What Causes Dog Anxiety and Hyperactivity
What Causes Dog Anxiety and Hyperactivity
Most people don't realize that it's usually their own actions which are causing hyperactivity in their dog. This can be caused by a number of factors, but the most common instigators are:
Communicating With Your Dog Through Words.
Using words to communicate with your dog will often confuse them. They don't respond based on the words you're using, but the intent you have. You could be speaking to them in Arabic for all they care, but as long as you're sending the right energy and intent to them they are able to understand what you want. You'll find if you tell your dog a phrase that they're familiar with and with the same usual tone but in gibberish, they'll still respond the same old way they normally would. When you speak to a dog you must speak from the inside, from your mind, your heart, and your body. This is what they understand. So if you speak to them like you would a human you'll begin to confuse them with the weird human sounds they're not used to, causing them to become anxious. Speak to them through energy rather than words and you'll keep their mind centered.
Treating Your Dog Like a Child.
If you fawn over your dog and treat it like a child you are not leading it with calm assertive energy. If you do not apply rules, boundaries and limitations before you give affection, your dog will become unbalanced. If your dog is ruling the house and is using bad hyperactive behaviour and you give it affection to try and calm it down, you're actually telling the dog that that anxious hyperactive state of mind is how you want it to be. So giving affection during an unwanted behaviour reinforces that behaviour and tells the dog to continue in that state of mind. You must assert calm dominant behavior over the dog and correct it when it's red handed in the scene of the crime to show your dog that it's hyperactive anxious behaviour is not okay and not part of the pack's vibe. Using calm assertive energy shows the dog the kind of state of mind that it should be in. Only after applying these rules, boundaries and limitations can you give your dog affection, any time before that will confuse the dog into thinking that anxiety and hyperactivity is an okay way to be. You must see your dog as a dog and not a child and understand that affection during a tantrum will make things worse. Applying dominance and putting that dog in it's place will show your dog the correct way to be, calm and happy.There is nothing wrong with showing your dog love, but remember: first exercise, then discipline, and finally affection.
Acting Like a Playmate Instead of a Pack Leader
Being a pack leader is not a part-time job, it’s all the time. So when your dog gets hyper and shows you that they really want to play, you tell them to settle down and relax. You should only ever start play time when pack leader says so. When your dog has become calm and responsive, this is when you can begin play, on your terms. If you do not keep consistency and structure when it comes to play and affection, your dog can quite easily see this soft side as something they can control and take over. If pack leader plays with the dog when they start running around the house, or if pack leader lets the dog jump up at them to try and grab the ball, they're letting the dog know that it's okay to run around and be hyperactive when ever the dog feels like it. Even though the pack leader may see the dog running around and jumping up as being part play time, the dog doesn't see the difference between play and usual life. So if the dog running around causes the pack leader to play with them, and jumping for the ball makes leader throw it, then the dog will figure out that it's bad behaviour is helping it to get the leader to do what it wants, and it will do this all the time. Pack leaders must take control of play time and show the dog that only pack leader decides when it's play time, and whether it's play time, walk time or chill time, pack leader must be respected all the time. If you let your calm dominant behaviour slip when it comes to play time, your dog will dominate and own you. You must lay down the law and show your dog who's boss all the time, not part of the time. Play time or not, you're in charge.
Being Tense and Nervous Around Your DogWhether your realize it or not, your dog is very finely tuned to the way you feel. You may notice that when you think there may be someone lurking outside, your dog naturally goes into protection mode. When you feel upset, you'll find your dog by your side wagging and licking making sure pack leader's okay. So if you're not feeling calm and assertive, your dog is not feeling balanced either. If you're feeling tense and nervous this is especially bad for your dog as these feelings can lead to aggression, as aggression is most often how they deal with anxiety. You should always listen to your dog and study their behaviour so that you can give them what they need to remain balanced: exercise, discipline and affection. If you fulfill these needs then all you need to do is keep your feelings calm and assertive and your dog will be blissfully happy.
As well as avoiding these destructive pack leader habits, there is further action you can take to eliminate any stress or separation anxiety in your dog:
- Walk them before you leave the house, releasing energy reduces separation anxiety and makes it more likely that they'll sleep off the time that you're away.
- Get another dog to play with or leave your dog some toys. This will keep your dog preoccupied while you're gone. Do you know someone who also leaves their dog alone all day? On your way to work drop your dog off in his best buddy's back yard for the day so they can entertain each other and build a sense of belonging while you're gone. They can even burn off some energy playing together.
- When leaving or returning, don't talk to the dog, don't touch them and don't give them any eye contact. This lets the dog know that coming or going is no big deal.
- Stay calm and assertive when you leave. If you feel bad leaving, your dog will feel worse. Your dog doesn't take you leaving personally. If it helps you, you can pat them to say goodbye a bit before you leave only in order to maintain that essential calm assertive energy that you need to project in order to keep your dog calm when you leave.
- If your dog really doesn't like you leaving, start with small doses. Leave for five minutes at first, then twenty, then an hour. Ease your dog into separation while maintaining calm energy to show that your dog should relax in these situations.
Eliminating anxiety in your dog starts with you. Communicate with them through the way you feel and the commands you intend. Don't treat your dog like a child, give them exercise and discipline before giving affection. Don't let your leadership during play time, assert discipline all the time. Make sure you are calm and assertive all the time, any bad feelings you have will be reflected in your dog. Give your dog exercise and a sense of purpose through toys or dog playmates so that your dog feels happy and content whether you're at home or not. Dogs are a reflection of their owners, so it's important that people project healthy energy for their dogs. Keep yourself happy and your lifestyle healthy, and your dog will be perfectly content.
