Japanese dogs are just like humans; they have feelings too. But unlike humans, many of their feelings can be seen on their faces. So, for example, if you see your Japanese dog panting or yawning excessively, it could be because he is stressed out. In addition, Japanese dogs experience emotions such as fear, anger, and anxiety just like humans do, so don't ignore the warning signs. Your pup may need some help managing stress and anxiety! 

In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the most common signs of canine stress as well as how to help your Japanese dog manage their feelings. 

What Are the Signs of Stress and Anxiety in Japanese Dogs?

Japanese dog stress can be harder to detect than their visible signs of anxiety.

A stressed dog may act very differently from normal. Many dogs suffer from stress without showing visible signs, so owners need to help their pets. Examples of symptoms could be:

Destructive Behavior

Destructive behavior is often one of the most apparent signs Japanese dogs show when they are stressed.

For example, Japanese dogs may chew furniture, walls, or other items in the house as a sign of stress. However, it can be prevented by providing ample opportunities to play with your dog and keeping him mentally stimulated throughout the day, so he does not have time for destructive behaviors.

Inappropriate Elimination

Japanese dogs that have not been house trained yet show anxiety signs as a loss of bladder or bowel control.

House training is a slow process, so it is important not to punish your dog for having accidents. It will only increase its stress level. Also, a Japanese dog left alone for long periods is more likely to have accidents; spending plenty of time with your pet will help prevent this type of behavior.

Facial Indicators

Japanese dogs are expressive creatures; they display their emotions on their faces.

But there are some things you need to keep in mind when reading a dog's facial expressions. First, a Japanese dog has a powerful sense of smell, so don't read too much into the face because they rely on this more than their eyesight. And also, dogs have different facial features; it does depend on what breed of dog you have and the shape of their faces.

Multiple muscles contribute to each expression, so it's not only the position of the eyebrows that you must keep an eye out for but also how they are pulled back or up or down and which muscles will be used. It will give you a perfect idea of what your dog is thinking and feeling.

Physical Indicators

A Japanese dog displays its physical anxiety through actions like panting, trembling, or shaking.

Other physical indicators of anxiety in dogs include dilated pupils, whining and crying out when hurt or in pain, cringing when afraid and flattened ears for scared dogs. Japanese dogs can also show physical signs of stress by biting or snapping at people they don't know, urinating when they are afraid, or even vomiting because of anxiety.

Behavioral Indicators

Japanese dogs display their behavioral anxiety through various actions that reflect the fear and stress they feel.

For example, anxious dogs constantly lick their lips, whine, bark or howl, and cower. Other dogs' anxiety behaviors include digging holes to hide in, refusing to eat or drink, trembling, and drooling. Anxious dogs may also show aggression toward people, growl at other dogs and become destructive when left alone.

Determining if your Japanese dog is stressed out enough to be considered "anxious" can be hard to tell by just looking at your pet. If you believe that your dog is showing any number of these symptoms, you should consider taking the Japanese dog to the vet for a check-up. These symptoms often stem from other problems that may not be related to anxiety at all.

Excessive Vocalization

When a Japanese dog is afraid or anxious, it will often whine, whimper, howl, or bark excessively.

The trigger of excessive vocalization is due to a  variety of events and environmental stimuli. Understanding why your dog is vocalizing will help you to know how best to handle the situation.

Vocalization, in general, is "the act of producing sound with the voice." Still, excessive vocalization is when dogs make these noises continuously for long periods, in some cases leading to extreme distress.

There are several reasons why your Japanese dog may be excessively vocalizing. It's important to understand these to manage or avoid them where possible. Here are five possible explanations for excessive vocalization in Japanese dogs:

Contact With Other Dogs or Animals

Your Japanese dog may be in vocal distress when he feels that he has been "slighted" by another animal.

Such as when a smaller dog gets more attention from his owner than he does. Separation anxiety, territorial aggression, and dog-on-dog social conflict are all possible triggers.

Fears or Phobias

Japanese dogs with particular phobias, fears, or anxieties may give off a high-pitched noise when faced with the object that causes them fear or anxiety.

