Stress? Why would I be talking about that now? Aren’t the holidays nothing but joy and cheer and hot chocolate with beloved Uncle Bob? But you know why . . . Maybe you had to take three planes to visit Bob, or drive through fog for eight hours, or Uncle Bob is a . . . I’ll stop there, you get my drift. Holidays can both be joyful and stressful, and not just for us humans. Holidays can be stressful for our pets too. See, for example, Five Reasons That Dogs Become Holiday Grinches, and Your Dogs and the Holidays.
But stress (the negative kind, or, officially, “dis-stress), is a equal-opportunity phenomenon. Dogs can be stressed any time of the year, and it’s important for us to understand its implications.
Toward that end, I recently had the opportunity to talk with Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB, about her fantastic new book, The Stress Factor in Dogs: Unlocking Resiliency and Enhancing Well-Being. (Also, check out her podcast, Research Bites.
I asked her “what do people not know about (dis)stress that you wish they did?” She answered: “How profoundly stress impacts not just behavior, but the whole animal.” Stress effects the immune system. It damages the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, impairing learning and memory, and makes the amygdala more reactive, increasing responses of fear or anxiety. During development it can “literally change how the brain is wired,” and developmental periods last through adolescence.
Before we move on, it should be noted that stress, at the right intensity and the right time, can be a good thing. Eustress, the good stuff, can increase feelings of happiness and satisfaction. (Whee! I’m getting a new dog!) Mild distress can enhance performance IF the task is well known and the stress is not too intense. Mild stress in most contexts is not a crisis; something I think about when I see concerns about dogs being stressed with some minor frustration. One of the most interesting parts of the book The Stress Factor is its brief discussion of “allostasis,” (versus “homeostasis”), acknowledging that healthy animals can respond to changes in the environment by adjusting its set point.
BUT, chronic distress, or distress due to trauma, can do an amazing amount of damage, especially in early development and adolescence.
The vulnerability of adolescent dogs was one of the things that most surprised Dr. Spaulding when she researched the book. We often think about adolescent children, and adolescent dogs, as being something we have to live through. The fifteen-year old girl who barely speaks to you, the nine-month old dog who blows off her recall cue. But it’s important to remember how vulnerable adolescents can be. I worked with “troubled adolescents” in Alaska and I can tell you that they were as raw as if they’d appeared in school without any clothes. We may remember those feelings from our own teenage years, but we don’t tend to generalize that to dogs. Dogs of this age need calm consistency, lots of positive reinforcement, and lots of space to keep themselves gathered together.
The Stress Factor has an extensive section on the effects of negative stress on dogs in utero and in early development. Any one considering raising a litter or getting a young puppy would do well to read and reread these pages. But, if you have a dog who is long out of adolescence and might be suffering from dis-stress, first educate yourself on signs of acute or chronic stress in dogs. (The Whole Dog Journal has a good article on it, but the internet is full of videos and articles about signs of stress in dogs.)
So, what if you have a dog whose behavior suggests that stress is a significant factor on how they respond to the world around them? Perhaps you have a dog who barks nervously at every dog she sees on a walk. Perhaps your dog doesn’t want to come out of his crate, and you adopted him three months ago? We can’t go back and redo what happened to a dog early in life, but can do a lot of repair. Dr. Spaulding has thirty six excellent pages on helping dogs avoid or recover from the toxic effects of stress.
Number one on her list is control. I can tell you from personal experience that one of the worst aspects of severe trauma is the loss of the belief that if you’re fine this second, you’ll still be fine the next. Most of us live our lives oblivious to the fact that we could die any second–an optimism in part born from experience–look at all the seconds we’ve been okay! But it’s also because a certain amount of naivete is critical for good health: Having your brain set on RED ALERT is not good for you. When you are chronically stressed, your brain is always ready to slam into full-blown panic–which is why stress can take such a toll on a brain and body’s daily function.
Providing individuals control over their lives helps to counter the internal fear that they just never know what is about to happen. That means never forcing your dogs into a scary situation (if at all possible), letting them make decisions when possible about when to proceed, teaching them that their behavior can drive the reinforcement.
Social support can also be critical. A large body of research that shows social animals are less stressed if with others than if alone. The ASPCA has a new study out on their work with extremely fearful dogs, which includes creating situations in which dogs spend time with other dogs, even ones who are fearful as well. My own Maggie would like to chime in here: When she came to us she was nervous about unfamiliar dogs when out on a walk, whether alone or beside Willie. I did a little work with her, but because it wasn’t anywhere near as serious as Willie’s reactivity, I didn’t do as much as I could have. (By the time Maggie came, Willie’s reactivity was 95% improved.) She’d stiffen and growl when she saw other dogs, but was relaxed once she was able to get close and sniff them. But the first time she saw dogs off the farm with Skip beside her, she was a different dog. Relaxed and curious. Maybe one of her nicknames should be Whitney Houston, from the movie Bodyguard in the early 90’s.
