Experiencing stress in dogs? Discover strategies for their recovery hereby.
In a world where dogs can experience stress from various factors, such as unfamiliar scents and noises, major life events like moving, or even an encounter with another dog, it's essential to know how to help them recover. The Calm Canine Academy, a certified dog behavior coaching centre, has shared valuable advice on social media platform Instagram (@calmcanineacademy) to help dog owners navigate this challenge.
Dogs may need plenty of cuddles, play, treats, and chews to help them cope with stress. However, during the recovery period, they may be more sensitive or easily triggered. Offering calmer, more relaxing activities can help a stressed dog recover. This could include quiet walks where a dog can sniff to their heart's content, helping bring their nervous system back into regulation.
The Calm Canine Academy emphasizes supporting a dog recovering from a stressful experience by prioritizing emotional safety and supporting the whole dog—body and mind holistically. Creating a calm, safe environment with predictable routines and quiet resting areas is crucial. Avoiding overwhelming or overstimulating situations to maintain emotional security is also important.
Using calming herbs (under canine herbalist guidance) and bodywork therapies like massage, TTouch, or chiropractic care can help regulate the dog's nervous system. Providing low-stress enrichment activities like decompression walks that reconnect the dog to its body can also be beneficial. Supporting the dog’s nutritional health and gut function as part of overall recovery is another key approach.
Practicing patience and empathy is essential, as recovery is non-linear and slow with progress and setbacks being normal. Celebrating small communication moments—such as when the dog chooses to sniff instead of freeze—is also encouraged as healing signs.
High-quality, uninterrupted sleep in cool, dark, quiet places is recommended for dogs recovering from stress. It's important to remember that a dog may take longer than expected to recover from a stressful experience. If a dog is taking longer than expected to recover, it might be a good idea to speak to a vet.
Different medications for stress management may be available to help a dog recover. An article titled "Eight reasons why your dog is anxious (and how to help them)" may be useful. Recovering from a stressful experience in dogs can take more than 48 hours.
By following these strategies, we can help our dogs recover from stressful experiences in a holistic and supportive manner, promoting whole-being recovery rather than focusing solely on behavior or training.
- In the event of a stressful experience, prioritizing emotional safety and providing holistic care can aid a dog's recovery, focusing on both the body and mind.
- Offering calmer activities, like quiet walks and low-stress enrichment, can help regulate a stressed dog's nervous system and speed up recovery.
- Practicing patience, empathy, and celebrating small communication moments can contribute to a dog's healing process during recovery.
- High-quality sleep in cool, dark, quiet places is crucial for a dog's recovery from stress, as recovery can take more than a day.
- If a dog's recovery isn't progressing, speaking with a veterinarian might be beneficial to explore available stress management medications.
- By following these strategies, we can help our dogs recover from stressful experiences in a holistic and supportive manner, focusing on the pet's overall health and wellness, including mental health and lifestyle.
- Reading articles like the one titled "Eight reasons why your dog is anxious (and how to help them)" can provide valuable information and tips for supporting a pet's recovery from stress.
