07/30/2025
Ever wonder why your well-behaved dog suddenly or "randomly" misbehaves? This could be any number of behaviors from destructive chewing to full-blow aggressive outbursts. There are many possible causes, but one culprit is a the slow, gradual build-up of small, stressful events that accumulate over time. This is known as the "summation effect."
Just like people, dogs can internalize and store stress in unhealthy ways until it erupts during certain events.
One of the biggest contributors to stress in many homes? Non-stop change!
In particular, summer can be a challenging time for dogs as kids come and go, activity increases, routines change, and parental focus wanes. All of these transitions, big and small, create stress for our dogs.
While we can't always stop life's changes, we can help our dogs to cope. One secret lies in stabilizing their perception of changing events; to teach them that change itself is not a threat to their security. This is done primarily through implementing parental boundaries and limitations. This is the figurative "buckle your seatbelts" for turbulence ahead. Without the structure afforded by boundaries and family structure, life appears chaotic and threatening to a dog.
Signs to watch for:
1) Hyperactivity / impulsivity
2) Poor eye contact
3) Frequently dilated eyes
4) Social withdraw
5) Frequently leaving the room during activity
6) Clings, leans on you, or is frequently "in the way"
7) High activity during the day and social withdraw and crash in the evening.
Has your dog shown signs of stress? Share your experiences below! 👇
