So why is it we care so much about stress? It’s because the primary goal at K9 Club and your job is to create an environment where the dogs are healthy and happy. A dog that has less stress is going to fall in a happier, healthier category and will be easier to handle.
One of the most important things to realize is that stress does change the dog physiologically, just as with humans. When we get stressed our heart begins to race, our adrenaline courses through our body, and our body prepares itself to defend itself or to run away.
We really don’t feel good when we’re stressed. The same is true of dogs. The important thing here is when a dog gets stressed they do become less tolerant and they’re more likely to bite. So you’re going to be safe when the dogs are under less stress.