Recognising Stress In Dogs On Walks

Written By Calm Canine Academy

Taking your dog for a walk should be a pleasant experience for both you and your dog. However, it's crucial to recognise when your dog might be experiencing stress during these outings. Understanding and identifying signs of stress can help you provide the necessary support and ensure we intervene early before behaviour escalates. Here are five key signs that your dog might be stressed:

1. Pulling & Pacing

Dogs that pull like a freight train or zigzag at the end of the leash might be experiencing stress. This behavior often indicates that they are overwhelmed and have activated their flight response. If your dog pulls and paces excessively, they might need additional support to feel more comfortable.

2. Frantic Scavenging or Hunting

While scavenging and hunting are natural behaviors, dogs experiencing stress might exhibit these actions with desperation and intensity. This frantic behavior serves as a coping mechanism. If your dog's scavenging or hunting seems out of control, it could be a sign of underlying stress.

3. Frenetic Sniffing

Sniffing is a normal and healthy activity for dogs, but when it becomes frantic and rapid, it may indicate stress. Dogs engaging in frenetic sniffing are often difficult to redirect and seem desperate to gather information. This behavior can signal that they are overwhelmed and need to be removed from the stressful environment.

4. Environmental Vigilance

Dogs that constantly scan their surroundings may be experiencing a high level of stress. This hyper-vigilance is often a coping mechanism and indicates underlying feelings about objects or situations in their environment. If your dog's head is constantly whipping around, they might be feeling stressed.

5. Reduced Interest in Reinforcers

If your dog usually loves treats and toys at home but shows no interest during walks, it could be a sign of stress. A reduced interest in reinforcers such as food and play often indicates that your dog's nervous system is under stress.

 

The Importance of Recognising These Signs

Understanding and recognising these signs of stress is vital for your dog's well-being. Stress and anxiety can affect your dog's overall health and behavior, and addressing these issues can lead to a happier, more relaxed pet. If your dog is expressing multiple signs of stress, consider consulting with a certified dog behavior consultant for guidance and support.

By being attentive to your dog's body language and behaviour, you can help create a more positive walking experience for both you and your pup.

Want to learn more? Check out this FREE webinar…

The webinar goes into 

🔹How to know if your dog is feeling strsssed on walks 

🔹In depth discussion of dog body language 

🔹What to do if your dog is stressed on walks 

🔹How to construct a holistic training plan 

🔹How to improve leash walking & engagement on walks 

🔹How to improve anxiety and reactivity on walks

 

Explore more Free Webinars

Featured
Stranger Aggressive Dog Training
Stranger Aggressive Dog Training

Learn how we work with stranger reactive and aggressive dogs

Learn how we work with stranger reactive and aggressive dogs

Calming Hyperactive Dogs
Calming Hyperactive Dogs

If your dog never seems to just chill out this webinar is for you. Understand hyperactivity and learn strategies to calm your feisty pup.

🐶 Does your pup seem to never run out of energy or calm down

😣 Does it seem like no matter how much you exercise them they never chill out?

🔁 Feeling overwhelmed and worn out keeping up with their needs?

Well you’re in the right place as Calm Canine Academy trainers specialize in working with intense, high arousal dogs in challenging urban environments!

Watch this webinar to understand your dogs behavior, calming them down in the moment and implement long term strategies to reduce hyperactivity

Topics Covered:

  • Why and how dogs become hyperactive

  • Hyperactivity and underlying medical issues

  • Hyperactivity and chronic stress

  • How to reduce hyperactivity in the long term

  • Long term integrative strategies to reduce and soothe hyperactivity

  • Training games and exercises that help calm hyperactive dog

  • How to manage hyperactivity in the moment

  • Games and activities for calming your dog in the moment

Host:

  • Karishma Warr

  • They/Them

  • Head of Training at Calm Canine Academy

  • MA | CPDT-KA | CSAT

Work With A CCA Trainer:

Check out FEISTY FIDO our signature program for intense dogs. Accessible worldwide with hundreds of success stories

If you want more personalized support learn more about Private Coaching from hyperactivity experts

Surviving Canine Adolescence
Surviving Canine Adolescence

This 1 hour webinar is your ultimate teenaged phase survival guide, from the experts at Calm Canine Academy.

