1 Understanding your dog’s stress and anxieties
Dog Magazines Case studies Your Dog, Dog Monthly, Dog’s Today I initially started by researching into case studies in the above canine magazines. This enabled me to gain an understanding of the large range of anxiety and stress problems dogs have. Many articles, in all three magazines, focussed upon how to spot the signs of stress. They also had a vet or behavourist answering questioned. Most commonly asked questions by dog owners were often based on anxiety and stress. This research enabled me to really understand there is a massive problem with dog anxiety and that owners do not know where to seek advice.
Pinned-back ears
Licking of the nose Excessive and lips
Yawning
Ex Excessive P barking
Trembling/ shaking
Shaking off
Tense all over
Loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, skin problems or allergies
Accidents
Tail tucked, avoiding eye contact, turning away Destructive behaviours
Excessive shedding
The most common symptoms for anxiety issues:
xcessive Panting
Noise: 82% Shake, Tremble, Cower 74% Hide 69% Restless, Will not Settle Separation: 84% Clinging to owners 78% Barking, whimpering 70% Restless, Will not Settle
To understand the problem we first must understand the symptoms. A dog seems to indicate its anxiousness through their mouth, their body language and through behaviour. These behaviours are stressful for both dog and owner. This information was collected from magazines and internet articles.
General Anxiety: 80% Shake, Tremble, Cower 78% Easily Startle 75% Cling to Owner
Most common types of stress and anxiety This research was collected from Thundershirt Stress and anxiety survey 2011. This research has enable me to look into specific areas where dogs become stressed, allowing me to further research into these key areas.
Separation anxiety
A dog gets anxious when left alone.
Travel anxiety
The car is like a den, but dogs are unaccustomed to moving dens. Therefore, they may become unsure and stressed over something so new and unexpected.
Loud sounds/ noises
A dog becomes fearful when exposed to loud or unusual noises. Some examples include fireworks, thunderstorms.
Confinement anxiety
A dog gets anxious when he feels trapped or confined. If a threat should arise, a confined dog may be unable to escape or flee.
The causes
This research was collected from specialist behavourist websites. Identifying the causes of stress will enable me to understand possible areas for improvement.
Unfamiliar animals Unfamiliar people.
Any illness or painful physical condition
RSPCA
History of inability to escape or get away from the stimulus.
Fear from a terrible experience.
Deprived of social and environmental exposure until 14 weeks of age.
Reaction to owner’s anxiety
Travel anxiety
Loud sounds/ noises
Separation anxiety: history of abandonment, multiple owners, rehoming, or prior neglect is common.
Aging changes associated with nervous system changes.
Personal reflection It is important to note that their are many possible causes of anxiety, so it will not be possible to solve every problem. However I have picked three measurable main causes to look at further. - Reaction to owner’s anxiety - Loud sounds/ noises - Separation anxiety due to rehoming. This research helps aid all three directions.
What dogs are more prone to having anxiety? This information was collected from internet articles.
Yorkshire Terriers
West Highland White Terriers
Cocker Spaniels Scottish Cairn Terriers
Chihuahuas
Shetland Sheepdogs
Pekingese
Poodles
Interviews with Specialist breeders
Rob Hunter
Cocker Spaniels Breeder North Shields, Tyne and Wear
Are cocker spaniels more likely to develop anxiety and stress issues?
“Not at all, We have bred spaniels for 45 years, we travel with them everyday, they do not show any signs of stress, what so ever. A proper bred of spaniel should be most calmest of dogs with no signs of stress, however crossing the breeds the temperaments change and may start to show features of anxiety and stress. I would also say that it is all down to the owner, if the owner does not provide a good home environment there will be problems, but this is the same with every breed.�
Karen Fredman Pekingese Breeder Middlesex
Are Pekingese breeds more likely to develop anxiety and stress issues? “Not in my experience, I have bred Pekingese for a very long time, Never have any of my Pekingese have ever had problems with anxieties. I think some owners forget they are in fact a dog, and this can result in them being carried around in hand bags ect, which could lead to behavioural problems. They are very strong willed dogs but not nervous breed. I would say they are full of character, so owners should be strong with training. Some may suffer from small Dog Syndrome- where the dog believes he is pack leader to humans. This can cause varying degrees of negative behaviors, including, self-willed, jealous, separation anxiety, guarding. However this is only a reflection of the owner’s training methods.”
Marvis smart
Poodle Breeder Washington, Tyne and Wear
Are poodle breeds more likely to develop anxiety and stress issues?