There is so, so much in this book that is of value. I could go on and on, but this is a blog post, not a book unto itself. If you’re serious about behavior, and love knowing what science has to tell us about it, this is an invaluable book to have. (Kristina calls herself “geeky serious” about science and behavior, which of course, makes me adore her even more.) It’s also full of practical information, and an enjoyable read.
Here’s what I said about the book when I had a chance to review it: Kristina Spaulding has done dog lovers and dogs a huge favor by writing The Stress Factor in Dogs. Chock full of accessible science, it is one of the most important books to come out about dog behavior in a long time. Even if you know a lot about this topic, I guarantee you, you’ll learn even more. If you work with dogs or have a dog who doesn’t spend his entire life in a Valium-like haze of happiness, get this book. It is a triumph!
That said, you should know that I have known and admired Kristina since she was an undergraduate. I read through earlier drafts and made suggestions, mostly about changing from “academic speak” to writing for dog lovers. Full disclosure is important, but I guarantee you I’d love this book no matter who wrote it.
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: We got some snow last week, which was welcome to me, anyway. It makes everything so much prettier. But then, it warmed up, so now we have squishy snow, slippery icy spots, and yes, plenty of mud. The Triple Crown of Crappy footing. Here’s a photo of the pretty stuff. And no, I didn’t switch to a black and white filter, that’s just the world we’re in right now.
Color has come from the Christmas tree that Jim and I got at Summer’s Christmas Tree Farm outside of Cross Plains. The tree on the left in the foreground is now in our living room, waiting for the ornaments to be added this week.
Here’s our tree being wrapped in this mezmorizing “Christmas tree wrapping machine thing-y” before being tied to our car.
It’s been a very holiday weekend, more baking (banana bread below), more gift wrapping and packages sent, and a start on the Christmas card list.
I swear I’d send you all a Christmas card if I could. Wait! I can! Here it is . . . just pretend it came in an envelope.
I’m going to take a holiday break for the next two weeks–all those bags of home-baked goodies for friends aren’t going to fill themselves, after all. So, I’ll take this opportunity to say to you all: May your holidays be full of peace and exhilaration, in just the right amounts, at just the right time.
Mia says
Good Morning Trisha!
Thank you for such an insightful post about stress. First off, “The Stress Factor in Dogs” is now on my holiday wishlist! Secondly, I had a run in with chronic distress and it humbled me to how much it changes your body… and it was not for the better!
I try to keep my home enironment as stress free and managed as possible for all of my animals— be that the dogs, cats, and bird. In fact, Michael my cockatiel is so relaxed, he has little grasp on the predators around him. He blissfully sings away the days as I make sure the cats leave him alone (and they do). He is my little yellow spot of sunshine and it’s nice to be able to have him safe even around our resident furballs.
I hope your holidays are relaxing and full of good health for you and all of your loved ones!
Mia
Lainy says
Thanks as always for your informative posts, and here’s hoping you and Jim have a joyous peaceful holiday season!❤️🐾🐾
lak says
Happy Holidays to you, your family, and all the readers on this blog. Loved all the content this year, wishing everyone health, wealth, and happiness now and in the New Year!
Wendy Katz says
Oh! Your Christmas card is delightful! What a fun and heartwarming assortment of pictures.
I’m about 2/3 of the way through Dr. Spaulding’s book, and loving every bit of it. I’m geeky to the max, but I especially appreciate that the writing is accessible enough for me to confidently recommend it to clients.
Lynne Stott, CPDT-KA says
I have a wall covered in books about dogs and Dr. Spalding’s book is my favorite by far. Shelter dogs are often exposed to toxic stress and need a plan when going into an adoptive or foster home to navigate through change. This book has helped to illuminate the roadblocks to recovery and map a plan for success. Thank you for giving it some well earned attention. We also gift hundreds of copies of “Cautious Canine”, Feisty Fido” and “I’ll Be Home Soon’ among others. Complex concepts communicated with clarity for any dog lover. Thank you again.
Trisha says
What wonderful work you are doing Lynne! And how generous of you to gift so many books to shelter(s)… you rock.
Trisha says
Wendy: I too love the science being presented in an accessible way. Geek yes, long, dry sentences (as often true in academia), no! And thanks for the comment about the Christmas card. I have such fun creating them.
Trisha says
Health, wealth, and happiness back to you lak, I’m so grateful for all you add to the village!
Trisha says
Back at you, Lainy!
