Introduction
One that all have to deal with is their 's . can create an , struggling with pent-up emotions and weak . The Poochon is especially vulnerable to . This is a mix of the Toy Poodle and the Bichon Frise, both traditionally miniature dogs. Their small frame contributes to the Poochon's increased susceptibility to . Other dogs and people appear larger and thus more threatening.
There are two steps to overcoming this battle: recognition and treatment. First, we and . Then, we need to come up with effective strategies to minimize your pet's anxiety and stabilize their . This article will give you a complete breakdown of both recognizing the and treating it. need to recognize when our furry friend is feeling
Your Poochon is Anxious
Before we dive into specific strategies you can employ to deal with your Poochon's anxiousness, we first need to educate ourselves on the that our is truly feeling . Only then will we know exactly when to make use of these strategies. Without this knowledge, our strategies would be useless; we wouldn't know when to put them into action. Let's take some time to identify key that your is facing .
Bad While You're Out of the House
The first telltale sign that your Poochon is dealing with is that your house is a mess once you return. Bad , such as "chewing on objects, door frames, or window sills; digging at doors or doorways; destroying household objects when left alone," are all of , Dr. Richter told Bustle in 2018. Dr. Richter is a trained veterinarian for Rover, an online marketplace where care services. Later on in this article, we'll give you some effective methods of alleviating this and combating . can buy and sell
Another common symptom of this bad will be urinating or defecating around the house. The American Kennel Club asserted that this "is a common symptom of ." is the presence of an once you, the pet's owner, have left the house. The simply can't bear life without you; they have formed a heavy attachment to you. When you leave, they feel as though a part of them is leaving, thereby causing . According to Care Center Vets this specific type of affects between "20% - 40% of dogs". That puts the Poochon at high risk, given their small stature. Even if your Poochon is house trained and potty trained, there is still a possibility of this happening. Dr. Turnera Croom told Bustle that dogs leave trails of pee around the house when they are anxious. The fight-or-flight response produces adrenaline, but also relaxes the "bladder and anal sphincter muscles, allowing waste to release." Don't administer punishment to your when you find out they've done this. That will only reinforce their and that there is something to worry about.
Your Poochon's Body Language
The next surefire signal that your beloved furry friend is facing can be found in their body language. Broadly speaking, body language is a "range of nonverbal signals that you can use to communicate your feelings and intentions." These can include posture, facial expressions, and stance. Let's explore what aspects of your Poochon's body language will signify they are experiencing .
The first key zone to watch on your Poochon's body is their ears. According to DogTime, a 's ears "are great indicators for telling you what your is feeling." Take a look at how your Poochon's ears are positioned. Are they naturally resting next to their head? Or are they pinned back to the side of the head? A neutral, positive, or curious canine exhibits naturally resting ears. However, a fearful, anxious, or scared canine displays pinned back ears.
The next area of body language that can represent is your 's tail. Bil-Jac, a premium and . They may even be utterly scared. Pay close attention to your Poochon's tail, and what kind of implications it could have on their . food brand, stated that a 's tail "can tell you a lot about how she feels in any given situation." Let's examine the different tail positions, and what they mean. A full-body wag is usually significant of a happy and excited . A slow wag can indicate that your is unsure, nervous, or hesitant about the current situation. A stiff tail can mean that your furry friend is in tension and on high alert. Finally, the tail position that is most relevant to , is the tucked tail. When your canine is exhibiting a tucked tail, down and almost between their legs, this is a clear sign that your is feeling
Your 's eyes are another hotpot to pay attention to in their body language. There are key characteristics of their eyes that can tell you that your canine is feeling anxious. First, check to see if your Poochon has whale eye. This is when the "whites of [your 's] eyes are visible (the sclera)." According to Dogster, it's a telltale sign that your is feeling "frightened or threatened." Another critical aspect of their eyes and body language is their eye contact. Is your avoiding direct eye contact with you? The American Kennel Club thinks this could mean that your "pup is actually reacting to your voice and body language and thinks something must be wrong." Pay close attention to your 's eyes for either of these .
Panting or Pacing as You Leave the House
The final key sign that your Poochon is struggling with : . The fact that this occurs as you're leaving the house indicates that your furry friend has developed an attachment to you, and when you leave, that gets threatened. This causes to swell up in your , which ultimately manifests as panting or pacing before you leave the house. is panting as you are exiting the house. When you see your exhibiting this , it typically means they are feeling agitated and uneasy. If this happens when you're leaving the house, it's an even bigger sign that your is suffering from a form of
The next critical and in your Poochon is pacing. This one is a classic in agitated dogs who are feeling uncomfortable. That causes a burst of energy, and they don't know what to do with it. As a solution, they resort to panting around the room to relieve their and feel a bit calmer. Once again, if your is pacing around the house as you're getting ready to leave, it's likely a sign that they are suffering from . Stick around to learn some powerful techniques to battle these and fight their . that signifies
Tips to your Poochon Overcome
Now that we've identified four key that your is going through , it's time to explore six ways that you can your Poochon overcome that . These are going to be full-scale breakdowns of each technique, why it's beneficial for your 's , what you'll need for it, and how to set it up. Let's dive right in!
There are two broad categories of strategies that can your canine overcome their struggles: chemical and distraction-based. Chemical techniques look to rebalance your 's brain chemistry and stabilize their via key chemicals that regulate . Distraction-based techniques seek to redirect your 's nervous and anxious energy towards something more constructive and engaging. Both categories will utilize dynamic activities to achieve their desired results.