“I have had poodles for over twenty years and had no problems with leaving them or stress. Do not leave your puppy alone for the first 2 weeks, let it settle into a routine first. You must start when you get your puppy, leaving it for short periods, 5 mins, then 10 mins and extending the time each day. Your puppy will get used to being left and they know you will return. Make a big fuss when you return. If it gets stressed with noises speak to your vet. I leave my poodles for around 2 to 3 hours and they are fine.�
Key insights
Direction 1
In regards to designing for reducing stress in dog shelters this research has enabled me to understand where stress might occur. This has given me an over all understanding, however to really understand how to reduce stress within dog shelters I will do a further conclusive study of the rehoming process.
Direction 2
After examining the symptoms and the cause this has enabled me to really understand the most common problems. I have picked out - Reaction to owner’s anxiety - Loud sounds/ noises - Separation anxiety due to rehoming. To further this research I need to look further into existing treatments.
Direction 3
From speaking to breeders it soon became clear that if a dog was bred properly and settled into a new home appropriately there should no reason why a dog should have anxiety issues due to there breed. This made me think further into owners responsibility, I will further observe owner interaction with their dogs to see if their are any common problems or issue that could be addressed.
2 Training techniques and treatments
The Treatments The most common treatments tried by dog owners for anxiety and fear issues are the following: (2011 Veterinarian Anxiety Survey sponsored by Thundershirt)
71% 54% 33%
Behavior Modification
Environmental Management
Drugs
31% Music Therapy
5 steps to deal with anxiety
1
Don’t show anxiety
- use a calm voice and relaxed body language - pets respond to their owner’s fear
2
Offer treats when stimulus is present
- Example: Ask new people to give the pet a treat - Links stimulus with reward, rather than anxiety
3
Desensitise animal to stimulus -Example: Play a CD of storm sounds
- Regular exposure can normalize the stimulus
4
Avoid punishment
5
Talk to your vet
- Scolding intensifies anxiety.
- vet can recommend behaviour modification tips - Anti-anxiety medication is available - A thundershirt may reduce your pet’s anxiety -Pheromone therapy products, such as DAP for dogs can help.
This information was found reading Cesar Millian website, he a world famous dog trainer who specialises in behaviour modification. From this information I could develop new products or service to help owners implement these into their routines.
5 simple ways of calming an anxious dog
This information was collected from Cesar’s website
1
Cuddling
2
Exercise
Touch and contact helps both humans and dogs relieve anxiety, fear and stress. When a dog feels cut off from their human, their anxiety level is likely to increase. If they are hurting physically, just being close to you may help keep them calmer. Petting and cuddling your dog will help take away some of the anxiety.
Anxiety can create energy that can’t always be controlled. Burning off some of that tension by going for a walk, a run, or playing in the yard or park is a great anxiety reliever for a dog. It will tire him out, perhaps enough to calm him down when he comes back inside after the exercise.
3 Calm Demeanor
Dogs often sense what is going on with their humans. If you are tense and reacting to their anxiety and the bad behavior they show when stressed, they will feed on your anxiety as well. Take a step away and take a few deep breaths, then come back and deal with the acting out with a calm voice and calm demeanor to break the anxiety cycle.
4
Toys
5
Time Out
A stressed dog may act out by becoming destructive. They don’t know how to channel that energy. They can only show you that something is not right. A good chew toy can give your dog something to focus on that won’t destroy your household items or personal belongings.
Sometimes they just need a quiet space with no stimulation where they can turn off all the input and simply unwind.
Behaviour modification Dog trainers
“Stay calm and assertive�
On Cesar Millan website he has open discussions on dealing with behavourial issues. This enabled me to collect information on how to deal with anxiety in more extreme cases.
Cesar Millan
World famous dog trainer On Cesar Millan website he discusses on dealing with separation anxiety and what to do the reduce levels of stress.
Quick Tips!
1
Exercise helps calm your dog down in two ways. Physically, it tires your dog out, so he might be up for a nap while you’re away; and emotionally, exercise can level out your dog’s brain chemistry in the same way a good workout can leave humans exhilarated.
2
Hire a dog walker for dog exercise If you have someone close by with pets, this is a great time to encourage some neighborly reciprocity, where you can arrange to let each other’s pets out when the other one isn’t home. You could also hire a dog walker to come by and provide a professional field trip.
3 4
More dog toys, less destruction Boredom can be as much of a cause for acting out as separation anxiety. For this reason, it’s vital to leave out your dog’s favorite toys and anything else you can think of that he can use to entertain himself in your absence. Dog toys make great diversions. Aside from keeping him away from your toys, you’ll provide distraction for your dog during the day, so he won’t be as anxious about you being gone. Are two dogs company or double trouble for separation anxiety? A common solution that many pet owners advocate is to adopt a second dog to keep the first dog company. This can be a great idea or a bigger dog problem. There are many variables to consider, including the size, gender, energy, and temperament of your dog and of the potential new dog.
Youtube clip of Cesar Millan dealing with dog’s reaction to their owners anxiety.