Trisha says
Mia, lucky animals to have you looking after them! Here’s to all of us avoiding or healing from dis-stress!
Carole says
My Jax (Husky/Pitbull/Beagle…and 4th grandparent myriad breeds) was born feral and came to me as a foster when he was 3 months old, freshly plucked (along with his mother and 4 littermates) from the hills in Oklahoma, then transported to our shelter. I officially adopted him a month after taking him as a foster. He was terified of people, particularly men. He turned 6 last July. Although he did fairly well in training classes, and is a silly happy dog with me and his 3 pack mates, he is still stressed when there are people in the house he doesn’t know well. Be it a plumber, electrician, or even friends who don’t visit often, he retreats to his crate, refuses food and treats, and will not come in from the yard for hours after visitors have left. (I have learned to send him outside with a long line attached when his world has been disrupted by visitors, rather than trying to catch him.) Sometimes it is a few days before he stops peering nervously into every room, looking for the strangers he fears. Clearly Jax is never going to be a friendly dog, and I handle these incidents by allowing him to retreat to the safety of his crate, telling visitors to keave him alone, and walking him through the entire house so he can see that nobody is still here. Any further suggestions on how to handle his stress would be welcome.
Have a wonderful holiday!
Christine Wallace says
Thank you Trisha for another valuable blog. I will add Dr. Spalding’s book to my library.
I love the similarities you make about stress effects between dogs and people. Avoidance is key but management is crucial. Social creatures need each other and basically we all need to get along.
Wishing you wonderful holidays with your family and canine pack. Thank you again for continuing and sharing your generous blog.
LisaW says
Thank you, Trisha, for years of humor, insight, kindness, comradery, common sense, generosity, and vulnerability. Our lives certainly would not be the same without you.
An aging Olive has a few stresses that have reemerged, but thanks to this village, so many have fallen away over the years.
Here’s a picture of her grizzliness [https://www.dropbox.com/s/q1mswcj4dv40zjk/IMG_1981.jpg?dl=0]
And here is our holiday thought to share with you all.
It’s the connection we can’t explain.
It’s the light we can’t see.
It’s the memory we’ve forgotten.
It’s the thing we’ve misplaced.
It’s what keeps our heart open.
Happy Holidays.
xoxo Lisa and Olive
Gayla says
My eyes and brain won’t seem to work together to make sense of the picture on the bottom right in your Christmas card. What is it, please?
And thanks, as always, for another book recommendation that will help me, to help dogs…
Tails Around the Ranch says
“we have squishy snow, slippery icy spots, and yes, plenty of mud. The Triple Crown of Crappy footing.” I snorted my tea when I read that. Can I ‘borrow’ that expression. It’s so perfect describing the recent weather. Stay safe and warm.
Nannette Morgan says
Thank you so much for telling us about this book. I’ll be looking forward to reading it! I’ve attended several conference webinar sessions by Dr. Spaulding and always learned a lot from them. Regarding adolescence: I’ve just watched a wonderful webinar by Suzanne Clothier called “Maddening to Maturity”. I highly recommend it. She also goes into the brain system wiring during that period. You’ll find it on her website.
Happy Holidays to you and Jim and to all on this wonderful blog list!
Debby Gray says
My Monty is often stressed and he came to me as a traumatized adolescent. I therefore look forward to reading Kristina Spaulding’s book! Thank you for your review.
Trisha says
Oooh, Nannette, I love this recommendation for “Maddening to Maturity.” What a great title! Thanks for the rec!
RL says
We finally made the decision to rehome one of our dogs after several years of chronic stress and negative interactions between two of them. It was getting dangerous for one of the dogs. The change since is amazing. The one we rehomed is thriving and relaxed with different dogs his own size. The ones we kept are playful, calm, have stopped acting defensive, and several bad behaviors are gone. I’m less stressed too. Even though it sounds like we gave up, everyone involved is doing better than we were before. I didn’t fully realize how bad it was until it wasn’t. It’s like the sun finally started shining again. I feel worse for putting our dogs through stress for so long than I do about the decision to rehome. We miss our dog, but he’s going to live a much happier life out of this situation. I’m going to check out that book so I can learn how to do better in the future. Thanks for sharing!
Trisha says
You’re in good company RL, it is so human to try and try to make it work. I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard that story. And, I can’t help but think about what it would be like to be forced to live with someone you really, really didn’t like. Or who made you nervous. Or, or… Yay for you for making the right, and kindest, decision!
Annie B says
Such lovely photos. The one of laughter especially… pure joy. Thank you for your wonderful work and writing. Have happy days in these holidays.