Do you have a dog between the ages of 6 months and 3 years?

Well you’re in the middle of raising an adolescent!


In this 1.5 hour webinar and Q&A I will be sharing the key pieces of information you will need to know to understand your adolescent dog, soothetheir big feelings, and guide them confidently to become confident, happy and regulated adult dogs.

You will learn…

  • What to expect from canine adolescence (between 6 months - 4 years) 

  • How to avoid common mistakes made during adolescence 

  • Avoiding separation anxiety and reactivity

  • Handling common adolescent challenges like barking, difficulty listening and more

  • Handling big feelings in adolescent dogs

  • Most important things to teach an adolescent dog 

  • How to construct a daily schedule that meets your adolescent dogs needs

  • Activities to do with your adolescent dog to improve their mental health and behaviour

Slide Deck : Surviving Canine Adolescence

WATCH THE AUDIENCE Q&A HERE

Work With Us

Disclaimer

NOTE: Online learning and DIY training plans can only take you so far. If you have a challenge with your dog, seek out the help of a Certified Veterinary Behaviorist (psychiatrist) AND a behavior consultant (therapist) who are equipped to deal with these issues in a reinforcement-based program.

Stop Your Dog Barking At Noises!
Stop Your Dog Barking At Noises!

1.5 hour webinar about dogs that bark, lunge, panic, or shut down when triggered by noises.

This webinar covers the issue of dogs who are sensitive to noises. So if you’re dog is barking at noises and it’s driving you mad/ stressing you out, you’re in the right place!

In this 1.5 hour webinar and Q&A I will be sharing the key pieces of information you will need to know to understand your dogs sound sensitivity and help heal their anxiety around noises


In the webinar you'll lean:

• What is sound sensitivity in dogs?

• Why and how do dogs become sound sensitive

• When does barking become a problem?

• Sound sensitivity and the chronic stress cycle

• When we should be speaking to a vet

• Strategies to immediately reduce your dogs barking

• Introduction to our HEAL Framework for dog anxiety

• Our holistic process for healing sound sensitivity

• How to help your dog finally relax in the home

• What you should do when your dog reacts to a noise

NOTE: If you have a challenge with your dog, seek out the help of a Certified Veterinary Behaviorist (psychiatrist) AND a behavior consultant (therapist) who is equipped to deal with these issues in a reinforcement-based program.

Slide Deck

Further Resources

Work With Us


Managing Reactivity
Managing Reactivity

Improving lunging and barking behaviors in dogs

🐶 Does your dog bark and lunge at triggers on walks?

📣 Struggling to relax with your pup barking at noises in the home?

😖 Unsure how to help when your dog is anxious or dysregulated around new people/ dogs?

🔁 Feel like you’re stuck in a frustrating loop where your dog's anxiety is triggering your anxiety?

It sounds like you’re missing a management plan!

Join us at Calm Canine Academy for our transformative webinar, "Managing Reactivity," where we dive deep into effective strategies for reducing lunging and barking behaviors in your beloved dogs.

Discover practical tips and insights from our experienced trainer, Karishma Waugh, who will guide you through understanding and managing the big feelings behind your dog's reactions.

You Will Learn…

✅ Identify Triggers: Pinpoint what sets off your dog’s reactive behavior

✅ Behavior Modification: Learn positive reinforcement techniques to soothe and redirect energy.

✅ Proactive Management: Gain tools to prevent reactions before they start, ensuring peaceful walks.

So That You Can…

✨Reduce stress and anxiety for both you and your dog.

✨Enhance your walks with more enjoyable and relaxed experiences.

✨Build a stronger, more understanding relationship with your canine companion.

Whether you're grappling with a new challenge or an ongoing struggle, this webinar will equip you with the knowledge to create lasting change. Perfect for dog owners in urban environments or anyone looking to improve their dog handling skills.

GET CCA SUPPORT: JOIN FEISTY FIDO

Calm Canine Academy https://calmcanineacademy.co.uk
Previous

Holidays With Sensitive Dogs WEBINAR SERIES
Next

Pain In Pet Dogs: The Secret Epidemic