Tips to raising an anxiety-free dog!
A common concern for new puppy parents is ensuring they raise a happy and healthy dog who lives a fun-filled, stress-free life.
This ensures that our fury friends are confident spending time away from us, can enjoy and embrace the fun that surrounds them on walks and plays in the dog park, and doesn’t feel frightened when faced with situations of differing circumstances.
While just like us, a dogs personality and disposition to anxiety is a mix between both nature and nurture, there are plenty of steps you can implement into your dogs routine to give them the best possible chance to protect them from developing anxieties.
Try to limit your own anxiety around your dog
the most anxious dogs at daycare often are the dogs of very anxious owners. While it’s of the utmost importance to show our dogs the highest level of care that we possibly can, it is also equally important to remember that they are also living animals that will from time to time have an upset stomach, will from time to time be presented with situations that will take them out of their comfort zones, and will from time to time come into contact with dogs that make them feel unsettled. Dogs pick up on and carry around the energy of their owners, in fact, recent studies have found that neurotic dog owners raise neurotic dogs. If you live in fear of your dog experiencing somewhat stressful situations during their lives, your dog is going to carry that burden and stress around also.
Visit fear free vets and groomers.
Both vet and grooming visits can be stressful for the most confident dog which is why the number of vets and grooming salons offering fear free visit experiences are gaining in popularity. Fear Free is a certification achievable by any animal practice that works to reduce or remove anxiety triggers that can cause pets to become fearful while in their care, allowing pets to feel safe and secure. This allows for dogs to have a positive experience during their visits and significantly reduces the risk of dogs developing anxiety about vet and grooming visits. Ask to confirm whether your vet or groomer is Fear Free certified for your next visit.
Lots of socialisation.
Dogs are social creatures that are used to living, playing, and achieving together in packs, thus its important not to isolate your dog from other dogs. After puppies have had their relevant vaccinations they will be eager and excited to learn, sniff, play, and share in the company of other dogs. Start taking your dog to puppy school, socialisation classes, on walks, to the dog park (be sure to watch carefully), or to doggy daycare to ensure that they are getting the time needed with other dogs to develop appropriate play manners and behaviours.
Familiarise your dog with different surfaces and sounds.
Quite often, dogs react poorly to people wearing hats, people carrying umbrellas, the sound of the blowdryer, the sound of the vacuum cleaner, or the surface floor of an escalator. To get your dog used to different sights, sounds and surfaces, it is beneficial to test them with different objects (offering a treat as a reward and positive recognition) as early as you can. Think opening and closing an umbrella in front of your dog, gifting a small treat after each try, taking them for short drives in the car, walking on grass, different cements, plastics etc, and offering a treat at the sound of a rubbish collection truck or cyclist passing by. This will ensure that your dog doesn’t react negatively to different stimulus presented in everyday life, and allows them to remain calm, in control and anxiety free when faced with different situations.
