Aging changes associated with nervous system changes, as well as infectious disease (primarily viral infections in the central nervous system) and toxic conditions may lead to behavioral problems, including fears, phobias and anxieties. Depending on the cause there are also a number of things that you can do about it. It could be the case that it is ill. Below, I will mention a number of reasons why it might be calm and what would make them more likely. Then, when your dog is in a situation where he is usually fearful or anxious, you can redirect his attention by asking him to sit and stay. The most common behaviors are elimination (i.e., urination and/or bowel movements), destruction and excessive vocalization (i.e., barking, crying). That's why I'm thinking about either no longer spending the night at her house, or simply not bringing my dogs over. She gets so overexcited, barking and barking, She would bite me if she could get to me. Minimum treatment averages four to six months. Each of the different reasons why your dog is calm will likely come with a number of clues. If your dog is always very calm you might be wondering why and what you should do about it. When navigating fear-based behavioral issues in dogs, your veterinarian will work with you to determine the severity and root cause of the behaviors. Hello everyone! he is a 5 year old shih tzu. My name is Lina, and I am a veterinarian. Any illness or painful physical condition increases anxiety and contributes to the development of fears, phobias and anxieties. And remember that not all dogs are calmer when crated; some dogs panic when caged and will injure themselves if forced to be confined. Pet owners may also observe excessive panting and/or pacing. Not feeling well is confusing to your pet, and some feel more secure being close to someone they trust. The biggest thing to remember is not to assume that your dog is depressed right off the bat. That doesn’t necessarily mean he is sick, but the first step you have to take if your dog is acting lethargic for more than a day is to call the vet. It could be the case that your dog is naturally calm. Let’s do it together! he starts shaking and it reminds me of an anxiety attack. “When wolves eat their prey, they will often bite off chunks and carry them off to be eaten at a distance to prevent their portion from being stolen by another wolf or having to fight over it. A dog’s habits can change. We teach our puppies to sit and wait for their food. If your dog has kidney failure, it can cause lethargy and over-sleeping. You can also give your dog a food treat when he/she is calm and not barking. You should learn to recognize your dog’s physical signs of fear, phobias and anxiety so that you can intervene before your dog panics. The first step to calming your dog is to calm yourself. If your dog is on medications, your veterinarian will want to conduct occasional blood testing to make sure your dog’s body can process and eliminate the medications appropriately. Profound fear and anxiety can lead to unhealthy and potentially dangerous behaviors within dogs. Levels usually vary from 14% (for aged dogs) all the way up to 25% (for puppies and working dogs). Dogs shake and tremble for all kinds of reasons -- excitement, pain, old age, even nausea. Possible reasons why your dog is calm are that it is naturally that way, it is getting older, you trained it to be that way, diet, heat, illness or not getting enough exercise. There is no catchall for the roots of these issues, but here are some of the most common causes of anxiety or fear in dogs: Being forced into an unfamiliar and frightening experience, Being deprived of social and environmental exposure until 14 weeks of age, Phobias and panic: history of not being able to escape or get away from the stimulus causing the phobia and panic, such as being locked in crate. So stay calm but be firm, and always loving, he will understand and respect you for it. Keep track of your dog's water consumption during the day. Blood tests will rule out or confirm possible underlying medical conditions. It is naturally calm. Often, issues that seem emotional really stem from physical, medical causes. Our favorite: The Dunbar Academy Training Program - If you want a happy and obedient dog, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. I think one of the easiest ways to keep a dog occupied is giving them a stuffed Kong or chew toy. It keeps my dog busy for 20+ minutes and she’s pretty oblivious to anything else while she’s working on it. I feed my dogs (7) Fish4Dogs Dry (Kibble). It generally depends on the duration and intensity of the clinical signs of anxiety. Distract him and redirect his attention, following the plan your vet has set for you. It might be the case that you inadvertently trained it to be calm. Otherwise, you will care for your dog at home and will need to provide protection from self-inflicted physical injury until your dog calms down. The context of the situation determines whether the fear response is normal or abnormal and inappropriate. Why your dog is calm. Counter-conditioning is training the dog to perform a positive behavior in place of fear or anxiety. A puppy or dog who hasn’t learned bite inhibition with people doesn’t recognize the sensitivity of human skin, so he bites too hard, even in play. You can get the first month free using This link. It is also my hope that it will help you to improve your relationship with your dog. i have no idea why. The best option for your dog will largely depend on the cause. Pay attention if your pet suddenly becomes clingy because it might be an indication of a medical issue. At various times in your dog … he doesnt usually get scared from loud noises like thunder. Just as humans have different degrees of being ill, so do dogs. Related: Why does my dog go between my legs? They do not do well in dog shows, dog parks or large crowds. It is considered to be a normal behavior that is essential for adaptation and survival. Soybeans, peas, beans, milk products, high-fat