Personal reflection
Main points:
Exercise helps calm your dog down More dog toys, less destruction These could be possible areas to look further into to see if a product or service could be provided for anxious dogs in a home environment and in shelters.
Cesar Millan Case Study
This information was collected from Cesar’s website
Cesar, I have a two-year-old Pomeranian who is afraid of everything; and so worried about things falling on him. Although since I’ve had him (about one year), nothing has fallen on him. He even approaches his food dish as if a snake will attack at any minute. Drinking water is the same, he is always prepared to run away. I have tried to show calm and assertive direction and a matterof-fact attitude. Is there anything more I can do? Alice Jackson
Dear Alice, This sounds like a self-esteem problem, so you must approach it delicately. We want to challenge the dog physically and mentally with things like obstacle courses, busy environments, and any situation in which the dog can get feedback from other, more confident dogs. It’s all about exposing the dog to many different situations. Practice obedience training, practice obstacle courses; they don’t have to be champions, but they have to go out and do it. With every success comes a little more confidence. Stay calm and assertive, Cesar Millan
Signs of separation anxiety
Lucy parkin Lead Trainer at CleverPaws Newcastle
I conducted an interview with Lucy Parkin the lead behavouirst at CleverPaws Newcastle. I wanted to find out her technique of dealing with stress and anxiety. I also wanted to see what type of methods she used. I found that unlike Cesar Millan she only rewarded if the dog did something right, unlike Cesar who corrected the dogs bad behaviour. There seems to be a contrast in styles for teaching a dog to cope with stress and anxiety. Personally after witnessing both training techniques I think positive reinforcement is easier for an owner to implement. It is an easier overall technique to teach an owner. From interviewing Lucy it has helped me understand that she makes areas which may be uncomfortable for a dog into a game or a safe zone.
The interview...
1.What are the most common stress related behavioural problems you deal with? Why do you think these are most common? The most common stress related behavioural problem I see by far is dogs who lunge at other dogs whilst on lead. I think this is due to the owners own stress transferring down the lead causing the dog to believe that there is something to be worried about. 2.How would you describe your trying methods? I only use positive reward based reinforcement. 3.a. For separation anxiety what behavioural techniques do you use to help modify a dogs behaviour? For separation anxiety I use a gradual desensitisation program involving crate games and slowly
increasing periods of isolation. b. For noise anxiety what behavioural technique do you use to help modify a dogs behaviour? For noise anxiety I use a gradual desensitisation program involving quietly and calmly introducing the noise and licking for calmness. c. For travel anxiety what behavioural technique do you use to help modify a dogs behaviour? I have found that thunder shirts work quite well for travel anxiety and also a gradual desensitisation program involving the dog becoming comfortable in the stationary vehicle then slowly for short periods of movement.
5. Do you recommend any products such as adapt collars, diffuser etc to your clients? I have tried these also but not really to much effect. Maybe because the cases I see are quite extreme. It could be that they may work with not so severe cases. I have used the thundershirt on several dogs and results have been very varied. I plan to do more research on this in the future. 6. Have you come across any quick relaxing or calming down techniques or product which you think work well? I use Tellington T Touch on my own dogs and find it works really well. Unfortunately I am not a qualified T Touch practitioner so can’t use it on my clients dogs yet. I may become qualified at a later date if I have time.
APBC
Association of pet behaviour councillors The APBC is an international network of experienced and qualified pet behaviour counsellors who work on referral from veterinary surgeons to treat behaviour problems in dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, horses and other pets. These official guidelines use positive reinforcement and comforting aids.
Separation Anxiety Analysing APBC advice on separation anxiety. (Behavourial Journal)
“Leave your dog in the room where they will be normally be left, close the door and walk away. After a short time, go back in without greeting.”
“Leave the animal with something special to chew.” “Wearing an old sweater of T-shirt before leaving and putting it in your dog’s bed will sometime help to renew your scent”
“Prevent your dog from following you from room to room” “Keep departure cues, such as looking for car keys and putting on coats, to a minimum.”
“Some dogs are comforted by the familiar sounds of a radio playing”
“When you decide to give attention, call your dog and make as much fuss as you like”
Noise anxiety
Analysing APBC advice on noise anxiety.
1
2
Provide a safe place - Find the place your dog feels most comfortable - ‘Safe den’ such as a dog crate/ box covered on three sides with blankets -Encourage your dog to use and make positive association with the den by putting treat in it.
Draw the curtains - use a calm voice and relaxed body language - pets respond to their owner’s fear
3
Play music - Turn the volume of television up - Play calming music
Key insights
Direction 1 Behaviour classes could be implemented into an everyday routine at kennels. This would give a dog mental and physical stimulation helping prevent stress and anxiety. Kennels could introduce music and ‘Safe zones’ to help relax a dog in a highly stressful environment.
