Trish King, a dog behaviorist, has some advice for owners whose dogs freak out over anything, from a squirrel to visitors.
One of our small dogs frequently becomes extremely excited when it’s time for a walk, dinner, playtime, or pretty much anything else that appears to be enjoyable. She frequently expresses the following thought: “Oh boy, what are we going to do now?” If we have been silent for a while and then get up to do something, she dances with joy. Although it’s simple to assume that a dog’s enthusiasm indicates that they are content, the opposite may be true: overly enthusiastic dogs may be stressed and anxious, which can result in behavioral problems. What causes dogs to become overly excited, as well as some advice for calming them
The seeking circuit in the brain is activated by anticipation, which releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine. When a dog hunts, for example, that circuit is activated. The dog loves to hunt, which is great because it would be necessary for survival in the natural world. A dog that didn’t want to hunt would probably not live very long. Hunting, if you think about it, is the ultimate act of anticipation.
The combination of eager anticipation and excitement is frequently used by people who train their dogs for sports, including retrieving, agility, dock diving, and nosework. However, if your dog overexcites or becomes aroused when you don’t want them to, it could result in issues inside the house as well as outside.
Additionally, when a dog is alarmed, this energy system is activated. Epinephrine (adrenaline), which is released in response to an unfamiliar sound or unexpected sight, primes the body for either fighting or fleeing. The blood is diverted from the skin’s surface and sent to the muscles required for rapid movement as the heart rate rises. Therefore, if the dog must fight, they won’t experience much pain until the battle is over. If the dog needs to flee, they can travel much more quickly and far than they could if he weren’t chemically pumped up. While epinephrine is extremely beneficial for animals in the wild, where failing to act can result in death, it is not always useful in our world. Additionally, it may take the dog days, or even longer, to calm down after entering an arousal state.
The fact that arousal seems addictive is one of its issues. A dog may be whining, pulling on the leash, or even barking when they see another dog. They may be excited and fearful, or they may just be getting a dopamine rush. When a dog can predict certain situations, they may initially start out scared but eventually lose that fear and just become eagerly anticipatory.
Some dogs may look forward to the third house on the block because they know a dog will be barking from behind a fence there. They’ll drag their owner all the way there before lunging and barking at the fence. These dogs are addicted to the high and frequently bark at the fence whether the other dog is present or not. They probably wouldn’t eat anything until they stopped barking, even if you gave them whole steaks.
Many dogs will simply wait at a window or in their yard, hoping that a bird will flit across a tree or a squirrel will dart along a fence. Their barking can be startling and, well, incredibly annoying when that occurs. Typically, telling your dog to stop won’t have any effect. If you don’t do anything, the behavior will usually get worse. If you call your dog back and reward the recall, the barking will stop, but now you feel like you’re rewarding barking. Because it feels so good to bark, most dogs don’t get used to the squirrels and stop responding to them. Related article.
Robert Haussmann, a dog trainer, offers his expert advice on how to walk a dog that likes to chase anything moving.
Consider arousal as a red cloud of energy that impairs your dog’s judgment and results in undesirable behavior. Arousal can occasionally manifest as irrational excitement, sometimes with a target (such as another dog) and other times without (such as puppy rushes or “zoomies”). Sometimes it is sustained anticipation. Whatever the case, a dog doesn’t seem to be thinking much consciously while in that state, probably because the chemicals activated in their brains don’t have much to do with thinking.
Aggression toward other dogs, pets, or people, as well as significant destruction, can result from arousal. Arousal is a major factor in many dog attacks, frequently occurring in tandem with the predatory drive, which can also cause dogs to become unruly. Sadly, we humans are very good at unintentionally teaching dogs to become overexcited. For instance, there is a training method known as isolation or deprivation training. In order to employ this technique, a trainer will purposefully confine a dog for several hours. The dog is usually highly motivated and arousing when the trainer finally pays attention to them.
Pet parents don’t do this on purpose, but if you’re gone for eight to ten hours, your dog may return home bored and lonely. They might experience ecstatic fits when you enter the room, running around, grabbing toys or balls, and/or leaping up on you. You could heighten the excitement by exercising your dog immediately after.