For example, if your Japanese dog is afraid of thunderstorms, The dog will often whine or whimper when there is a loud noise of thunder. When dogs are so scared, they may vocalize to gain distance from the object of their fear. They also do this when they want attention and don't know how to get it otherwise.

Environmental Factors

Your Japanese dog might be excessively vocalizing because of something in his environment.

He may be stressed by strange or scary sights, sounds, or smells around him. For example, he might be startled into vocalizing by unexpected loud noises like sound effects from a television show or fireworks.

Pain

Sometimes Japanese dogs vocalize when they are in pain.

Vocalizing can sometimes be a dog's response to physical discomfort. For example, a dog with a dental problem may be in pain every time he eats or chews and will vocalize as a result.

If your dog seems to have an unhealthy relationship with any of these triggers, you should take your Japanese dog to the vet for diagnosis and treatment. You must treat the vocalization problem to provide relief and prevent further damage. Your dog may be loud and annoying, but that doesn't mean he should suffer from the pain.

Attention-Seeking Behavior

Japanese Dogs will often whine or whimper when they want attention from you.

It's typical behavior for puppies and younger dogs that haven't yet learned to communicate effectively with humans. If you respond every time your dog vocalizes, it will continue to vocalize to get your attention whenever he wants it. However, if you help your pup learn how to behave quietly and calmly through training or other methods, you can break this cycle of unruly behavior before it blows out of proportion.

How Can You Treat a Japanese Dog of Stress and Anxiety?

The best way is by talking things through with a vet.

Primarily if the vet identifies what type of condition it could be and why the Japanese dog suffers from these symptoms in the first place! Vets will also help rule out any other medical conditions that may have caused them; this can change when trying to cope and possibly for the dog pet owners alike.

Training and Counter-conditioning

Counter-conditioning is necessary to alter your Japanese dog's response to stimuli so it no longer perceives the stimulus as a threat.

 It is done by repeatedly pairing the stimulus with something good until the Japanese dog learns that it does not need to be afraid of or worry about these things anymore.

Counterconditioning often goes hand in hand with desensitization. If your Japanese dog is afraid of a specific stimulus, you need to show the dog that there is nothing to fear. You can do this by letting your dog have exposure to something it's afraid of at an intensity too low for it to feel threatened, but with enough repetitions so that eventually, it tolerates seeing it at closer distances or with more detail.

For example, try taking your dog walk through a pet store or set up a situation where it has to walk past the stimulus. Gradually increase the intensity of the trigger so that  Japanese dogs can get used to it, but never force them in any way and always stop before they feel threatened.

The essential part of counter-conditioning is to make it work for you by keeping in mind your ultimate goal of changing how your dog responds to stimuli. Not every method will work for all dogs, so it's best if you try a couple of different techniques.

Medication

Training and counter-conditioning aren't always adequate. Some veterinarians recommend medications that are used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. These require a prescription and are safe for most pets, though you should contact your veterinarian before using medication on a young dog.

 Supplements and homeopathic treatment are other possibilities. Natural medications like Calming Zen Chews may provide relief for your dog's anxiety or, at the very least, smooth the path during your training program.

Anxiety, significantly moderate to severe anxiety, frequently responds well to anti-anxiety medication and behavior modification training. These are not, however, quick remedies.

Generally, you treat a Japanese dog for four weeks before the medication's effectiveness is fully apparent; treatment should go on for at least two months until sufficient response.

Some dogs can be weaned off anti-anxiety drugs over time, while others require lifelong care.

What Are the Tips for Managing Stress in Japanese Dogs?

Several tips can help relieve stress in Japanese dogs:

Exercise

Taking the Japanese dog out for a nice, long walk each day will decrease many anxiety-inducing factors present within the home.

Although exercise cannot cure anxiety, it can help manage it. First and foremost, ensure that your puppy gets lots of age-appropriate physical activity. It's especially true for large, high-activity dogs who have a lot of energy to expend. When your Japanese dog has enjoyed a quick walk, it's more likely to calm down.

