01/01/2024
Dogs can continue to feel tired, stressed and confused even after the festivities!!! โ ๏ธ
Stress can soon tire the body and affect behaviour this can last for days...
I really enjoy Christmas - spending time with family and friends. But even I get tired, stressed and confused.
Now let's imagine our pet friends - boxes out, visitors, humans rushing around, all these tempting smells, all these new strange 'gifts' in the house ๐๐๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ
The festivities may be ending, but for our dogs, in fact all our pets, the added stress, the excitement or the confusion can last for days.
๐พ Let's talk about stress
When Fidoโs body is placed under stress Hormones are released called glucocorticoids and a โfeedback loopโ is created.
That means once the hormones are released and reach a particular concentration level, these hormones will โ at the same time โ stop the factors that stimulate its release, and this helps the body to regulate itself (Hanne, 2015).
However, when a dog is placed under prolonged stress, for example the hustle and bustle of the festive period this feedback loop can break down.
So what happens next?
When a dog is not given enough time to recover from the triggers or get away from what is causing the stress while the body may learn to โcopeโ, at a certain point, the body will start to tire and exhaustion can set in (Hanne, 2015).
Just imagine how long the build up to Christmas lasts, for some families it starts at the end of November! Given the added stressful events - halloween, bonfire night. It all becomes far too much ๐ปโ ๏ธ๐ฅ
A dog that faces prolonged periods of stress is likely to encounter various physiological and psychological problems.
Many which can result in behavioural issues, or a sudden change in character.
This can include:
โ High blood pressure
โ Chronic diarrhoea
โ Frequent urination
(Often I get extra enquiries in January about this)
โ Mood change including an increase in aggressive behaviours
โ Interference with learning and memory (which often looks like a confused dog).
๐พ So let's talk about trigger stacking
I compare trigger stacking to a kettle, one which doesn't automatically switch off and then eventually has to boil over ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
The interactions our dog has has had over the festive period including visitors, strange gifts, a change in routine may prolong stress.
Trigger stacking is defined as โStress accumulating due to exposure of multiple triggers, either simultaneously or close enough in time that the dogโs reactivity has not returned to normal' (Grisha Stewart, BAT 2.0).
This can have an effect on their behaviour especially on walks...
Your dog seems out of character? ๐ค
Pulling on lead when they are usually calm?
They've never once barked at next door neighbour's cat ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ but today they did?
๐พ Let's talk about cortisol (a stress hormone)
Cortisol typically takes around 60 minutes to drop its level of concentration by half (Weirzman, et al). But when a dog is faced by lots of stimuli that he is sensitive to the negative feedback loop breaks down, cortisol continues to be released and up to four times as much cortisol as normal can be present.
This can take several days to dissipate. Way after the festivities have ended.
Go back to the boiling kettle analogy and consider what could be happening inside the dogโs body and mind...
The events which he or she finds stressful in the same week as other stressors, what seems worrying behaviour is likely to escalate โ making the period after Christmas a very confusing time.
๐พ What can you do to help?
Give your dog time to decompress, to calm down, shorter walks with minimal stressors. Increase enrichment inside instead and minimise visitors for the next few days.
Remember they aren't being naughty or bad, they are often just overwhelmed.
Manage the environment, prepare, a good routine and structure.
Just think how you feel. Bloated, tired, confused.
Now think about your dog.
Just slow things down for the next few days. Your dog will thank you.
Thanks for reading,
Helen Motteram BSc (Hons)