Jann Becker says
RL, I get you! We rehomed a beloved elderly cat when our new puppy used her as a living squeak toy. We could not figure out why she didn’t defend herself, as she had all her claws and teeth! She had always lived with another cat and 2 dogs, but this was more than she could handle.
Anyhow, she moved to a home with only one other cat and no dogs and lived out her days in peace. That puppy is now a much more sedate 6-yr-old but I hesitate to bring in any other feline.
Sarwar Abdullah says
What causes my dog the most stress it’s me being stressed. So I made more time to play with her chilled out. Her fur grew right back in days.
Marsha T Wallace MD says
Long time fan…just recently saw a video about the Dog Daddy. My gut reacted negatively but he gets results,and quickly. Would be quite interested to know what you think about his methods.
Trisha says
Marsha T: Just watched a few videos, so admit my evaluation is super quick. First, everyone looks effective on Youtube, cuz, they post what they want, right? I’m not a fan of this kind of work,for so many reasons, but one is that its relient on the person doing the training being fearless and having great reaction times. So, no, not a fan.
Barb Stanek says
The best of the holidays to you and Jim and your families, Trish!
Warm winter wishes from
Barb, Starshine, and Flash Gordon
Gayla says
Shucks! I meant the bottom left. Understand pic of Jim in the desert…
Anyone?
Trisha says
Sorry slow to answer ! Jim wondered if you meant the left! It’s of a Rufous Hummingbird, resting in my hand after being banded by Audubon volunteers. It stayed for over 10 minutes, until it was ready to fly away, and I can not tell you how honored I felt to have it in my hand, even for just a few minutes.
Betsy says
Merry Christmas to all the two legs and four legs in your life! While we’re at it, Merry Christmas to everyone who reads this blog! Your writing and the information you share has made my life brighter.
Jean McCord says
Many, many years ago I attended an APDT conference at which Trish King gave a presentation on adolescence in dogs. It was incredibly inspiring, and I’ve been spreading the truth of these dogs’ vulnerability for nearly 20 years now. I’m so glad to know that Kristina has addressed this topic in her book…
I’ve had a chronic nerve pain condition for the last 16 years. I think of chronic stress the same way I think of my chronic pain; at it’s worst, I was afraid to move because I might trigger knifing pain. My world shrank, as did my thought process. It was all about the pain, and avoiding it. A wonderful, compassionate physical therapist helped me tremendously (as did the proper meds). The last thing she did for me was to take me out into the hallway and literally teach me how to walk again. I held myself so, so tightly that only my legs moved.
I imagine that chronic dis-stress works the same way. And having lived in the small world of pain, I’ll do anything to help an animal who’s living in a similar world~
Gayla says
What an amazing experience! Thank you for taking the time to reply. You’re the kindest person I’ve never known…
Have a wonderful Holiday Season!
Trisha says
Oh, Gayla, I wish! I have my moments (in both directions!!!)
Trisha says
Thank you so much for sharing Jean. I see both chronic pain and stress as being, at the very least, exhausting. And being exhausted all the time does indeed make ti feel like the world shrinks around you. One of the cues in meditation is to focus on a pain and then imagine creating open space around it. Sounds crazy, but it sure helps me. I’m so glad that you are improved! PTs rock, right?
Cat Treats says
Thanks for always sharing your informative posts.
Sarah Griffith says
You and your husband are such a cute couple! I see so much happiness and kindness in your family. Of course, a dog-lover is going to be kind… and happy. Thanks so much for your blog. I love it!
LARRY CALDWELL says
I think agency has a lot to do with reducing stress in dogs. My dogs can request attention, food, activity, etc. through signals. Going to the door means they want to go out. Sitting on the floor next to me signals they want a lap. A bird dog leads the hunt, not follows. We’re currently doing day care three days a week for a Rhodesian Ridgeback who started running off after being left alone. With people and other dogs, he has become a contented couch potato who doesn’t need to be confined.
Tel Aviv's feral cats says
Some dogs breeds are more others, like pinschers and poodles, and cats are more prone to anxiety than dogs. Also, feral cats are more prone to anxiety than Angoras or Persians.
In dogs, anxiety usually doesn’t mean being afraid of humans, like it is in cats. That’s usually their number one fear.
Dogs can be treated with pills for anxiety, just like humans who take these pills. But it’s difficult to get an anxious cat to take pills. They don’t always eat them if they’re put in their food, and they can tear their owner to pieces if they try to force them to take a pill.
Also, suspicious, anxious cats can often read minds, which makes it even more difficult to treat them.
Anxious dogs can sometimes get into an obsessive compulsive disorder, just like humans. One of my cats chases her own tail obsessively while growling and screaming because of phantom flea bites, although the fleas are gone.