Second, don't forget about your puppy's mental muscles. Training sessions, puzzle toys, and cognitive games are all excellent options. A brain exercise can be just as demanding as a physical workout, but it can also be a lot of fun.

In addition, these walking exercises relieve stress in Japanese dogs and help prevent obesity.

Routine

There are fewer opportunities for anxiety-inducing factors to present themselves within the home environment by having a routine for the Japanese dog, whether feeding or grooming.  

With routine, the Japanese dog will know what to expect and, as a result of knowing what is to come next, it will have fewer opportunities to become anxious or stressed out.

Having a Safe, Quiet Area

This spot can be a Calming Cuddle Bed,  a crate, or it can even be even on a blanket sprayed with calming spray.

Giving the Japanese dog this one spot to retreat to out of all the other areas within the home environment will feel more at ease.

Reassurance and Support From Family Members and Friends.

By letting the Japanese dog know that it is loved and cared for, there will be a decrease in stress-inducing factors within the Japanese dog's life.

Play Cool Music To Calm Your Japanese Dog

Japanese dogs enjoy this type of tune without any stress or worries about what's going around.

The music can even make them more tired than usual just by listening. So, next time your furry friend needs some encouragement from someone looking after them, have Mozart ready on deck.

Don't Punish Your Japanese Dog When It's Stressed Out

Your Japanese dogs look to you as the pack leader, and they need to know their expectations.

 If you discipline your dog when it does something wrong during a time of distress, the dog will only feel more anxiety. You never want to make your Japanese dog's situation worse- take this opportunity instead to teach your dog how to behave during times of distress.

Wrapping Your Japanese Dog in a Blanket When They Seem Stressed Out

It may seem a little unorthodox, but it's known to work successfully in many cases, and this is because the sensation of being wrapped up in a blanket helps them feel safe and secure again.

Yoga With Japanese Dogs

Yoga is the best way to relieve stress in Japanese dogs and for the humans involved.

The positions and movements associated with yoga will help calm your dog's nerves; additionally, it can help strengthen muscles prone to aches due to anxiety.

Feeding Your Japanese Dog Specially Made Foods That Manage Anxiety

There are specially made foods for dogs that help relieve stress in Japanese dogs by nourishing their bodies and helping them feel better overall.

For example, Calming Zen Chews will help your dog calm when they are anxious or upset. These delightful homeopathic calming aids are fantastic for boosting your dog's quality of life and well-being. If you see your dog in a stressful situation, give them some pup-approved Calming Zen Chews to help them relax.

Aromatherapy for Dogs

Using aromatherapy techniques with your Japanese dog is another option you explore when seeking relief from anxiety-inducing factors.

For example, Calming Spray has been known to have a calming effect, and so it can be used in blankets or Calming Beds when trying to help your dog relax.

Massage for Dogs

Massaging your Japanese dog is another way to help them reduce stress by taking their minds off things.

 It can be done with oils if you are uncomfortable touching the dog directly (which is important to note- dogs do not like having perfumes or scents applied to them).

Encourage Your Japanese Dog To Play

Playing with your Japanese dog when it seems anxious will help distract them from whatever might be causing the distress.

 It is a suitable method if your dog focuses on something and does not become anxious too quickly.

Check the Food You Are Feeding Your Japanese  Dog for Triggers

Many foods intended to be fed to Japanese dogs can cause stress and anxiety.

 It's, therefore, essential to check with your veterinarian or other pet-related professional about what types of foods may contribute to the problem.

Ensure That Your Household Is Safe and Peaceful

The environment where your Japanese dog spends their time will also have a lot to do with how much stress they experience.

Make sure that the house is free from things such as broken glass or other dangerous materials, and try to keep it calm and quiet so that there won't be any sudden noises that might scare your pet.

Conclusion

Japanese dogs, like many other breeds of dogs, are susceptible to stress and anxiety. The result is that they can quickly become overstimulated by the sights, sounds, smells, or movements around them, leading to aggression. Managing your pet's stress levels through exercise and mental stimulation will make them enjoy life and reduce the chances of destructive behavior when they're tired or frustrated.