31/03/2025
Last day in March today and I hope all you doggy mum’s got spoiled yesterday- where is the year going ?
April is Stress Awareness Month — and it’s not just us humans who get stressed. Our dogs do too.
At Paws 4 A Day, we’re passionate about helping dogs feel calm, confident, and cared for — not just in the school setting, but preparing for the real world too.
But first — how do you know if your dog is stressed?
Common signs of stress in dogs include:
• Panting (when it’s not hot)
• Pacing, trembling, or lip licking
• Excessive yawning or shaking off
• Clinginess or avoiding interaction
• Barking or growling more than usual
• Hiding or trying to escape a situation
Stress isn’t just a moment — chronic stress can lead to issues like reactivity, anxiety, gastrointestinal upset, and even behaviour regression.
That’s why early support matters.
Whether your dog is at home or with us at daycare, there are lots of ways to support their emotional wellbeing.
At home, you could:
•Provide enrichment — food puzzles, scentwork, and sniffing games do wonders. Ten minutes of sniffing lowers cortisol (the stress hormone))and can replace a 30minute walk for those dogs who find the outside world too much somedays.
•Play calming music — we love Through a Dog’s Ear. Find it on spotify.
•Teach ‘Take a Breath’ — hold a treat near your dog’s nose and mark then reward the moment they exhale you will see their nostrils flare at the sides. It’s like doggy mindfulness! Adding a cue later like you taking a deep breath or you saying “Breathe” is a great way of getting your dog to calm down in a stressful situation.
Give Them Choices
Let your dog decide which direction to walk, whether to say hello or not to that other dog if appropriate, or even which toy to play with. Choice reduces stress by boosting confidence.
If you have a busy noisy house make sure there is a room that your dog can go in to get away from all the hustle and bustle if they choose.
And at Paws 4 A Day, here’s how we help reduce stress:
•We match dogs into calm group dynamics based on play style and personality.
•Offer rest time in cosy areas to promote relaxation.
•Use barriers to create separate safe spaces for dogs who need a breather.
Trained, caring canine tutors
Our team is trained in force-free, positive handling – and we keep learning, always! No rough handling. Ever.
Gentle Transitions
New dogs are introduced gradually, and dogs who are feeling off are given quiet time or cuddles depending on what they need most.
Canine Consent Counts
If a dog doesn’t want to be fussed or needs space, we respect that. All staff are trained or are being trained in dog body language and choice-based interactions.
But we go even further.
We don’t just reduce stress — we help dogs cope with it long-term by gently habituating them to potentially stressful situations:
•Daily body checks (including legs and under the belly) help dogs get used to being examined.
• Picking their fur up on the neck whilst giving a treat is practised kindly, so they’re not startled if a vet needs to give an injection.
•Muzzle training is introduced positively, so if it’s ever needed, it’s no big deal.
•Dogs are brushed and handled by a variety of team members, building confidence and trust.
•All of this helps make vet visits, grooming appointments, and day-to-day handling far less stressful — for both dogs and humans.
Because stress awareness isn’t just about avoiding triggers — it’s about building resilience, too. And that’s what we aim for every day at Paws 4 A Day.
Hope April is less stressful for everyone
Jane
www.paws4adayschool.co.uk
07885 520818
I would like to credit Bailey Hopkinson for sending me the idea of this topic to create this post. I am always open to receiving ideas of posts from clients amd our team.