Direction 2 For reducing stress, I could design a service such as gradual desensitisation programs which could include crate games and slowly increasing periods of isolation. Tellington Ttouch could be an interesting area to research further as it is not known and is still a relatively new technique.
Direction 3 Safe zones could be introduced into the home so a dog has a place in the home it always feels safe.
Observing a Behaviour Class
Neil Losada
Lead Trainer at BestBehaviourK9
Personal reflection
After observing an advanced behaviour class, I conducted an interview with Neil Losada lead trainer at BestBehaviourK9. He has been working with dogs for over 20 years, from training police dogs to training dogs for television. His behavioural class was really useful to observe and it showed how an owner should interact with their dog when training.
The interview...
1.What are the most common stress related behavioural problems you deal with? Why do you think these are most common? Separation Anxiety, Noise anxiety and other dogs or people. 2.Would you describe your trying methods? (Do you use positive reinforcement or create a dominate figure in your training methods?) I use only positive reinforcement methods, ignoring any behaviour that the owner does not want. 3.For a general anxiety case, what training technique do you use to help modify a dogs behaviour?
k9 best Behaviour Class
10/11/15
In the training session he covered: - Distractions - Calming techniques - Heel training - Recall
Make sure there is nothing else going on. Take the dog to the vet’s as stress and anxiety may be result of an underlying illness. a. For separation anxiety what behavioural techniques do you use to help modify a dogs behaviour? Do not baby the dog. Do not offer affection when returning to the home environment. Only reward the dog when they have calmed down. b. For noise anxiety what behavioural technique do you use to help modify a dogs behaviour? If the dog is prone to nervous energy, Modifying the
humans energy levels is essential. This teaches the dog to keep calm reducing the dog’s anxiety levels. Practising training techniques at home is important as there are more distractions at home. c. For travel anxiety what behavioural technique do you use to help modify a dogs behaviour? Using the thundershirt or anxiety wraps can work well for calming a dog down for travel, however this can be dependant on the dog.
Medication and natural remedies
Recommendation from Vetenarian Alice Reynolds Abbey House Veterinary Hospital
What is on the market? There are several different types of prescription anti-anxiety medications (anxiolytics): Benzodiazepines are fast-acting and can be used on an as needed basis, or combined with longer-acting drugs for a quicker response and when a little more help is needed. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and azapirones must be given continuously, and require several weeks to become fully effective. Dogs with frequent or severe anxiety will benefit from these longer-acting drugs to decrease overall anxiety and reactivity. It is also important to do behaviour modification as well, as drugs alone will rarely resolve a severe anxiety problem by themselves, just as behavior modification alone often will not work without drugs.
Owner who uses medication
Interview with Melanie Barker. Owner of three rescue dogs. She has used medication in the past but now tries to use herbal remedies or other products such as the thundershirt.
Melanie “I have had 3 Aussies. My second developed anxiety and panic issues in his 11th year, after returning from living overseas and relocating, where he became frightened of thunderstorms. I tried many homeopathic and natural remedies, but finally, with my veterinarian’s recommendation, tried him on Prozac, and was very happy with the results. He was only on it for about 4 months, through the summer when most of the triggers occurred, then I tapered him off.
I now have my third Aussie, a 6 year old rescue, who is on her third (and final) home. She has some separation anxiety and will lick her paws constantly when anxious. I use the Zylkene with her also, as I like using the natural products. Both Aussies have had amazing results with the Thundershirt. I know many people who think they are useless, but I put the Thundershirt on my Aussies before the trigger starts, as well as their medication if needed, and then ignore them (in order not to excite them or feed into their anxiety) and they are fast asleep.�
Side effects of medications
- Altered mental state (confusion, depression, or hyperactivity) - Difficulty walking - Trembling and seizures - Vomiting - Diarrhea - Rapid breathing (tachypnea) - Rapid heart rate (tachycardia) - Increased body temperature (hyperthermia)
Vetenarian Alice Reynolds Abbey House Veterinary Hospital
“With any medications there potentially could be side effects. We recommend that if any dog shows any symptoms of side effects, the owner should stop the medication immediately and talk to a vet about the problems. Medication should not be a long term solution for behavioural issues such as anxiety and stress. Behaviour modification is recommended if the dog exhibits any stress or anxiety behaviours. Medication should really be a last resort or a way of helping calm the dog so that it can be trained and exposed slowly to the problem.�
Lavender helps reduce stress and anxiety in dogs
Please see the smell test
Homeopathic and Herbal Remedies
This information was collected from internet research.
Chamomile:
This herb reduces anxiety in dogs that are stressed out. It calms the nerve as well as induces sleep. You can give chamomile tea to your dog before a long drive or soak a treat in the tea.
Lemon Balm:
A sedative herb that is effective in treating excitability and dog anxiety.
