Don't walk the dog!

I know, the title of this article looks wrong. One of the first things we all know about dogs is that they need to be walked. Every day. Sometimes multiple times a day. By and large, that fact holds true.

Until it doesn't.

As anyone that's read my writings before knows, my area of interest is fearful and reactive dogs. The dogs that are scared of things they may encounter in the outside world and react by trying to create distance from them. Either by running away or by the use of displays of fear aggression in an attempt to make the scary thing itself move away.

Encountering scary things creates physical and physiological responses in the dog’s body. These are the same in all mammals (including humans, so this is as relevant to us as it is to our dogs!) and involve the release of various hormones within the body. These hormones are all part of what is known as the ‘fight or flight’ response. This is a completely unconscious response, regulated in the most basic, primitive parts of the brain and is aimed at a single result: survival.

So what happens in the dog's body when they are in a situation that causes them to be fearful?

The reaction starts in the brain. The first structure involved is the amygdala, a small area deep within the brain which is responsible for processing emotions, particularly fear. The amygdala prompts the hypothalamus into action, as it controls the pituitary gland. This is the gland that controls the other endocrine glands in the body, and so triggers the release of hormones, all of which are aimed at surviving the immediate situation. Adrenaline is one, and will dissipate from the bloodstream fairly rapidly after the trigger has been removed. Cortisol however is another matter. Cortisol can take hours to leave the body entirely. Even days.

What does this mean? A hormone that is designed to help the animal survive a scary situation is still distributed around the body. Any further exposure is going to cause more hormones to be released, which extends the amount of time that cortisol will be within the body, and all the mechanisms triggered by the fear response will still be in place. These include suppression of the digestive, urinary, and immune systems, among others. While these systems are not essential in a survival situation, being suppressed for any length of time will result in a dog that feels ill. A dog that feels ill is more likely to feel stressed. It's a vicious cycle. And if it's not interrupted, the dog will become ill. Being forced to live with a body not able to function properly leads to what are known as adaptation diseases, where the body 'copes' with an ongoing situation. This is definitely not a good thing, and can result in a variety of issues, including kidney and heart disease.

So how do we get the cortisol levels back down to normal? By not encountering anything that is a trigger to the dog. And this is where we come back to the title of this article. For a fearful dog that has had a rough walk or a few days of difficult encounters, the best answer is what is known as a cortisol vacation. This means a period of time where you can either guarantee that no triggers will be seen on a walk, or having some time hanging out at home rather than going out. I know this seems counter-intuitive, and as if it will result with an under-exercised dog doing laps of the living room, but it is possible to keep you and your dog sane during this time. I have written about mental exercise before and entertaining dogs at home in a couple of articles.

This is what brain work does to Finn!

This is a useful trick for a day or two after your dog has reacted to something, and can also be handy if an unavoidable stressful experience such as a vet appointment is coming up to ensure that the dog is as stress free as possible. We generally have one day a week at home, where we do some short training sessions in the garden and use enrichment for brain exercise. Working the brain is incredibly tiring for the dog and, if you've not tried doing this before, you may be surprised just how much they want to sleep afterwards!

Available now from the writer behind the Blue Merle Minion blog:

Fight or Fright? A Reactive Dog Guardian's Handbook

Written by a reactive dog guardian  and student of canine behaviour, this book sets out to make sure that nobody in that situation has to feel alone. Packed with empathy and understanding, from how reactivity impacts on both dog and guardian physically and mentally, to guidance on finding the right kind of help, this book will support you on every step of the journey.

Available in ebook at a range of stores via Books2Read or in paperback via Amazon.

Understanding Reactive Dogs: Why Dogs React & How to Help

Learn how fear, anxiety and stress affect the dog. Follow the chemical and physiological changes that happen in the fear response. Find out the potential causes of reactive behaviours, and how to help a puppy have the best chance of avoiding reactivity as they grow and mature into an adult. Discover how to help the reactive dog develop a better relationship with the world. Finish reading this book better understanding reactive dogs.

Available in ebook from a range of stores via Books2Read or in paperback from Amazon.