7 Signs That A Dog Is Stressed
Many of our dogs suffer from stress. The pace of life that we force them to live, the noise from the street, meeting lots of dogs or having to walk with a very short lead are some of the most frequent causes of stress. These are some of the signs that a dog is stressed.
Signs that a Dog is Stressed
Just like humans, dogs can also suffer from stress. This nervous state can occur from many different causes , and although each dog has different symptoms, we can look for some more common signs.
Throughout the day, dogs can go through many things that cause them stress: if they don’t get long rest periods and quiet days, the nervousness will build up and then other problems arise.
The most common causes that lead dogs to this state are the high demands we have on their behavior: too many orders, too many corrections or facing things that scare them throughout the day: strangers, cars, bicycles or other dogs. Excessive noise, street work or drastic changes in your routine can also be important causes.
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excessive barking
Barking is one of the first signs that a dog is stressed : especially in small dogs or terrier breeds. Barking at everyone who passes in front of the house, barking at another dog in your path, or losing control every time the doorbell rings are some examples of this sign.
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Do you have skin allergies
Many of the allergies that appear on dogs’ skin are a symptom of stress. Uncontrollable itching, dermatitis and other redness or pimples that appear on the skin of dogs, especially in the armpits, belly and inside of the hind legs, have their origins in stress.
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Have frequent and unexplained diarrhea
Likewise, if a dog has frequent diarrhea, for which the vet can’t find an explanation, or begins to be intolerant of certain foods, this could be a sign that your pet is stressed. This is also true for humans: the intestines are delicate and a heavy load of stress can affect their functioning.
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Smells bad
When you bathe your dog, after two or three days does he have a bad smell again? The hormones that appear with stress also release odor : if the dog is very nervous, this can be felt by the smell of its skin.
This smell can be confused with the one left by dogs when they are wet, although it is a little more acidic. As it has nothing to do with his hygiene, it doesn’t matter how many times you bathe him or cut his hair: if he continues to have stress, he will continue to give off that smell.
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can’t concentrate
This is another sign that a dog is stressed and one that humans also have in common: under high levels of stress, we are not able to concentrate or learn. That is, if you propose interactive toys for your dog and he cannot solve even the simplest ones, or if you want to teach him orders and he is not able to pay attention, he may be showing signs of stress.
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want to assemble
The desire to ride has multiple origins: dogs may want to ride for fun, they may be trying to breed, but often it’s just a symptom of stress. In addition, they can ride many other things besides dogs: our legs, sofa cushions, or chair legs.
If your spayed male or female usually rides on “things,” they are telling you they are very nervous. If they also have any of the other symptoms on the list together, these are signs that a dog is stressed.
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destroy objects
Some humans, when they feel stressed, grind their teeth. The same goes for dogs, but instead of going to the dentist to put on a protective plate, they release tension by biting what they find at home: they tear up pillows or gnaw the legs of chairs and other furniture.
Destroying and eating objects is not a dog’s usual behavior, these are signs that he is stressed. If you get home and you don’t have pillows, instead of scolding your pet, ask yourself why he’s so nervous and what you can do to help him.
Stress is involuntary. Just as humans cannot choose not to clench their jaws or bite their nails, dogs in such a state cannot stop biting objects or tearing up blankets. Only by solving your source of stress can these behaviors disappear.
