Anxiety and your dog – a breakdown in pack life
And breakdowns in pack life cause anxiety. If there isn’t a balance – if we don’t provide for our canine friends to have these basic things – obsessive behaviors will begin to set into place. A fed, watered, and walked dog who has taken care of their bathroom needs in a stress-free way is more likely to fall asleep than to stay awake and begin a series of gut-wrenching noises. A dog who has had time to run about and sniff things and patrol the territory will be more likely to lay down while you’re at work and wait patiently for the routine to begin again.
So take a look at your dog’s life, and think about the pack structure of your household. If there’s something out of balance – something that falls under these basic categories – write it down, think about it carefully, and ask yourself what you can do for your pack.
« Getting to the heart of the Matter Part 2: Observation The How-to guide for owners whose partners aren’t listening, exactly. »
There are many sources of anxiety – and we have learned through the years upon years of canine studies that there are a few key things a pack provides. These key items are in addition to love, and friendship, which can be witnessed by anyone who chooses to go find a wild dog-pack and observe them in a natural setting.
1.) Collective security:
- That means having a safe den. If the pack doesn’t have a safe place to retreat …. there is no pack security.
- That also means fighting off enemies and invaders together – as a pack.
2.) Food at regular intervals, access to clean water
3.) Intellectual stimulation – everyone in the pack has their job
4.) Enjoyment and fun activity – from joyfully running and playing tag to grooming
And breakdowns in pack life cause anxiety. If there isn’t a balance – if we don’t provide for our canine friends to have these basic things – obsessive behaviors will begin to set into place. A fed, watered, and walked dog who has taken care of their bathroom needs in a stress-free way is more likely to fall asleep than to stay awake and begin a series of gut-wrenching noises. A dog who has had time to run about and sniff things and patrol the territory will be more likely to lay down while you’re at work and wait patiently for the routine to begin again.
So take a look at your dog’s life, and think about the pack structure of your household. If there’s something out of balance – something that falls under these basic categories – write it down, think about it carefully, and ask yourself what you can do for your pack.
No Comments »
No comments yet.
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