diets and spicy foods are all commonly associated with flatulence in dogs. This would be more likely if it suddenly became calmer when the weather got hotter. It is done at such a low intensity that the dog does not respond with fear or anxiety. If it was not always calm and it became calm suddenly then it is likely that there was a cause for it such as: If it has always been calm then it could be that it is naturally calm. everytime this happens i usually dont have trouble calming him down. Sick can mean your puppy has the runs, has lost a bit of the bound in his step or sick can means sudden lethargy, dehydration and/or fever. Once you have a better idea of the cause it will become much easier to get it to figure out the appropriate steps to take. Pet Dog Owner gets paid a commission for referring traffic and business to these companies. If your dog goes from finicky to gluttonous, you need to determine the cause so you can take care of the problem as quickly as possible. Some behaviorists and trainers believe that a dog who has learned to use his mouth gently when interacting with people will be less likely to bite hard and break skin if he ever bites someone … A Sudden Change in Appetite. As dogs get older it becomes more difficult for them to be highly active and moving about requires more effort. Pet Dog Owner is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. You can read more about me and my website here. Excessive sleep can be due to problems with the following organs: Kidneys. With separation anxiety, a dog that’s left alone for a period of time exhibits anxiety or excessive distress behaviors. It is important to make sure that your dog is getting enough exercise on a daily basis. American Journey Dog Treats (on Amazon) - Great for adult dogs. Your veterinarian will first want to rule out other conditions that might be causing the behavior, such as brain, thyroid or adrenal disease. You can also try standing on her leash to keep her from jumping up. These poorly digestible diets cause excessive fermentation in the colon and subsequent gas formation. If your dog is not getting much exercise on a daily basis then it could be that the calmness is actually due to boredom or even being unhealthy. In that case, it would help to wear it out even more by doing things such as playing fetch with it. You can also offer puzzle toys filled with tasty treats, and hide them around the house for the puppy to find. I put the TV on and sit and watch it and in 5 minutes she is flat out … When a dog is suddenly clingy and whiny, it could mean that your pooch is stressed. In this case, it would help to be thankful that it is calm rather than destructive. Depending on the breed, dogs will require as much as an hour of exercise per day. This is because they often have a lack of energy due to the disease, and they’re often in a lot of pain. Dogs in pain tend to sleep as much as they can. Praise and pat your dog when he is calm and quiet so he realises that this is the behaviour required to secure your attention. Desensitization and counter-conditioning are most effective if the fear, phobia or anxiety is treated early. Dogs that suddenly hide or want to be left alone behave that way because something is bothering them. Dogs might not seem as mysterious as cats, but canines do have their fair share of behaviors that are truly baffling. Separation anxiety: history of abandonment, having multiple owners over time, being rehomed or experiencing prior neglect are all common sources; the condition may be perpetuated if the dog has been repeatedly abandoned or rehomed because they have separation anxiety. You can look here to see what you should and should not be feeding your dog. Below, I will mention a number of reasons why your German Shepherd is calm and the signs to look for. Petdogowner may be paid a commission from the companies mentioned in this post. It is an all too common belief that you can’t train a dog to be calm. So most people when seeing their dogs behave energetically in a time when he/she is not supposed to, they surrender to that fact and remind themselves that it is just the breed or just their dog in particular that is that way, so there is nothing that can be done … You can add the drops to the puppy's water bowl for all-day sipping. Fear is the instinctual feeling of apprehension caused by a situation, person or object that presents an external threat—whether it’s real or perceived. As an Amazon Associate Pet Dog Owner earns from qualifying purchases. There are puzzle games that you can get and toys that you can find online that are specially designed for dogs to play with. This would be more likely if it has always been calm even as a puppy and if it is a calmer breed such as a Golden Retriever. This post will show you a number of reasons why your dog might be so calm and what you can do about it. Bach flower essences also can help dogs with anxieties. If that’s the case, try to keep your dog near you if possible, and gradually move their bed away from you little bit every night. For example, you can teach your dog to sit and stay, and when your dog performs these tasks, you reward him. Most cases of chronic flatulence are caused by a diet that is poorly digested by the dog. If you are excited, frustrated, or angry, your dog will react to that. While fear is a normal, adaptive response, sometimes a dog’s fear response can reach more extreme levels that require intervention. it worried me all the time. Below, I will mention a number of reasons why it might be calm and what would make them more likely. It would help to consider when your dog first started being calm. However, if you want it to be less calm you could play games such as tug of war with it or teach it to play fetch. The goal is to decrease the reaction to a specific stimulus (such as being left alone). Anxiety, meanwhile, is the anticipation of unknown or imagined future dangers. You may need to arrange for day care or dog-sitting. Type above and press Enter to search. Below, I