Oat:
Oat is an excellent nerve-calming herb and is nutritious as well. Cooked oatmeal can be added to your dog’s food.
Valerian:
Valerian reduces tension, anxiety, over excitability in dogs.
Skullcap:
Skullcap is effective for nervous tension. It also helps epileptic dogs.
Echinacea:
This herb has immune-strengthening qualities and can be used continually (in moderation) to boost the body’s immune system under stress
Noise/Music therapy
What is on the market?
Through a Dog’s Ear Personal reflection
The Canine Noise Phobia series
Music is a really good way off getting a dog used to a sound or to calm to dog down if they are in an agitated state. I think this could be useful if I included music with another technique.
Listen to a clip of music to calm and distressed a dog.
icalm dog
Owner who uses noise therapy
Case Study
Nancy Weller recalling her experience with using noise therapy.
“I am preparing for New Years Eve. The most skittish of the greyhounds already went to bed. Tonight, we are relaxing to the Phobia Series Fireworks. He fights hard to stay awake. The subtle fireworks make him stare at the speaker. Then not. 75+ lb brindle boy, sleeping like a baby.�
Key insights
Direction 1 Music and behaviour modification could be introduced into daily routines at shelters.
Direction 2 From my research I have found that medication on seems to be an immediate solution but not one to solve a problem. I have also noticed that many owners do not like the idea of medicating their dog, and turn to natural remedies. Medication will only work with behaviour modification to help relieve stress.
Direction 3 To prevent a dog from developing stress or anxiety disorders exposure such a music could be implemented into daily routines for owners.
3 Environment
shelters Newcastle dog shelter Interview with lead behavourist Sue Barker
Accommodates up to 120 dogs
-If a dog shows behaviour associated with stress and anxiety, how do you help the dog? If a dog displays signs of stress we access the situation to see what may be causing it. If is it caused by something in the dog’s environment we remove whatever may be causing the dog anxiety. If it is something more challenging we will start training sessions with the dog to help the dog become accustomed to their surroundings. -What Training techniques do you use? We only use positive reinforcement, and the technique purely depends on the situation and the dog. Do you think that they feel the kennel is a safe place to be? Could it be designed better? The kennel can be a stressful place for dogs as
they may not be used to the new situation the find themselves in. The noise from other dogs can also be stressful as they can hear other dogs barking but cannot see them. Do you use any products to help a dog suffering with anxiety? We don’t use any specific products, we just try to rotate toys so it keeps them stimulated. We also provide blankets to make the dogs more comfortable.
John Rodgerson Interview
John Rodgerson is a specialist behavourist for anxieties within dog shelters. John is the author of no fewer than eight books, has produced two DVDs and has run courses on training and behaviour for, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, The Blue Cross, The R.S.P.C.A., The Dogs Trust and many more. “You cannot usually separate the behaviour of the dog from that of the owner so unless a technique us used that addresses the owner as well as the dog it is rare that anything will work and there are no products on the market that I have found that will have the effect of calming an anxious dog in isolation from the owner. There are many products such as Clomicalm - a drug distributed by Novartis, Thundershirt, Rescue Remedy, Dog Appeasing Pheremone Diffuser and the list goes on and on. If the owner thinks that these products will work then they probably will because they change the owners perception of the dogs anxiety.
Some apparent anxiety problems are simply the dog gaining attention for the anxious behaviour. As an example an owner who reports that their dog is frightened of thunderstorms and will pace back and forth whining during a storm actually looking at its owner. The owner talks to the dog and touches it to calm it down but the anxiety continues because the dog gains the owners undivided attention for this behaviour. Sometimes I have advised the owner to walk out of the room and leave the dog by itself and like a miracle the anxious behaviour suddenly stops. So you cannot just deal with the anxiety in the dog. I regularly advise owners of anxious dogs and find in many cases it is the owner who is creating the problem by reacting to the stress inducing stimuli and instead of ignoring the dog they actually start to reward the behaviour.
Shelter design
This research was collected from the book; Kennel Design: The Essential Guide to Creating Your Perfect Kennels by David Key.
Light - Add natural light wherever possible to kennels and/or dogs’ daily routines. - Outdoor activities including dog walks are beneficial. Shelters with upgrade budgets can consider adding skylights to kennel areas where window space is scarce.
Comforts Offer variety and comfort inside the kennel - Furniture and bedding: Kuranda beds via kuranda bed donation program. - Plastic dog crates with doors removed can be utilized for stressed dogs who need to den. Half shell plastic dog crates work well for simple beds. - Chews: Knuckle bones, bully sticks, antlers. - Food puzzles: Kong速Wobbler, Stuffed Kongs速, treat balls, handmade puzzles,
Sound - Mindful movement. Encourage staff and volunteers to mind their movement during the daily routine to avoid creating unnecessary noise (clanging equipment, slamming kennel doors, etc). - Water fountain. Even a small inexpensive fountain will create a peaceful compliment to chaotic shelter noise. - Teach and reinforce quiet. Dogs can be easily trained to reduce their barking. - Radio and recorded music designed for calming. - Photo Right. These sound panels specially designed for use in the League for Animal.
