They might suddenly find an interesting scent that takes them off somewhere else. They might suddenly need to have a scratch. Or they might need to have a serious attack of the 'zoomies'. All of these are polite ways of ending an interaction that is getting overwhelming without resorting to any aggression.

Less socially adept dogs can resort to hiding behind owners or objects in order to avoid any interaction. While ignoring guests or their canine friends might seem rude, it's important to respect their choice and not force them to socialise - in fact this is a clear sign that the party might well be over.

Shake Offs

Watch your dog when they meet another dog - even if they are known to them. Very often after the other dog moves away, your dog will shake as if they were wet.

This behaviour is almost like 'shaking off' the meeting - and may well be a sign of low level stress or even a "phew... I'm glad that's over" sign. Or just a "right... that's over, what's next" gesture. Be aware of it as a potential sign of anxiety and that your dog might not be as happy to meet the other dog as you think.

How can you keep your dog relaxed when socialising?

Supervise all play and games

Carolyn Menteith, Behaviourist at tails.com says: "Do not expect your dog to be happy to meet everyone. It is far rarer for a dog to enjoy the company of every dog they meet, then it is for them to be wary of others or selectively social. Any party type situations need to be managed carefully to prevent dogs becoming overwhelmed or worried. Part of this involves making sure there is plenty of space so that dogs can get away from others when they need to.

If you think your dog is feeling stressed or overwhelmed, remove them from the situation or the encounter. Forcing them to continue to interact or 'face their fears' will just sensitise them and convince them they are right to be worried, and so store up problems for the future.

Even the most social of dogs should be given plenty of opportunities and the space to get away from other dogs in a multi-dog situation. The majority of the time, dogs should be on the lead and beside their owners, with play opportunities being in well-matched pairs or threesomes.

Watch that all play is 'equal' - in other words the dogs are taking turns to be the chaser and the chased, and that one isn't dominating the play or constantly overpowering the other.

Supervise all play and stop any games that are getting too rough.

Use crates or pens to give the dogs 'down time' and a safe space to relax.

Remove triggers that cause your dog's anxiety

"If your dog gets anxious and stressed around new dogs or people, then it's important to consider whether a low-key celebration for one, might be far more suitable. For most dogs, the chance to spend a day as the total focus of your attention is far more how they would choose to spend their special day. Parties are for owners, rarely for dogs!

"If you do want to invite your dog's friends round to socialise, then all the dogs in attendance should have met in a variety of situation, and know each other well."

Category

Dogs

Tags

Dog anxiety

Dog socialising

The home appliances dogs are most afraid of, and how to ease their fears

Your Pets Daily Editor — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 10:59:52 +0000

New research by comparethemarket.com reveals the home appliances that dogs are most afraid of, as well as expert tips on what pooch parents can do to help ease their fears
Over four in five (85%) dogs are afraid of household appliances, with owners citing them becoming anxious, nervous, or afraid around them
The most feared everyday household items include the hoover, hairdryer, and lawnmower

New research1 by comparethemarket.com reveals the household appliances that our precious pooches are most afraid of.

According to the study, four in five (85%) of dogs have been found to have some sort of fear, with one in five (21%) resulting in misbehaviours such as excessive barking, chewing, or chasing the appliance.

Of course, nobody wants to see their beloved dog afraid or unsettled, as well as having to fork out for new appliances due to damages, so why not consider helping them overcome these worries and avoid expensive costs?

Here are the appliances our furry friends dislike the most:

Hoover (45%)
Hairdryer (24%)
Lawnmower (21%)
Washing machine (15%)
Food blender (13%)
Sweeping brush (10%)

Looking into the level of fear experienced, the study found that nearly two in five (38%) will leave the room entirely until the appliance is no longer being used, whereas over one in five (22%) dogs will go and hide under something, such as a table or sofa.

Other reactions include shaking (21%), excessively barking, chewing, or chasing the appliance (21%), as well as crying or whining (20%).

Not only that but rather worryingly one in twelve (8%) dogs were found to pant in response to certain household appliances which is a rather serious fear reaction compared to leaving the area.

So, what can doggy parents do to help ease their dog's fears? Dr. Heather Venkat, a veterinarian consultant, says that fear-related accidents in the home are not uncommon but that it is possible to help avoid them. Here are her five top tips:

Pet owners can ease their dog's fears by giving them space to move away from the noise. If your dog chooses to avoid the appliance, leave them be.
Should your dog be part of the 21% that become destructive and cries or chases after the appliance then further separation and boundaries may be needed, such as putting your dog in a kennel or X-pen.
Extremely noise sensitive dogs may need further attention including natural supplements such as probiotics or even anti-anxiety medication from your veterinarian.
Pet owners can also play calming music when using loud appliances to try to drown out the scary noise and help their dog to not worry as much.
To avoid dogs becoming afraid of home appliances when they're puppies, pet owners should gradually introduce their pups to noises at a low volume or from further away. Pairing the noise with a treat also helps the puppy associate the noise with something positive.

Also commenting, Chris King, head of home insurance at comparethemarket.com, says: "As our research highlights,1 one in five dogs misbehave and can become destructive in response to various common household appliances, something many pooch parents will have experienced.

"It has been found that 62% of owners said their dogs had caused damage to their home at some point, averaging a cost of £165.47 each year2! In fact, a fifth of homeowners (20%)2 haven't even informed their home insurance provider about their dog, meaning they risk their claim being rejected should their pooch cause any damage.

"Ultimately, it's inevitable that your dog is going to be near these items daily, so owners must try to ease their worries and avoid any potential accidents or damages that may arise due to them being frightened. Therefore, having the right home insurance policy in place and checking what is and isn't covered will give you that extra peace of mind, just in case."

We recently researched other common misbehaviours of dogs in the home, and tips on dealing with separation anxiety if your pooch is home alone, find out more here: https://www.comparethemarket.com/home-insurance/content/dog-proof-your-home/

Category

Dogs

Tags

dogs

Dog anxiety

Expert Advice