Helping a Dog Decompress

HELPING A DOG TO DECOMPRESS

We have all had the experience, most likely many times, when we have been in a state of feeling wired and unable to relax. Perhaps work is busy, and we have been going non-stop for days. Or we had to deal with an unexpected expense. Even returning home from a fun vacation and jumping back into normal routines can cause us to feel overwhelmed and in need of some down time to decompress.

Our dogs are no different. Life can be stressful for them too. The families they live with can have a lot of busyness going on with jobs, kids and school, sports, visitors coming and going, illness, and even being alone too much or lack of mental stimulation.

It’s important to pay attention and understand how your dog shows you that they are wired, and what things cause them to get that way. Your dog may show signs of anxiety, which could look like tucked tails, panting, lowered body, excessive licking, ears back. Or if they are really stressed it can lead to being dysregulated.

Dysregulation is when the nervous system has become overwhelmed and they can’t think, they can only react. Reacting can look like barking, whining, panting, jumping, nipping, not being able to listen or do something we’ve asked, or even being completely shut down. In these times, they need us to step in and enable them to come back into a place of balance.

Here are some things we can do to help restore a sense of calm:

CREATE A SAFE/QUIET SPACE

Providing a secure, comforting space is crucial for an anxious, overwhelmed dog. A crate, if they have been conditioned to like one, is ideal, but a small space gated off from the busyness and noise of the rest of the house will work too. Include a comfy bed, their favorite toy or chew, and even soft music to help them relax and feel safe.

SET UP A ROUTINE

Dogs thrive on routine, and inconsistency can lead to anxiety. When mealtimes, walks, or play sessions are erratic, it unsettles them. A consistent routine provides a sense of security and predictability that dogs crave.

Create a daily schedule and stick to it as closely as possible. This consistency helps your dog know what to expect, reducing anxiety and promoting calm.

PROVIDE MENTAL STIMULATION

Boredom can lead to anxiety in dogs, especially if they lack mental stimulation. Without engaging activities, dogs may become restless and anxious.

Provide toys and puzzles that challenge your dog’s mind. There are many great puzzle games you can purchase online that use treats hidden in compartments for the dog to figure out how to open and move in order to get the food. These types of games stimulate the brain and will actually wear out a dog faster than physical exercise. Ten minutes of mental exercise goes a long way to keep a dog happy and less stressed.

REGULAR PHYSICAL EXERCISE

A lack of physical activity can lead to pent-up energy, causing stress and behavioral issues. Regular walks, runs, or play sessions help burn off excess energy and release endorphins, which have a calming effect. Although exercise is a great way to keep your pup less stressed, too much can have the opposite effect, so gauge the level of exercise to your dog’s energy level, age, etc.

USE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TO HELP YOUR DOG LEARN

Negative reinforcement can increase anxiety in dogs. Punishing bad behavior may seem effective but often leads to fear and confusion, and worsening anxiety.

Rewarding desired behaviors with treats, praise, or affection creates a positive environment where your dog feels safe. It also builds confidence and reduces anxiety, which will in turn, build a great bond between you and your dog!

In summary, remember that dogs are just as susceptible to anxiety as we are. They need a lot of the same things as humans to stay mentally and emotionally healthy. They are social creatures and thrive on companionship and adventures with their people. But they also need down time for relaxing, plenty of sleep, safe spaces, and positive learning to foster a calm mind.

For more idea on keeping your dog’s brain relaxed and enriched, check out the ‘20 Easy Ways to Exercise Your Dog at Home’ video on our YouTube Channel.

OWNING OR FOSTERING A CHAOTIC DOG – YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Some visitors to our website may wonder why we named it ‘Chaotic Dog’. But for those of you who own or are fostering a chaotic dog, you know why from first-hand experience. And let’s be honest, it can be exhausting at times.

The dictionary defines chaotic as ‘being in a state of complete confusion and disorder’. That definition can describe many dogs and the people who are living with them. We all get excited at the thought of bringing a new puppy or adult dog into our home as we imagine all the fun we'll have and the bonds we will form. We dream of a calm, well-mannered pup lying at our feet while we work or eat dinner, a playful puppy having zoomies in the yard (and sleeping through the night!), and a loving companion watching TV with us in the evening after a casual loose leash walk through the neighborhood greeting friends and their dogs.

But sometimes these dreams don’t end up coming true with the dogs we bring into our lives. Sometimes they come with temperaments, pain, or past traumas that cause them to behave in ways that are hard to understand and deal with. And in these cases, life with these dogs can be chaotic.

There are multiple dog behaviors where we can find ourselves feeling confused and frustrated. One of the most common is reactivity. Sometimes dogs are reactive to people, but often the reactivity comes out with other dogs. This can turn the expectation of an enjoyable walk into a chaotic walk as your dog is lunging and barking at every dog they see. Instead of having a nice calm dog walking at your side, this dog is dragging you down the sidewalk trying to go after the perceived threats of other dogs, people or vehicles. Not only is this hard on your body, but it is also hard on you mentally and emotionally as people watch you struggle while you have no idea what to do about it.

Chaos can also come with dogs who have anxiety. Whether they are anxious about being left alone, going out into the world, or even just having people approach them, dogs who lack confidence can cause owners to lose their own calm and confidence. And when we are anxious, our dogs can sense it and that adds to their fear, causing even more chaos. But we can learn to read our dog’s body language and know their triggers, which will keep them below their own unique threshold of tolerance to whatever is causing them to be anxious. Then gradually helping them to grow in their ability to face those scary situations sets them up for success. This is true for reactive dogs also, as most reactivity involves fear and anxiety. 

Other behaviors that can result in chaotic lives with dogs are things like stealing items from around the house (perhaps chewing them up and swallowing them), guarding things they find to be of high value (this can even include people), digging up the yard, not being house trained, counter surfing, chewing up/destroying furniture, unwanted barking, jumping on guests, and more.

If you live with a chaotic dog, you have come to the right place and you are not alone. Half the battle is knowing that you have support and resources to help get you to the other side. Often, just knowing the reason why your dog is doing what he’s doing goes a long way to figuring out how to help him. We hope this website will provide resources to guide you in getting to know your dog better. 

Learning to assess a dog’s body language is a great way to start understanding what he is thinking and what he will likely do in response, which gives you the opportunity to head off unwanted behaviors before they happen. As a human, you have likely had the experience of walking into a room full of people, and just by looking at their faces, you determined who seemed the friendliest and most inviting to approach. Dogs are always showing us with their bodies if they are anxious or relaxed, happy or depressed, fearful or secure, friendly or aggressive, outgoing or guarded, etc. On this website, we have provided some helpful resources in the form of videos and charts to help you get started learning what your dog is communicating with his body.

By recognizing their body language and responding to what they are telling you, you can often trade chaos for calm. 

~Lori Hall