Let’s review each stress situation listed on the worksheet and talk about the options you listed for stress management.
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You have several options here. Some of these might be easier to accomplish than others…some might work better with a specific dog than others. It’s all about experimenting with what works best for each particular dog.
- Take for a walk or play session
- Give a stuffed Kong
- (confirm no food allergies)
- Use calming aid
You may not have time to do all three of these things. Just pick one and try it. See if there’s a reduction in stress and if not, try another option.
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Fast the dog for 12 to 24 hours. That length is going to depend on the size of the dog. A small dog will have a shorter fast, and puppies are at high risk when you fast them so you always want to check with your supervisor.
You can also try using a homeopathic remedy such as lavender or rescue remedy.
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Different things will work for different dogs, so you have a number of options here. We really need to focus on each dog as an individual when we’re working to release stress.
The ThunderShirt is a wrap that fits tightly around the dog’s body…almost like the swaddling of a child and gives them comfort. You can achieve the same thing by putting a child’s t-shirt on the dog.
Turning up the volume on TV’s or radios or playing some of the calming CD’s that are composed specifically and proven scientifically to reduce a dog’s stress.
The calming tools are helpful too. Something we can all do is just speak to the dogs in a low reassuring tone that all is well. That often is all that’s needed for some dogs to relax and be at ease.
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Remember…a high-pitched, fast-paced bark is a plea for help. The dog is asking us to do something.
It may be as simple the dog’s need to go out for a potty break.
Often we can try relocating the dog to another enclosure. We may not know exactly what’s in the environment that’s bothering them, but once you relocate them they may be fine.
Calming aids are always good options.
A treat…such as a stuffed Kong may distract them from whatever was causing the stress.
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We need to realize that confinement can cause a much stronger reaction from a dog. If you think back to the fight or flight response we talked about earlier, confinement does take away that flight option.
It’s important that you really read the dog’s body language and take your time getting the dog out of the yellow state and back to green. The most important thing you can do is give the dog space and make coming out of the enclosure a good thing.
This is a time when we really like to use treats. If that doesn’t work, you should get assistance from your supervisor. Do not enter an enclosure alone to try to bring the dog out yourself when you’re seeing multiple stress signals. Recognize that this is unsafe.