Scent - Provide variety and interest through planned scents - Scented gardens around the facilities for both dogs and humans to enjoy. Dog-safe cut flowers and bunch grasses tied to kennel walls or sprinkled inside the kennels bring interest and enjoyment. - Sprays and scented products. Invite volunteers to create subtle sprays for use in the air and/or on the dogs’ bedding. Lavender is well regarded as a calming scent. Try lavender scented cleaners, dryer sheets and laundry soap.
Social Needs - Roommates. Organize group walks with dogs who share the same section of the shelter to reduce stress by encouraging relationship between the dogs in a structured way. - Volunteers are key. Encourage in-kennel quiet time with volunteers and trusted dogs to help dogs experience their kennels in a pleasurable way. - Reduce hormonal stressors. Avoid housing intact dogs near each other and alter as soon as possible to reduce tensions. - Exercise
Personal reflection
On reflection of looking into dog shelters, it has enabled me to look into how they could be possibly be improved. Simple things like relaxing noises and scents offer an opportunity that could be explored further. Dogs are social animals so giving them a room mate could help relieve this stress. This feeling of having someone their could be an interesting area to look into as loneliness often leads to boredom, which in turn can turn into behavioural problems. Barking in shelters seems also to be an issue, if one dog barks it set a tidal wave of other dogs barking, this noise can be extremely loud, their could be a potential to reduce noise levels in kennels.
Shelters battersea dog shelter
What makes kennel life stressful for dogs?
This will vary from dog to dog, depending on what they find disturbing, but many dogs will find many of the following stressful: Absence of owners/ lack of sufficient social contact Lack of control over environment, particularly in bare or cramped kennels, lack of places to rest or comfortable, padded bedding Changes in routine – feeding times, walking time, having to toilet on concrete unless walked Sudden change in diet – possibly leading to diarrhoea and further distress for a house trained dog Lack of exercise / opportunity to play Loud noise - from the barking of other dogs due to large numbers or poor construction of kennels, or if loud music is played constantly
Interview with Alison Taylor- Behavourist at Battersea
Presence of and handling by strangers Presence and proximity of other dogs Unfamiliar smells – particularly disinfectant Unfamiliar noises Difference in temperature from that at home (no time for coat to adapt to changes) – particularly stressful for short-coated and thincoated breeds kept in cold conditions, or thick-coated dogs kept in warm kennels Lack of physical comfort – particularly if no bedding given Lack of familiar items that smell of home, e.g. Toys, items with owners scent Lack of continuity of veterinary care if kennel uses the local vet practice instead of your dog’s own vet.
Battersea kennels
This research was collected from a article on Battersea’s website based on their new kennel layouts.
Battersea
“In order to do this we use peanut butter, Marmite, classical music CDs, dog toys (rubber or rope and tennis balls) and essential oils (lavender, camomile, almond, frankincense, vanilla and rose).�
Toys These are varied each day and are given for a set period, then removed. This helps prevent the dogs from becoming bored and keeps their minds active.
Scents These are either hung in small scent pouches or misted into the air around the kennel blocks three times a day to give a pleasant smell. The fragrances are also varied each day to bring some change to the environment.
Music Studies have shown that classical music has a calming effect on dogs in kennels so we play this to the dogs for a few hours each day and sometimes during the night.
Feeding We vary the way we deliver our dogs’ meals to keep them mentally stimulated and challenged.
Personal reflection
Batersea are trying to implement rotations of toys, scent pouches, music and delivery of meals. These are all to keep a dog mentally stimulated. However in other shelters with less funding these new stress relevant are not in place. There could be a potential to introduce them to shelter that may not have as much funding. Scents could be a simple one to introduce, as it keeps a dogs mind active and could be a fun game for a dog. I think re-designing a kennel would be a difficult thing to do as their is already a lot of information out their by professionals. A lot of problems come down to funding.
shelters Waltham centre
The WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition (WCPN) carries out the pet-based research on behalf of the worldwide Mars Petcare group of companies, and has maintained colonies of cats and dogs since 1965.
