The majority of pet owners may not be aware of the possibility of their pooches having anxiety. And those who might be aware may not recognize early signs of anxiety. To make things easier for you and your pooch, we have highlighted the most usual signs of dog anxiety below.
But first things first, here are reasons why dog anxiety matters for pet owners:
- Know your dog more: when you are aware of dog anxiety, you are propelled to learn about your dog and potential triggers to your dog’s mental health.
- Specialized care: anxious dogs need special care. What calms Dog A may only worsen your dog’s case. Dog anxiety awareness will lead you to get the right toys and calming tools from Pamper Paws for your pooch.
- Learn your dog’s history: this is especially important for pet owners who shelter foster and stray dogs. Your pooch may have hidden anxiety tied to stress and PTSD from their previous owners and homes. When you are aware of dog anxiety, it drives you to learn about your mutt to avoid triggering your dog in any way.
Early Warning Signs of Dog Anxiety
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Restlessness
Pooches can be restless for several reasons. The most common, however, is stress and anxiety, particularly when you cannot trace the restlessness to anything tangible. On the flip side, it could also be a pointer to dog anxiety or when your dog is overly laid-back, always sleeping and extremely inactive, especially if it is a usually happy and active pup. When you notice such extremes in your dog, please contact your vet for a proper evaluation.
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Destructive behaviours
Chewing, tearing, and scratching of furniture, clothes, curtains, and other household items are signs that your pooch is stressed and anxious and doesn’t know how to express itself to dissipate the stress. A suggestion is to increase outdoor exercises to improve physical and mental stimulation so your dog stops processing the overwhelming feeling destructively.
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House soiling
If your pooch is properly trained to defecate and urinate at appropriate spots and it begins to soil inside and outside your house incessantly, then there is a high chance your furry friend is anxious and stressed that it may have caused it to lose control of its bowel movements. It could also be an indicator of an underlying health problem. Confirm with your vet to be sure.
Essentially, dog anxiety awareness is important for wholesome dog care and also to prevent owners from making costly mistakes when their dogs start showing signs of stress, anxiety and depression. What are your dog’s common anxiety triggers?