will mention some particularly helpful things to consider when trying to figure out why your dog has been being so calm. Practice your dog’s obedience skills, especially sit, down, and stay. If this does seem to be the reason then it would help to make sure that it has access to shade, water and cool areas when it gets hot. It takes patience, but you can try not putting her bowl on the ground until she sits and waits. Especially if nothing has altered in the family routine that could have caused her to have some extra energy to let off. Separation anxiety is the most common specific anxiety in companion dogs. i hold him to my … Pet Dog Owner is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC associates program. As a result, her blood was poorly oxygenated and the poor little thing died. This would be more likely if it became calm suddenly, it has been acting unusually in other ways and if it has been showing other signs of being ill. You can read here to see what you should and should not be feeding it. Our favorites: N-Bone Puppy Teething Ring (on Amazon) - Great for puppies. Infectious diseases — panleukopenia, parvovirus, FeLV, and FIV, to name a few — are serious causes of lethargy in young cats and dogs. My staffy x lurcher dog is 18 months old and also get the zoomies. a dog drinks so fast they vomit the water back out; you notice a dog peeing more than usual, or having accidents in the house. It might be the case that its diet is causing it to feel fatigued. And then my dad bought me a puppy -- a tiny toy poodle who happens to be the sweetest, most affectionate girl. The reason that it is calmer now compared to how it was in the past could be that it is getting older. "We absolutely don't want owners to scold their dog, but we don't want them to reward the dog for being … Talking to your vet about it would also be helpful. Is My Puppy Sick. Keep in mind that prescription medications are not right for every pet and are typically implemented only as a last resort in severe instances. When they do, it’s usually a sign of something. There are a number of things that you can do about your dog going being so calm. This can manifest in a variety of ways, including sticking to your side like glue when you are at home and even following you when you leave the room, or barking and crying when left alone, or becoming destructive and soiling within the home. They love to spend time with you, and the more time you spend with them, the calmer they will … New comments cannot be posted and … I love to play and walk with my dog during my free time. The response of the autonomic nervous system prepares the body for the freeze, fight or flight syndrome. Here are some of the most common clinical signs: Mild fears: signs may include trembling, tail-tucking, hiding, reduced activity and passive escape behaviors, Panic: signs may include panting, pacing, active escape behavior and increased out-of-context, potentially injurious motor activity, Sympathetic autonomic nervous system activity, including diarrhea, Lesions secondary to licking and biting their own body. If you want it to be less calm then you would reward it more when it becomes energetic and reward it less when it is calm. This change in behaviour could possibly be a sign of another problem. If it is not getting much exercise then it would help to find out how much exercise the breed of your dog should be getting and to make sure that it gets it. Most forms of treatment will be done over the long-term, and could possibly span several years. Some pets may become clingy just before they have a seizure. By December, I was physically improving a lot but emotionally still a wreck. The timing of when it becomes calm would also be helpful to consider. This isn't something vets would look for routinely in a puppy, so the fact that the breeder said the puppy has been vet-checked means very little. Fearful or anxious dogs may need to live in a protected environment with as few social stressors as possible. Doing so may help calm down the nervous and fearful dog. Our favorite: Ollie Dog Food - it's good because it tailors the food to your dog's specific needs Get 50% off your first order with this link. This would be more likely if it becomes calmer shortly after eating or if it has suddenly become calmer after changing its diet. I’m sure that you’ll find it helpful. It could be the case that your dog is naturally calm. Many owners make the mistake of trying to console and pet a fearful dog that's whimpering or climbing on them, but that just encourages the panicky behavior, Sherman says. However, it could still be that its diet is not right, you trained it to be that way or that it’s not getting the right amount of exercise. If your veterinarian diagnoses a simple fear, anxiety or phobia, they might prescribe anti-anxiety medication in addition to recommending management techniques and behavior modification exercises. I have now realised that she is very tired and does not know how to soothe herself. Some ailments are easily cared for at home while others require a trip to the vet or worse, … 2. There are actually a number of nuances to consider when trying to figure out why your dog is so calm. If it seems to become calm at a certain time then it would be likely that there is a reason for it. There are no additives that can affect behaviour. plus (8) Bella and Duke Raw food. I created and currently manage Pet Dog Owner, the website you can go to when you have questions about your dog's behavior. This would be more likely if you tend to give it things that it wants when it acts calm and you do not reward it when it becomes more energetic. Get 50% off your first order with this link. It is naturally calm. It is my hope that you find Pet Dog Owner to be a helpful resource. Most abnormal reactions are learned and can be unlearned with gradual exposure (counter-conditioning). Epilepsy is more common in dogs than cats, but felines … To help you better understand how to help, it’s necessary to understand the nuances and signs