3 Things You Might Do That Stresses Your Dog

1. Leaving them alone for a long time

Separation anxiety or stress is common in young dogs who haven’t been left alone before. Separation anxiety affects very old dogs as well because they lose their ability to care for themselves. When you leave or return home, it shows up as persistent barking, destructive behavior, or howling. Some dogs may poop or pee inside the house.

It’s not advised to leave your pet alone for more than 6 to 8 hours at a time until they’re used to it. Before you go, you should lock the doors and windows to prevent escape, make sure they have enough water and food, and leave toys for them to play with. You should also ignore them for about 20 minutes before leaving. When you return, do the same thing: don’t greet or pet the dog until they’ve cooled down. Then you’ll be able to spend some quality time with each other.

2. Taking them out with a very tight leash and not ever letting them run free

It’s common knowledge that dogs require outdoor exercise and enjoy releasing energy while running. This is especially right for dogs who live in apartments and don’t have access to a yard. If your city prohibits dogs from being walked unleashed, you should pay careful attention to how tight the rope you’re using is. A tight leash not only causes physical harm to your dog (think back injuries), but it also stresses them out. Finally, this can have an impact on your dog’s behavior.

Try taking your pet to a square, park, or open area where you can let them run free. To avoid your dog being stressed and to keep them in good physical condition, do this at least a couple of days a week. If you can’t let them run free for any reason, make sure the leash you’re using is loose enough for them to feel free when running. Of course, if we’re talking about a large dog, this isn’t an easy task, but there are other options here. For example, you can purchase an ahead harness or a training harness. These encourage you to take your pet for a walk without worrying about them being stressed.

3. Ruling with an iron fist

According to a study, Stress is more likely to affect dogs who have been raised in a hostile environment. Anxiety can be caused by frequent punishments, yelling, pulling the leash, or forcing them to sit down by pressing on their back. It can also cause your dog to lose his temper and become hesitant to play with other dogs.

Instead of being overly strict, use positive reinforcement. Congratulate the dog, pet it, or give it a treat when it follows a command. Never strike or scream at it if it does not follow your command as you had hoped. Simply say, “No,” and then forget it. Repeating this will help the dog understand what you want from it.