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recognize the stress stop for a moment, the dog presses
against us or wants to leave. It may also
If you have a dog that gets too excited when try to break away from its leash and run.
it sees people, it may get exhausted from It should be clear to you that the dog is not
of all these encounters. Moreover, the happy in that moment but is experiencing
dog may experience stress or overload. a stressful situation. When it finally gets
This will be easy to notice because the home, the dog will sleep long and very
dog will be breathless and it will tend to tight, until it releases all the stress. You
turn around as if expecting someone. It can control the level of that stress in your
is also possible that the dog is bothered dog by providing a safe environment.
by its collar or harness more than usual,
because it is overstimulated and more For example, you can take your dog
sensitive to touch. It may even be under a hiking, after which you can stop briefly
mild form of stress. If this is the case, you for coffee, at a café that is not crowded, or
should teach your dog how to calm down at a mountain lodge. Take it step by step
when it is surrounded by people. The dog towards more challenging situations. You
does not have to greet every person it should bear in mind that such dogs may
sees. For a start, your dog must be taught never be happy if you take them to events
self-control in an environment where such as a Christmas fair or a summer
there is only one more person, then two, evening concert by the sea.
etc. In other words, it has to be introduced If you have a dog that has behavioral
to larger groups of people gradually. problems and acts violently around
Also, the dog must learn to greet people people or other animals, it should wear a
only after it is permitted to do so, when muzzle while out in public.
it is calm enough and, preferably, when With professional guidance, you can help
it is sitting down. Regardless of what is your dog learn to be in public without a
happening in its environment, the dog muzzle and feel safe in its surroundings.
should know how to calm down on one of You can work on controlling your dog and
its blankets or mats that you carry with increase your trust in its behavior.
you.
the first signs of stress in dogs:
If your dog is timid and withdrawn and If your dog is under stress, you will
visibly happier when it runs free in the recognize this by the following signs:
nature, rather than walking around in a • increased panting
crowded city, it may completely “give in”
to the situation, in the hope of surviving • scratching
and returning home again. This “giving • yawning
in” usually means that the dog clings to
your leg more than it is usual. Its ears • shaking off
may be tilted back, its eyes slightly • turning its head on the other side
bulging, and its tail may be down. If we or crawling into a corner

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