of anxiety, phobias and fear in dogs. As mentioned above it could be the case that a poor diet is the cause of it being too calm. It is a situation that many dog owners will face at some point during their dogs life- their dog suddenly begins to become clingy and insecure for no apparent reason. It would also help to make sure that the things mentioned below are also not to blame. It could be the case that your German Shepherd is just naturally calmer than most other dogs. What a great name. Not all dogs love chewing though, so a frozen Kong stuffed with peanut butter or broth is a favorite of mine. It has been suggested that once a phobic event has been experienced, any event associated with it—or even the memory of it—is sufficient enough to generate a response. In this case, be … I have a soft heart when it comes to animals. So calm yourself; take some deep breaths or even walk away for a few minutes. This would be especially important if it has become calm suddenly and it has been acting differently. The grief over my mom was so consuming that I barely even cared when I made it through chemo with a clear scan in October. Pet Dog Owner gets paid a commission for referring traffic and business to these companies. Plus, even if my dogs' food is more expensive than hers, I am the one who buys it, she doesn't have to spend a dime on it, and toys keep my dogs stimulated and their teeth healthy. The signs of an oncoming anxiety attack are subtle in dogs. This would be more likely if it was even calm as a puppy and it didn’t suddenly become calm. Other causes include fever, congenital heart disease, pneumonia, anemia and malnutrition. Read on for five of the most common reasons for pet lethargy: They’re Sick. The onset of fear or anxiety issues in dogs can be prompted by a variety of things, from puppy socialization issues and age-related health conditions like dementia to traumatic experiences or genetics. Pet Dog Owner is also a participant in affiliate programs involving Clickbank, Dunbar Academy, CJ and ShareASale. Profound fear (also called idiopathic fear) has been noted in certain dog breeds, including the Siberian Husky, German Shorthaired Pointer, Greyhound, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog, Great Pyrenees, Border Collie and Standard Poodle, among others. If left untreated, these disorders are likely to progress. Each of the different reasons why your dog is calm will likely come with a number of clues. This would be more likely to be the reason if it started becoming calmer gradually and not suddenly. My friend had a puppy that seemed "to calm", and the little poochie has a septal heart defect. Desensitization is the repeated, controlled exposure to the stimulus that usually causes a fearful or anxious response. Pet Dog Owner is also a participant in affiliate programs involving Dunbar Academy and Oliie Pets. Even parasites, like hookworms, can cause lethargy in young dogs and cats. Separation anxiety: history of abandonment, having multiple owners over time, being rehomed or experiencing prior neglect are all common sources; the condition may be perpetuated if the dog has been repeatedly abandoned or rehomed because they have separation anxiety. It has gone out of favor for many of these situations, not so much because of safety concerns, but due to it being ineffective. However, be careful not to reward the energy too much otherwise you could have the opposite problem where it has too much energy. When they don’t get much exercise it can cause them to develop behavioral issues. Puppy socialization is most important the first three months of a puppy's life, but is effective the first nine months. This has no effect on the price that you pay and we are very grateful for any support. If your dog is not getting much exercise then it would help to make sure that it gets it. With my blog, I can share my knowledge and experience on how to take care of pets. Continued 1. So, why is my dog calm? If behavior modification does not work over the long-term, your veterinarian may want to modify the approach. “If your pet is abnormally calm and quiet, you need to think he's sick,” Williams says. This post may contain affiliate links. The most common phobias in dogs are associated with noises (such as thunderstorms or fireworks). For example, if it becomes calm shortly after eating then it could be that there is an issue with its diet. This results in bodily reactions (known as physiologic reactions) that are normally associated with fear. Reward calm behavior year-round. Then come back and work with your dog. We keep our puppy on leash most of the day so she doesn’t bother our older dog. Below, I will mention a number of things that you can do about your dog being so calm. 1. As humans, it’s hard for us to make sense of many canine body language and social cues. Another thing that you can do is to give your dog some toys to play with if there is not much for it to do where it spends most of its time. I'd recommend that as soon as he's had at least two sets of shots, that you enrol him in a Puppy Obedience Class (see my Dog Obedience Schools page for tips and advice on choosing a good school). Absolutely avoid punishment for behavior related to fear, phobia or anxiety. Since illness could be the reason that it is acting calm it would help to take your dog to the vet. If your dog has extreme panic and separation anxiety and needs to be protected until medications can become effective, which can take days to weeks, hospitalization may be the best choice. my dog gets scared everytime my phone notifications go off. Whereas, if it becomes calmer at around midday then it could be due to the hot weather. The clinical signs will vary depending on the severity of the fear or anxiety that the dog is suffering from. Encourage calmness when your dog appears distressed. Feeding Kittens 101: What to Feed, How Much, and How Often, How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Dog Ear Infections.
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