October 13, 2018

What happens when your dog says ‘Woof!’

This information is applicable for dogs who react (bark, growl, lunge) at the sight of other dogs, strangers, motorbikes, birds or kids on skateboards.

When a dog perceives a threat in the environment, information is sent to the hypothalamus, which controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland (hormones that stimulate adrenal glands to release cortisol).
Cortisol is called the ‘stress hormone’ and its constant presence is damaging to the body. Some of the symptoms of high levels of cortisol within the body are:

• Muscle weakness.
• Depression, anxiety and irritability.
• Loss of emotional control.
• Cognitive difficulties.

It is imperative that your dog’s health and wellness be addressed before starting any behaviour modification program. As you can see in the information above, chronic stress impairs cognitive function.
Once the hypothalamus has received this information, it sends information to the Amygdala (the warning system), which gives an instant reaction such as; pilo-erection (hackles), staring at perceived threat, lunging, barking, and growling.

The Amygdala’s sends information to the adrenals; adrenaline is released so that the dog is prepared for fight or flight (or freeze). Adrenaline increases blood pressure and blood flow, blood is directed to muscles and organs for optimal speed and strength (running away or fighting), glucose is mobilized from liver for energy, digestion/excretion stop to conserve energy, white blood cell numbers increase so blood coagulates faster (for possible wound repair) and pain threshold increases.
The Amygdala then sends information to the Neocortex, which thinks about further reaction after the immediate response. During this phase there is increased energy production, the dog is completely focused on the threat, the dog stops growth, reproductive processes and fighting infection within the body. The dog also stops learning and feeling to a large degree.
Once the dog has experienced fight/flight/freeze, its blood chemistry can take up to several days to return to normal levels. This often results in a dog who has reacted to another dog or person having another reactive incident later in the same day, or the next day.

Chronic stress leads to the destruction of the brain cells responsible for social behaviour. Managing your dog’s stress levels is paramount to increasing their wellbeing and social skills.

If the dog decides the threat is over, they will settle back into their bed and continue on as normal. This is a normal reaction and may happen several times a day. The human equivalent for this would be an unscheduled visitor knocking at your front door. When you answer the door and see that it is a friend, who has popped in for a coffee, your stress level returns to normal. However, if you answer the door to an axe-wielding maniac, your stress will rise dramatically to prepare for a fight/flight scenario.

Practical solutions to increase calm behaviour in dogs:

As a guardian it is imperative that you are well versed in dog body language. If you can recognize the signs of stress your dog exhibits, you are able to intervene if necessary.

Rest is the most important part of increasing a dog’s overall wellness. Dogs should sleep for up to 18 hours per day. Ensure there are adequate areas to rest in your home that are comfortable and to your dogs liking. Dogs are social creatures so create areas of rest wherever you spend the most time in the house (office, kitchen, lounge room).

Dogs are social sleepers (ever seen a pile of sleeping puppies?). Create a comfortable sleeping area in your bedroom (in your bed is better if possible). It is thought that dogs will not reach REM sleep (where all the restorative magic happens) if they sleep on their own outside or in a laundry. Consider the brain a muscle and growth and repair occurs at rest.

Once you have identified stressful triggers for your dog, avoid them unless you are actively counter conditioning/desensitizing (avoid busy parks, beaches if you are working at lowering your dog’s reactivity to other dogs).
Ensure that your dog is fed a nutritious diet that suits their needs. Ensure that the diet is high in fiber as a lack of fiber increases cortisol. Use food for enrichment and training. Work out how many meals a day is optimal for your dog (my dogs enjoy 2 meals a day).

Use exercise as a chance to teach your dog to be calm in the wider environment. Beware of trying to exercise your dog intensely (ball chasing) as this will result in a fitter dog with high stress levels. Encourage sniffing and snuffling, stroll slowly, and enjoy each other’s company. Use a well-fitted harness (Haqihana) and a long lead to mimic your dog being off lead. Pressure on a dog’s neck from a collar will prompt the body to release adrenaline. Walk in natural environments such as bush land where there are no distractions. If your dog has dog or human friends who aren’t immediate family members, schedule weekly catch ups to help to meet their social needs.

Encourage play and games that work towards your training goals. For example: if you dog enjoys playing tug of war, use the game to create the habit of getting excited and being able to calm down. Start the game, then swap the toy for a reward and ask the dog to lie down on their bed for a few seconds (reward generously). Once you see your dog start to relax, start the tug game again.

Physical or verbal punishment (jerking the lead, saying “no” sternly) will increase dogs stress levels, particularly when in the presence of their triggers (other dogs, men in hats). Using food rewards while exploring the environment together shifts the adrenal balance and temporarily stops adrenaline production. Digesting food causes an increase in serotonin levels, which leads to a calmer, happier dog.

Consider researching a bodywork modality that will suit your dog. Bowen therapy is a gentle modality and is equally valuable for younger dogs and older dogs with existing issues. A bodywork Practitioner will be able to keep track of your dog’s body and make suggestions about their routine to improve their comfort and health.

Take note of changes in behavior in the house such as increased barking at noises outside or taking longer to listen to known cues than usual. Changes on walks may be reluctance to eat rewards, higher respiration rate (panting on a cool day), scanning the horizon for possible threats (inability to connect with you). If you see any of these changes, give your dog a few days off walks to relax, make some changes to their routine and keep note of improvements.

Aim for balance in the dog’s life, lean towards rest/digest rather than fight/flight. If there is a stressful incident for your dog (good or bad stress), give them a few days off and allow them to rest.