We are all showing signs of stress during this quarantine whether that be binge eating, over-sleeping or just plain crabbiness. So, it is not surprising that our dogs are feeling the pressure too. Dogs are extremely sensitive to our emotions which may cause them to act out as well. They don’t understand why their routine has changed, why they can’t go to the dog park, why their parents are around all the time (yes some dogs actually want space!), why people don’t greet and pet them anymore on their walks and most importantly why their parents are so stressed out.

Here are five signs that your dog is stressed and what you can do about it:

• Relapse in potty training: This is especially true for puppies. My client’s dog Heidi was just getting the potty thing down when quarantine struck. She is now starting to have accidents in the house again. When a dog’s schedule is off, this can happen. No, your dog isn’t angry or being spiteful, but they are confused. It is important to maintain the same schedule that you have always had even if you are home with your dog and have the ability to take them out more. Your dog had a natural potty cycle they were on, and you want to keep it that way.
• Excessive chewing: One of my clients reached out to say that their dog was all of sudden chewing everything in sight. This was something we had difficulty with in the past but solved by getting the dog more exercise in the form of more walks and play time with other dogs. PJ happens to be a very social animal. So, when dog park and daycare were taken away and people stopped greeting him on his walks, he went back to chewing as an outlet for his anxiety. If that is the case with your dog, allow them to chew just not on your furniture. Find wonderful NEW things for them to chew on like deer antlers, Kongs with peanut butter, Himilyan chews or bully sticks redirecting them away from things they shouldn’t be chewing on. You can also try bitter apple spray on things to detract him. 
• The Zoomies: Bran’s owners were really confused when out of nowhere he would have these spurts of running, leaping and spinning frantically around the house like a crazy dog. They had never heard of the “Zoomies” which is very common with dogs and is a positive way for them to relieve stress. It usually doesn’t last for long and is nothing to worry about. You do want to ensure your dog is in a safe environment when he has his “Zoomies” . You may need to herd him to an area of the house where there are less breakable items and sharp objects. Other than that, I tell me students to just sit back and enjoy the show because “Zoomies” are really fun to watch!
• Separation Anxiety: I addressed this in a previous blog “Are you practicing enough social distancing with your dog” but it is worth mentioning again. All this time with your dog can be a good thing, but it can also create more problems. My client Finnegan suffers a tremendous amount of separation anxiety in the form of whining and crying any time his mom leaves the house (which isn’t often). He has become so used to his mom being by his side every moment that he exhibits anxiety any time he is away from her. Pheromone collars and CBD oil can help relieve this anxiety. It may also require some work with a dog behaviorist. To avoid separation anxiety, make sure you are social distancing yourself from your dog for a period of time every day even if that means you are just in another room. When things get back to normal, we want to be sure they are used to being alone for longer periods of time.
• Aggression: If your dog has a tendency for aggressive behavior, this can amplify during quarantine. Some people are reporting fights between dog siblings that have always gotten along or growling behavior to their humans. While this is unacceptable behavior, it is understandable considering we are now in such tight quarters. Your dog may be communicating that he just needs some space. If you have more than one dog, separate them for part of the day or take them out on separate walks. Also, give your dog a breather from you! There is such a thing as too much together time. Pheromone collars and CBD oil also help in these cases to take the edge off.
  

One of the most important things to do to relieve your dog’s stress is to relieve your own. Get out for long walks with your dog, eat healthy foods (you can even share some with them), have some alone time and get plenty of rest. How your dog responds to stress is definitely correlated with how you do. We are all in this together . . .even our dogs!  Just remember to be patient and kind with everyone as we navigate through this pandemic together.