4 – Sleep and Appetite Changes
Dogs’ sleep and appetite patterns can change as a result of stress, so if you notice your dog sleeping more or less than usual or eating more or less than usual, it may be an indication that they’re under stress. In contrast, healthy dogs typically sleep between 12 and 18 hours per day.
Your dog may be more prone to destructive behaviors if it’s stressed out. When stressed, dogs may tear up your belongings or your clothing, dig holes in the ground, bark excessively, or even act aggressive. It is even more likely if your dog is an adult.
When your dog freezes or becomes stiff, that’s one of the most obvious signs that they’re under stress. This typically occurs whenever they view something unsettling or unsettling. If you see your dog acting this way, it’s important to try to identify the source of their stress and provide them with relaxation techniques because the next step could be a bite.
Your dog may be showing signs of stress or anxiety if you notice them pacing back and forth. This behavior is frequently a reaction to something that is upsetting them, like loud noises or strange surroundings. If your dog is pacing, try to figure out what might be stressing them out and see if there is anything you can do to make them feel more at ease.
Clubs Offering:
|
We frequently hear that a dog suddenly bit someone. ” The truth is, dogs rarely bite with no warning.
Dogs mostly express themselves through body language, so it’s crucial for humans to comprehend what they are trying to convey. Learning our dogs’ unique communication methods can help to lessen their anxiety and avert potentially dangerous situations. To determine whether your dog is stressed, there are a number of warning signs to watch for.
If your dog is uneasy, you can tell right away by listening for growling. It could imply that they feel threatened, that someone is invading their personal space, or that something hurts. It’s frequently a warning that your dog is uneasy and isn’t typically intended to be aggressive.
Many people try to discourage their dog from growling. However, if a dog is punished for it, they might be more inclined to ignore subsequent warnings and bite instead. Don’t punish your pup for growling. Respect their space instead, or find another way to get what you want from them. For instance, if a dog is growling at its food, give them room so they can eat quietly. Trade them for a smaller treat if they are growling at a bone you need to put away so you can remove the bone safely.
When stressed, a lot of dogs can’t stop whining because it’s more of an automatic reaction. For humans, it is a sign that something in the environment is creating unease. Similar to how puppies can’t always control it, barking is a way for them to communicate their stress to you. However, depending on the situation, as there are numerous other reasons why dogs may whine and bark.
Dog body language and “calming signals,” a term coined by Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas, are the subject of entire books. Rugaas discovered that dogs have more than 30 ways to try and defuse tense situations and maintain their composure. Puppies who display these behaviors are attempting to defuse a situation or convey to you or another dog that they pose no threat.
A dog exhibiting signs of stress may exhibit whale eye, tucked ears, tucked tail, raised hackles, lip licking, yawning, and panting. Your dog might also avoid eye contact or look away. This is frequently observed in dogs that appear to be “guilty.” Nevertheless, the dog is actually responding to your voice and demeanor and believes something is wrong.
Don’t rely solely on body language. Additionally, not all dogs will raise their hackles when they are stressed or anxious; rather, some dogs will do so when they are overstimulated or excited.
Your dog may freeze or become stiff when they are under stress from something they have seen. This can occasionally be interpreted as “submission” in a training context, but current dog training methods inform us that the dog is actually shutting down. This poses a serious risk to both you and your dog. The dog may bite as the next step if they are too stressed to handle the situation, which is a warning sign.
Pacing back and forth is a sign that something is stressing out a dog and making it difficult for them to relax. It might not be a big deal if this only occurs during mealtimes or for brief periods of time. However, observing when your dog exhibits this behavior can provide you with hints as to what is making them anxious.
In older dogs, pacing may be a sign of dementia. Consult your veterinarian right away if you begin to notice this in your elderly pet.