Interview with Dr. Alexandra Moesta Pet Behaviour and Care Manager
The concept of the whole facility design is to provide a ring of linked but separate single story pet care buildings around which personnel and visitors can circulate and see both the inside and outside of the buildings, with no inaccessible areas. Each building consists of two or three kennel wings (Fig. 1) housing the dogs around a central services area. Each dog kennel consists of an inner eating and sleeping area (Fig. 2), with a raised bed. The bed is formed in concrete and is raised 15 cm above the pen floor. It is heated with an electric cable embedded in the platform, controlled by a thermostat to give a temperature on the
Interview with Dr. Alexandra Moesta Pet Behaviour and Care Manager
surface warm to the hand, ensuring the dog does not lose body heat. The outer portion of the kennel is a covered outer exercise area to which the dogs have 24 h access, whatever the weather. Each building is surrounded by grass and/or paved exercise areas which are used during daylight hours for supervised exercise of larger groups of dogs, allowing greater exercise and socialisation between dogs and their human carers.
Figure 2
Figure 1
In the home
Sleeping positions dog is at its most venerable
Dog sleep positions reveal a lot about your dog.
I asked 10 people to photograph their dogs in the positions they sleep in to gain an understanding of stressful positions
Sleep positions
What they say about your dog. Information found on an online Vet survey.
Least stressed
“Dead roach” position. dog that sleep on their backs; with their legs in the air. This is the position found only in a very secure and confident indoor pet.
Sleeping on their side. Your dog is comfortable with their surroundings.
“Superdog” who choos stretched o a restful sle to go as so hears some
� sleeper, ses to sleep out. They are in eep, but ready oon as they ething.
Most stressed
Sleep on their stomachs. This allows them to jump up at the slightest perceived threat.
Curling up- It is the least vulnerable and least restful position for sleep.
Bed time routine
1
Turn lights down
2 3
Put blanket on cage
Dog sleeps in closed cage.
Interview with Lesley Stables on her dog’s bedtime routine Dog’s age: 9 months
“Woody is still a puppy so we like to keep in a cage at night for his safety. We first dim the lighting to get him ready for bed. We put a blanket on his cage to make it more cosy and comfortable. And then final we ask Woody to go in the cage for bedtime. I personally like using a cage as he is still young I don’t want him to hurt himself at night. As he gets older I don’t think we will use the cage he will sleep on his without it. I think it is important for a dog to have a place they feel safe in the house. When we first got Woody, we first placed him into his cage so he would feel comfortable in it.”
Personal reflection
For a dog sleeping is when they feel most vulnerable. It was interesting to look into a bed time routine to understand how routines can help settle and make a dog feel comfortable. Putting a blanket over a cage helps a dog feel more comfortable as it means they cannot see or get distracted by other things in the room. It was interesting how Waltham set out their kennels so that a dog can see everything that is going on to reduce their stress levels. There heated pads for the dogs to sleep on was a nice way for a dog to feel more comfortable.
Observation of behaviour
Leaving routine
Youtube GoPro Video of do’s separation anxiety
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Owner leaves - After owners leave the dog waits by the door waiting for them to come back. - the dog realises they are not coming straight back and runs to windows to check where his owners are. - starts to cry runs to the bedroom and runs back to front door.
dog visibly upset - Dog is panting and is becoming very agitated. - Dog jumps onto bed crying and smells his owners clothes.
Dog starts to howl -Dog starts to howl. -Dog still appears to be stressed as is constantly moving around.
Thunderstorm routine Youtube GoPro Video of do’s separation anxiety
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dog hides behind owner - Dog tries to become as close as possible to his owner as possible. - Owners put blanket on him to make him feel more comfortable.
dog hides under chair - Owner moves dog follows - Dog then tries to hide under the chair
dog shows clear signs of stress
- Dog starts to lick its lips - Cowers - Panting
Personal reflection
After observing stress and anxiety behaviours, it becomes clear they crave affection from the owners, it can be distressing for the owners to watch their dog almost having a panic attack. The dog gets into a routine of doing the same actions every time they are put in a stressful situation. This routine could be broken up with interaction with the owner or and interaction with a product.
Services
Borrow my doggy
Most owners join because they want their dog to receive even more love and attention. They’d also like to make another dog lover happy by giving them the opportunity to spend time with their pooch for walks, playtime, and happy holidays.
Dog owners include families with small children, busy professionals and even young couples.
Doggie day care More for paws
“We are Barnsley’s first licensed Doggy Day Care Centre. Plus dog training classes, dog walking, pet sitting, cat visits, grooming and micro-chipping!”
Why do you use and pay for these services? Lesley Stables owner of 9 month old french bulldog.
“I love using a dog day care center as I don’t feel guilty for leaving a dog alone while I am at work. It also makes the dog much more socialised. More For Paws pick my dog up from my house so I don’t have to worry. When my dog gets back from the center he is always tired out from a busy day of socialising and having fun. More for Paws put on special events for example on bonfire night they have a special event for dogs during the day to help tire them out so they hopefully will sleep through the fireworks and noise.”
