10 Attitudes that can stress our dog (hugging him too much is not a good idea)

Stress and anxiety are themes present daily in the lives of millions of people around the world. But don’t think that this only happens to humans. As strange as it may sound, so do some animals. A stressed dog, for example, usually presents a series of symptoms such as hyperactivity, apathy, sudden change of behavior or repetitive behavior. And many times the way we treat our pet ends up contributing to it becoming more stressed.

O awesome.club wants you to understand a little better what are the attitudes that can normally stress a dog and what to do to solve this problem. In the end, we bring you a very interesting bonus.

Anxiety and stress caused by absence are more frequent in puppies, who are not yet used to being alone, or in older dogs. When this happens, they often show destructive behavior, constantly barking or howling when we leave the house and then when we return.

In order for the animal to get used to it, it is recommended not to leave it alone for more than six or eight hours. Before leaving, it’s important to check that doors and windows are closed and that the animal has enough water and food, as well as toys for it to have fun. It is also advisable to ignore the dog for about 20 minutes before leaving. Upon returning, the recommendation is the same: do not greet him until he has calmed down. After that, you can play with it as much as you like.

Every dog ​​needs outdoor exercise to release energy, especially dogs that live in small apartments and don’t have room to run around indoors. If you are not allowed to walk dogs without a leash in your city, make sure you wear one that is comfortable and won’t hurt your dog. A collar that is too tight can cause serious injuries to the animal’s back, in addition to causing nervousness and stress, conditions that in the medium term can lead to serious behavior problems.

Try to take your pet to a square, a park or any open place where you can release him and where he can run at least twice a week. This routine helps prevent stress and keeps the dog in good physical shape. If you can’t take the collar off, leave it a little slack. So his movements are freer. This is difficult with very large dogs, but there are special collars for cases like this, just look for the most suitable one.

According to a study, dogs that are raised in an excessively rigid way tend to be more stressed. Dogs that are punished frequently, whose owners yell, pull the leash hard or demand too much are often more anxious and suffer from behavioral and coexistence problems.

Instead of these training methods, try adopting the positive reinforcement technique. When your dog complies, congratulate him, pet him, or give him a treat. On the other hand, if he disobeys his order, don’t yell and never use physical force. Say “no” firmly and then ignore it. It is through repetition that the animal will understand what is expected of it.

Nothing is more fun for a dog than playing with its owner; it is during play that emotional bonds are created. However, there are some pranks that only please us humans. For example, when we pretend to throw the ball for the dog and we don’t. At first he will run away in glee; but, if the “game” continues, he will be anxious, confused and quite irritated. Little by little this behavior can make your pet no longer trust you.

A study has shown that play between owner and dog greatly influences the level of cortisol, the stress hormone. So, don’t play silly games with your pet. Play for real and throw the ball for him to fetch. It’s times like these that you can, for example, teach them some tricks, like giving a paw.

Exposure to very loud sounds such as loud music, fireworks, traffic noise or any other type of noise is very stressful for us and even more so for dogs. Unlike us, they don’t understand where the sound is coming from, so they get scared and have a fast heart rate. At these times, the stress level skyrockets.

To avoid situations like these, it is important that the animal has a safe place, a kind of shelter where it can be calm. He is very likely to choose the location himself, which could be under a bed or a table. If he does, don’t interfere, leave him there until he feels safe to leave. Try to do everything possible to eliminate or reduce the noise and, if that is not possible, put on some nice and calm ambient music.

The dog obtains information from its surroundings and from other dogs through smell, and this happens more strongly when it goes for a walk. By pulling the leash all the time to avoid smelling the objects, you are depriving your friend of knowing new things.

The dog’s nose is really special and gives him an “olfactory view” of the world. When you go out with him on the street, let him choose the path through smell. If your friend stops, have a little patience and wait for him to explore the place.

Shows of affection through hugs are typically human and dogs don’t always understand. In fact, many dogs show signs of malaise, anxiety or even stress when they receive too much affection. They also don’t like to be touched in the face, even more so when it’s done by a stranger. Often, our friends see the approach of hands as a threat.

If you notice that when you try to hug or caress your dog’s face he starts to yawn, put his ears down, turn his face, growl or try to move away, better not insist. He is not happy. It’s worth making it clear that this doesn’t always happen and doesn’t apply to all dogs; however, it is important to be aware of these signs. And remember to leave your hands at the height of the animal’s muzzle and always allow it to approach you at its own pace.

It is very normal for people to talk to their pets as if they understood everything, but it is important to always use the same word to give an order: sit down, be quiet, let’s go, etc. Leave the synonyms aside and try to be as objective as possible; otherwise, your puppy will feel confused, not knowing exactly what he should do.

Control the intonation of your voice when giving an order and work on your body language. Pets respond much better to visual stimuli such as signaling or finger snapping. And don’t forget that dogs love a routine. That is, be repetitive and go over with him for a few minutes all the learning of the day.

In general, dogs accept clothes more easily than cats, but this is not always the case. Some breeds rarely have problems with this, especially those that suffer more from the cold, but most dogs show a certain amount of discomfort.

It is important to pay attention to your pet’s reaction before putting on clothing. If he shows clear signs of aggression or tries to run away, don’t insist. In addition to causing a lot of stress, clothing can hurt the animal’s skin, depending on the material it is made of.

The dog is an animal that likes habits. By maintaining a daily routine, he feels happier and more secure and is able to cope more naturally with changes. Animals that do not follow a routine tend to be more stressed and depressed and show higher levels of anxiety.

The ideal is to start when the dog is still a puppy. Set times for eating, sleeping, going for walks, playing, etc. This is very important for your relationship with him. By doing this, you can include new activities in the routine without fear that he will react in an aggressive way.

According to a study, dogs often exhibit behaviors that are reflections of their owner’s state of mind. That is, if you are stressed, it is very likely that your dog is too. To reach this conclusion, the scientists measured the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in both owners and dogs and found that they were synchronized. People with high cortisol levels had dogs with high cortisol levels, and vice versa.

These findings highlight the strong bond between humans and pets. In addition, they show that before taking care of a dog, it is important for people to take care of themselves. So if you notice strange behaviors in your dog, try to notice how you are feeling and look for ways to relax. That’s the first step to being able to help your best friend.

Do you know other things that we humans do that can stress our dogs? In your opinion, how can we help them? And of course, if you have any concerns about your dog’s health, be sure to talk to a veterinarian.