What is canine anxiety? It's a term used when dog's encounter mental or emotional tension during or after a stay in a kennel, known as Kennel Stress. It can manifest in a number of ways including fear, separation anxiety, tremors, aggression, barking, whining or other noticeable changes to their behaviour.
Just one night in a kennel can trigger stress and canine anxiety, especially if your dog is naturally nervous or anxious. However, it can happen to any dog, even those who aren’t typically prone to anxiety.
In a kennel, your dog will face new sights, sounds, smells, changes in routine, unfamiliar diets, the absence of home comforts, interaction with new dogs, and being handled by strangers. These sudden shifts can be overwhelming, and since dogs don’t understand why they’re in this new environment, the confusion can heighten their stress levels.
When a dog experiences sudden sensory changes—sights, sounds, smells, and touches—without any familiar context, this can lead to "sensory overload," a condition that causes immense stress. In some cases, this can cause your dog to "shut down" and become withdrawn. Since dogs are creatures of habit, changes in routine can be particularly distressing. For example, if your dog is used to eating at 5 pm but is suddenly offered food at 3 pm, they may refuse to eat. They may also miss their usual morning walk to the newsagent, which can further upset their balance and increase anxiety.
Interruptions in their regular exercise routine can also have significant consequences. Without proper activity, dogs may become frustrated or anxious, leading to both behavioral and digestive issues. If the dog feels too scared to go out due to the unfamiliar environment, stress levels will rise even further.
Meeting new people in a strange setting, combined with all the other changes, only adds to canine anxiety. Your dog might become even more anxious, especially if they are already sensitive to changes in their surroundings.
A sudden change in diet can also take a toll on your dog’s health. This can lead to symptoms like sickness, refusal to eat, digestive issues, or even allergies. In some cases, the dog may even start toileting indoors due to digestive discomfort. Proper nutrition is crucial for your dog’s well-being, and a few days of poor or insufficient nutrition can lead to other problems, such as skin irritations, nasal discharge, joint or muscle fatigue, and further exacerbating their anxiety.
Whilst not all dogs will suffer with Kennel Stress, over the years, I have heard more and more cases from clients where their dog has returned in such an awful state, and they blame the kennels (often it is) but in most cases it's due to Kennel Stress.
I believe that dog's strive in familiar environments and you should be confident that a) You should be able to enjoy a holiday without worrying about your dog, b) your dog is in the best hands, receiving the best care and the same level of love, attention and usual routines as if you were still at home.
By providing a live-in dog sitting service means your dog stays at home, where they are familiar, have their own bed, own toys, their familiar sights, sounds and smells - knows where the treat tub is and their favourite pee spot in the garden without thinking twice about it. We cuddle up on the sofa (or their bed, if they're not allowed on the furniture) when ever they like and have endless cuddles, belly rubs and ear scratches in their own home, one a one-to-one basis, with all their home comforts. Not a cold cement floor or bars in sight.
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