Note: Despite all of these indications, the specific dog and the situational circumstances ultimately determine what to do. For example, some dogs growl or “talk” while playing. They might need a break because they are overexcited, but it could also just be the way they play. Getting to know when your dog is stressed is key. If you have any questions, you should always consult a qualified dog trainer. If your dog’s behavior changes abruptly, you might also think about visiting your veterinarian.
A lot of dog owners unknowingly put their dogs in stressful situations, and as a coping mechanism, the dogs put on a “performance” to try to convince people that they aren’t as helpless or out of control as they feel. Because they were stressed and attempting to cope, weak, insecure, or extremely sensitive dogs are most frequently in this category and frequently mistaken for being confident or even aggressive. This may be true for many dogs, but many (not all) on observation are really struggling introverts who would much rather go for a nice long relaxing walk with their owner and socialize with certain dogs one on one. I frequently hear “oh he loves the dog park, he goes nuts when we get there.” Just like us, dogs can be extroverts or introverts. Not every dog enjoys going to the dog park, and not every dog enjoys the boisterous romping energy and interaction that many seem to think they “need.” Similar to how many dogs dislike the level of intensity we bring inside when we get home. A calm loving hello and pat would be just fine. Don’t automatically assume that your dog enjoys being petted and coddled by people, especially strangers. They may be trying in vain to get some personal space by licking or leaping up when someone tries to pat them. Some dogs take this further and will growl or nip.
One of our duties as owners is to assist our dogs in developing and maintaining a tranquil, balanced state of mind. They are born into this natural state, and in the natural world, it is essential for survival and fulfillment. I believe it’s critical to comprehend the distinctions and know when to intervene and offer assistance.
When we come home, when someone knocks on the door, or when we arrive at the dog park, for instance, we are frequently the ones who cause our dogs to enter this heightened state by adopting an intense energy ourselves, telling our dogs to copy us and that whatever is about to happen is a big deal, thinking that we are just adding to the happiness when our dogs mentally and physically react to our stimulus. Many dogs experience overload (or, in the most extreme cases, a flight or fight response) as a result of our emotional buildup to the big event that we have informed them is about to occur.
I’m not saying that dogs shouldn’t be happy and excited; on the contrary. But it’s crucial to understand that “stressed” high energy differs significantly from “happy” high energy. Regardless of what their body is doing, it essentially comes down to whether their MIND is relaxed or tense at the time. Usually, when the mind is working overtime, the body follows suit. A dog can actually be very physically active (playing, hunting, running) and still maintain a calm, collected mind, as opposed to a stressed or anxious dog, whose physical behavior will be hyperactive and uncontrolled. For the dog to find peace, excessive excitement and stimulation must be addressed as they are not healthy or balanced. Even though we may adore our dogs’ overly enthusiastic reaction, we must acknowledge that it isn’t always in their best interests. and is caused by the dog attempting to deal with this excessive mental energy on their own, which can quickly lead to other behavioral symptoms. The majority of the time, long-term stress of any kind is associated with obsessive or excessive behaviors.
What many of our clients find most surprising is that, in these circumstances, addressing the dog’s behavior is just as important as addressing their own behavior and expectations as well as changing the environment. It is not simply about “training” or changing the dog. Sometimes this acknowledgement is all it takes to release the tension between the two of you and allow a calm (yet happy) situation to take the place of one that is intense. In other situations, the situation may be more complex, and you may require the assistance of a professional to watch, step in, and “reset” the situation so that you can then adopt new behaviors.
FAQ
How do you tell if your dog is anxious or excited?
Like stressed people, stressed dogs may have dilated pupils and quick blinking. They might appear startled by opening their eyes dramatically and displaying more sclera (white) than usual. Normal alert or relaxed ears are pushed back against the head. Changes in body posture.
What does anxiety in dogs look like?
Drooling, panting, restlessness, compulsive behavior, altered sleep patterns, more barking than usual, urinating or defecating indoors, destructive behavior, and depression are all common signs of anxiety.
Are over excited dogs anxious?
Although it’s simple to assume that a dog’s enthusiasm indicates that they are content, the opposite may be true: overexcited dogs may be stressed and anxious, which can result in behavioral problems.