Chemical Technique #1: Petting Your
The first way to chemically tackle your 's is to give them your physical love and affection. As , we want to seek out ways to strengthen our connection with our . Petting your canine is one of the best ways to do just that! Let's take a look at why petting your chemically brings about positive change. Physical touch via petting causes a chemical production of oxytocin in your 's body; oxytocin has been dubbed the love hormone by Harvard University. Updated research shows that oxytocin promotes relaxation and trust, which together make it easier for your to manage anxious situations.
Here are two ways to go about petting your . The first approach involves your sitting in front of you, and you positioned adjacent to them. This gives you access to their head and back, two prime locations for petting.
The next petting technique is for when you really want to show your Poochon some love. Have your lie down comfortably on their bed or on a blanket. Then, situate yourself in front of or beside them, and let them get on their side. This is how you'll get access to your 's belly, an all-time favorite petting zone.
Chemical Technique #2: Lay in The Sun
The next chemical technique that can serve to fight your is a quick lounge out in the sun. This strategy is so effective in relaxing your and alleviating their because of its strong scientific basis. When sunlight enters your 's retina, their body cues the brain to produce more of a key chemical: serotonin. ReNue RX concluded that "serotonin is a crucial chemical for increasing mood and decreasing and relaxing their mind. Moreover, the breeze in the air, the cool grass, and the warm sunshine will all mix to soothe your canine. After some time in the sun, there will be no sign of worry in your canine. So how can you sunbathe? ." They also found a "clear connection between low serotonin levels and increased ." This directly supports the scientific basis for laying in the sun. The sunlight reacting with your 's eyes will produce more of this vital neurotransmitter, thereby combating their
You'll need a blanket, some snacks, water, and a -safe sunscreen. Most human baby sunscreens are safe for use, but avoid anything that contains zinc oxide - that's poisonous. Find an open spot in the grass that is facing direct sunlight; place your blanket down and then set your things on top of it. Apply sunscreen on your as you would yourself. Then, begin your relaxation. As time passes, give your some snacks and see if they're thirsty. Try not to spend more than an hour in direct sunlight, as that can be harmful to your 's skin.
Chemical Technique #3: Music Therapy
The final chemical technique to battle your Poochon's and . is music therapy. While it may seem ineffective, music therapy has actual scientific benefits in minimizing feelings of
The first chemicals that aid against are serotonin and dopamine. One study found that "auditory stimulation by exposure to melodic music increases dopamine and serotonin activities" in animals. Those are the neurotransmitters responsible for regulating mood and in your . By exposing your canine to certain frequencies of music, we can increase their production of dopamine and serotonin, thereby eliminating your 's .
The next chemical that music therapy controls to fight your 's is cortisol. It's nature's main hormone. Murdoch University concluded that listening to music can reduce the body's production of cortisol. In this case, instead of increasing the production of a chemical to battle , we are decreasing the production of a chemical.
So what's the best way to approach music therapy for your canine? A study performed by Dr. Kogan of the Colorado State College of Veterinary Medicine found "a significant calming effect with classical music." Another study conducted by Deborah Wells supported these findings, concluding that "classical music appears particularly beneficial" in relaxing dogs. So, find a playlist of some of the best classical music and leave it on when you go to work! This will stimulate your 's auditory field, chemically inducing the right changes to eliminate their .
Distraction-Based Technique #1: Make a DIY Kong Toy
The first strategy that will serve to distract your canine from their when you're away is because they don't have anything to do. That idleness spirals into , which ends up resulting in from your Poochon. When you leave them with a tasty toy that they actually need to engage with, it stimulates their mind. It also offers a source of for your via a healthy stream of . is a classic: a homemade Kong toy. A big reason your suffers from
Here's what you'll need to make your own Kong toy at home:
- Apple
- Apple Corer
To make the Kong toy, first de-stem the apple and remove the sticker. Then, entirely core the apple so that the center is removed. Now it's free for you to stuff with tasty and peanut butter! Plus, your can eat the apple after he's done playing with it. We recommend using our Calming Zen Chews. Each bag is rich with -safe ingredients and calming agents such as , L-Theanine, and L-Tryptophan for maximum therapeutic effect.
Distraction-Based Technique #2: Go to The
Another reason dogs face and . Even worse, sometimes we leave our dogs at home alone for hours; this can cause . Whenever we get the chance, taking our to the gives them a dynamic environment where they can play and enjoy themselves. It takes their mind off their and redirects their energy toward something positive. is because they lack socialization. Socializing your Poochon early in their life is key to their development. When your is left isolated and alone, their temperament is more prone to
Find a near you online and check to see when they're open. When you get there, verify whether the park is split up by size; many parks are. Bring your canine's favorite ball or toy to play with, and some water in case they get thirsty. Keep a close eye on your to ensure they aren't getting into any trouble.
Distraction-Based Technique #3: Scent Work
The final distraction-based strategy to combat your is scent work. This is an activity that involves hiding several around a complex environment, then releasing your to try and find these using their sense of smell alone. The reason scent work is so effective against is because it engages your 's mental and physical capabilities. When they're idle, your is much more prone to developing stressful and anxious . Diverting that energy into something constructive, like scent work, can be the perfect solution for an .
For scent work, get a dozen of your 's favorite . Set up obstacles in a large room, and scatter the throughout the obstacles. Once it's all set up, let your go and find the . Be sure to give them through praise when they successfully locate the !
Conclusion
and , but ultimately it comes down to recognition and treatment. Once you know how to identify the , and you know how to treat it, you're well on your way to solving your Poochon's struggles. Let us know which technique was your favorite! is a constant struggle that both pets and need to adapt to. It takes effort from both sides to overcome