Managing Your Dog's Anxiety in Stressful Times
Stuck inside? Working from home? Is that spring sunshine calling your name? Sounds like the perfect reason to take your dog for a walk. Grab the leash, put your shoes on and then you're out the door - oh, wait… It’s not that simple anymore, is it? The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives and our dogs lives. Suddenly taking a simple walk has become a high-anxiety activity. And did you know that our dogs can sense and even emulate our anxiety? Perhaps you’ve even noticed it in your dog? But even after the threat of COVID-19 has passed you and your dog will still be faced with anxious moments - luckily we at The Pack Leader want to help. Our team of talented Pack Leaders have some practical advice for keeping your dogs anxiety in check during these strange times and well into the future.
Structure, Structure, Structure
Structure, Structure, Structure: We’re all joking that our dogs love having us around the house all day, all to themselves. Of course they love to see us more - more belly rubs, more attention, more treats! What’s not to love? Well, dogs are creatures of habit. Because so much of a human's world is outside of their understanding dogs rely on a structure to lend them stability and predictability. When they can predict and understand their routine it allows them to feel confident and safe, bringing out their best characteristics. We suggest walking your dog, or having one of our Pack Leaders, take your dog out for walks in regularly scheduled intervals that happen at the same time each day. Once your pup gets the hang of their new structure we guarantee you’ll notice a great decrease in their anxious habits.
Play and Exercise
This one is so obvious it’s surprisingly easy to forget. Much like in humans stress and anxiety is a mental AND physical burden. While we as humans have a million-and-one ways of alleviating stress dogs have fewer, though just as effect, means of doing the same thing - EXERCISE! Running, jumping, playing, walking, any sort of physical movement is key to managing your dogs anxiety. In dogs and humans alike stress is held as an uncomfortable tension in the body; some humans go to the gym, hike, ride, a bike, or go swimming but ALL dogs run and move to release their tension. But we at Highland Hounds know it can be difficult to always be in charge of your dogs exercise and we are here to help! We offer a number of amazing services to get your dog moving and their anxiety released. Plus, we promise to return them good and exhausted!
Manage YOUR Stress and Anxiety
Easier said than do, huh? Come on, give yourself more credit! We are strong, resilient, and capable people, but let’s face it - most of us have never lived through anything like this. Society at large has come to a halt and it’s been difficult to process without precedent. This is why it is so important, now more than ever, to be kind to ourselves and to put the mental wellbeing of ourselves and our families above all else. And why is this so important to your dog? Because dogs have been domesticated from wolves to read and interpret human behaviors and nuances. Having spent nearly 40,000 years evolving alongside humans, dogs have come to understand our emotions and the many ways we externally display them. If we as humans, going through an unprecedented and prolonged period of grief and loss, do not address our negative feelings and match them with self-care, compassion, and positivity we risk passing those negative emotions onto our pets. As pet lovers I am sure no one reading this would wish negative feelings onto their furry friends - and that is why it is so essential to the care of our pets that we take care of ourselves.
Nice thoughts and positive vibes can go a long way in relieving stress and anxiety in you and your dog, but it’s not always as easy to carry these practices into the real world. Maybe you are working from home, working long hours outside the home as an essential worker, being a teacher to your children, or caring for a vulnerable friend or family member? Are you finding it difficult to take care of everything and deal with your pet’s anxiety? Contact a dog walker! There is an entire industry right in your backyard ready and willing to help you and your dog find the happiness they deserve. And if you are right here in Boston, contact us at Highland Hounds! We specialize in the ultimate form of anxiety relief in dogs, Pack Adventures! In addition to our numerous dog and pet care services, our Pack Adventures combine socialization, high-energy exercise, and lots of fresh air to help your dog cope with anxiety. Fill out a quick Meet & Greet request and one of our talented Pack Leaders contact you within 48 hours. We hope to see you and your pup soon! Be safe!