If you'd like help with reducing your dog's anxiety, or for help in any aspect of your dog's life, call the Dog Dude today on 0211682742
Most people don't realize that it's usually their own actions which are causing hyperactivity in their dog. This can be caused by a number of factors, but the most common instigators are:
Communicating With Your Dog Through Words.
Using words to communicate with your dog will often confuse them. They don't respond based on the words you're using, but the intent you have. You could be speaking to them in Arabic for all they care, but as long as you're sending the right energy and intent to them they are able to understand what you want. You'll find if you tell your dog a phrase that they're familiar with and with the same usual tone but in gibberish, they'll still respond the same old way they normally would. When you speak to a dog you must speak from the inside, from your mind, your heart, and your body. This is what they understand. So if you speak to them like you would a human you'll begin to confuse them with the weird human sounds they're not used to, causing them to become anxious. Speak to them through energy rather than words and you'll keep their mind centered.
Treating Your Dog Like a Child.
If you fawn over your dog and treat it like a child you are not leading it with calm assertive energy. If you do not apply rules, boundaries and limitations before you give affection, your dog will become unbalanced. If your dog is ruling the house and is using bad hyperactive behaviour and you give it affection to try and calm it down, you're actually telling the dog that that anxious hyperactive state of mind is how you want it to be. So giving affection during an unwanted behaviour reinforces that behaviour and tells the dog to continue in that state of mind. You must assert calm dominant behavior over the dog and correct it when it's red handed in the scene of the crime to show your dog that it's hyperactive anxious behaviour is not okay and not part of the pack's vibe. Using calm assertive energy shows the dog the kind of state of mind that it should be in. Only after applying these rules, boundaries and limitations can you give your dog affection, any time before that will confuse the dog into thinking that anxiety and hyperactivity is an okay way to be. You must see your dog as a dog and not a child and understand that affection during a tantrum will make things worse. Applying dominance and putting that dog in it's place will show your dog the correct way to be, calm and happy.There is nothing wrong with showing your dog love, but remember: first exercise, then discipline, and finally affection.
Acting Like a Playmate Instead of a Pack Leader
Being a pack leader is not a part-time job, it’s all the time. So when your dog gets hyper and shows you that they really want to play, you tell them to settle down and relax. You should only ever start play time when pack leader says so. When your dog has become calm and responsive, this is when you can begin play, on your terms. If you do not keep consistency and structure when it comes to play and affection, your dog can quite easily see this soft side as something they can control and take over. If pack leader plays with the dog when they start running around the house, or if pack leader lets the dog jump up at them to try and grab the ball, they're letting the dog know that it's okay to run around and be hyperactive when ever the dog feels like it. Even though the pack leader may see the dog running around and jumping up as being part play time, the dog doesn't see the difference between play and usual life. So if the dog running around causes the pack leader to play with them, and jumping for the ball makes leader throw it, then the dog will figure out that it's bad behaviour is helping it to get the leader to do what it wants, and it will do this all the time. Pack leaders must take control of play time and show the dog that only pack leader decides when it's play time, and whether it's play time, walk time or chill time, pack leader must be respected all the time. If you let your calm dominant behaviour slip when it comes to play time, your dog will dominate and own you. You must lay down the law and show your dog who's boss all the time, not part of the time. Play time or not, you're in charge.
Being Tense and Nervous Around Your DogWhether your realize it or not, your dog is very finely tuned to the way you feel. You may notice that when you think there may be someone lurking outside, your dog naturally goes into protection mode. When you feel upset, you'll find your dog by your side wagging and licking making sure pack leader's okay. So if you're not feeling calm and assertive, your dog is not feeling balanced either. If you're feeling tense and nervous this is especially bad for your dog as these feelings can lead to aggression, as aggression is most often how they deal with anxiety. You should always listen to your dog and study their behaviour so that you can give them what they need to remain balanced: exercise, discipline and affection. If you fulfill these needs then all you need to do is keep your feelings calm and assertive and your dog will be blissfully happy.
As well as avoiding these destructive pack leader habits, there is further action you can take to eliminate any stress or separation anxiety in your dog:
- Walk them before you leave the house, releasing energy reduces separation anxiety and makes it more likely that they'll sleep off the time that you're away.
- Get another dog to play with or leave your dog some toys. This will keep your dog preoccupied while you're gone. Do you know someone who also leaves their dog alone all day? On your way to work drop your dog off in his best buddy's back yard for the day so they can entertain each other and build a sense of belonging while you're gone. They can even burn off some energy playing together.
- When leaving or returning, don't talk to the dog, don't touch them and don't give them any eye contact. This lets the dog know that coming or going is no big deal.
- Stay calm and assertive when you leave. If you feel bad leaving, your dog will feel worse. Your dog doesn't take you leaving personally. If it helps you, you can pat them to say goodbye a bit before you leave only in order to maintain that essential calm assertive energy that you need to project in order to keep your dog calm when you leave.
- If your dog really doesn't like you leaving, start with small doses. Leave for five minutes at first, then twenty, then an hour. Ease your dog into separation while maintaining calm energy to show that your dog should relax in these situations.
Eliminating anxiety in your dog starts with you. Communicate with them through the way you feel and the commands you intend. Don't treat your dog like a child, give them exercise and discipline before giving affection. Don't let your leadership during play time, assert discipline all the time. Make sure you are calm and assertive all the time, any bad feelings you have will be reflected in your dog. Give your dog exercise and a sense of purpose through toys or dog playmates so that your dog feels happy and content whether you're at home or not. Dogs are a reflection of their owners, so it's important that people project healthy energy for their dogs. Keep yourself happy and your lifestyle healthy, and your dog will be perfectly content.
If you'd like help with reducing your dog's anxiety, or for help in any aspect of your dog's life, call the Dog Dude today on 0211682742
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