Key Insights
Direction 1 Implementation of smells and rotation of toys helps keep a dogs mind active resulting in keeping a dog from becoming stresses. Noise in the kennel environment is loud and can cause stress within the environment.
Direction 2 Services such as doggy day care and borrow my doggy means a dog will not be left at home all day if the owners are at work, it also means owners do not have to put dogs into kennels if they go on holiday. A new service could look into at home care and working on behavioural issues with the dog and owner.
Direction 3 Services such as borrow my dog help prevent a dog forming stress or anxiety behaviours, the fact that a dog is not left at home all day means that they are less likely to develop stress such as separation anxiety.
4 Calming techniques
Pressure point stress Reviewing a medical technique to reduce and calm a dog heart rate in stressful situations
Pressure point stress Veterinarian Dr Gradin researched into pressure point stress relievers to prove that products like anxiety wrap and thundershirt do work. His article was published in Journal of Veterinary Behavior, this quote below was from the medical journal.
“The Anxiety Wrap uses acupressure and gentle, constant, maintained pressure to relieve stress and end or lessen fears in dogs. Created in 2001, it was the first of its kind on the market and invented the category of pressure wraps. The Anxiety Wrap mainly alleviates or lessens five major conditions; fear, anxiety, hyperactivity, insecurity, and shyness. These conditions are the root of many unwanted behaviors in dogs.�
Key pressure point to reduce heart rate
Personal reflection
Certain points on a dog help relieve stress, I think this is particularly interesting as it has been proved to be more than just a ‘fad’ product. These pressure points could be further examined to see I could use this knowledge on another product. I also aim to look further into massage techniques and acupuncture. This will help me understand in more detail how a dog’s reaction to stress can be helped by reaction points on the dogs body.
Tellington T-touch Tellington Ttouch is a system of gentle bodywork and movement exercises, which positively influences behaviour and wellbeing in dogs. Ttouch is based on cooperation and understanding and will deepen the relationship between dogs and their people.
Techniques
Research from Lucy Parkin Dog Trainer at Cleverpaws Newcastle.
The ear ttouch There are many acupuncture points in the ear, which when stimulated will provide beneficial results. This Ttouch helps induce relaxations, reduce stress, improve digestion and overcome fatigue and car sickness.
The body wrap It is especially beneficial for dogs that are afraid of loud noises, are nervous, hyperactive or experience panic when travelling in the car. The body wrap gives the dog a sense of connection and feedback about tension and space.
The clouded Leopard ttouch The name describes how the hand is placed on the bodyas lightly as a cloud. This ttouch brings awareness and improves the dog’s ability to learn.
Further Techniques
See proffessional Sarah Fisher perform Tellington Ttouch
Therapy facilities Acupuncture is a way of helping dogs relieve stress and help prevent further stressful episodes.
Veterinary Acupuncture This ancient practise is believed to work by stimulation of the acupoints to rectify imbalance in energy force, through channels called meridians.
Vetenarian Alice Reynolds Abbey House Veterinary Hospital
“There are varied opinions on acupuncture, I have not had much experience with it so would not be able to comment from a personal point of view. However I do know Vets who would definitely recommend acupuncture. From a medical point of view stimulation of accupoints has been proven to work, however I think it is very subjective and totally dependant on the dog.�
Key insights
Direction 1 Anxiety wraps and pressure point stress reliever could be implemented into shelters. A service could provide the wraps, or it could be a sponsorship possibility for a company.
Direction 2 Tellington ttouch is beneficial to all aspects of a dogs life not just stress relief. I think this is a really exciting route my project could potentially take. Tellington ttouch could be combined with a product to form a service.
Direction 3 Tellington ttouch could be a potential for owners to help reduce the risk of their dog becoming stressed. It makes a relationship between owner and dog stronger.
5 Product Testing
Competitive landscape
Based on most popular on amazon and pets at home. Popularity
Through a Dog’s Ear £5.00
Kong toy £5.99
Pet Remedy
Adaptil diffuser £14.45
Thundercap £15.00
£14.45
Sentry Good Behavior Cuddlin’ Companion Bedtime Bear Dog Toy £10.00
Beach Pet Rescue Remedy £15.06
Adapti £15
il collar 5.33
Please see underside of sleeve for competitive landscape for toys and product trends
Thundershirt £24.49
Sentry good Behavior Calming Pheromone Dog Collar £22.66
ICalm dog £65.00
IC Pooch £99.00
ICalm dog £120.00
Price
The market
The top competitors in the dog stress and anxiety market are: - Adpatil - Pet-eze - Pet remedy - Sentry - Thundershirt Each of the products these companies sell are often based around the dog’s five senses. - Smell - Touch - Sight - Hearing - Taste
The 5 senses
SMELL
Pet Remedy Participant: David Parkinson Name of Dog: Samson Any Stress or anxiety displayed? A little. Duration tested: 2 weeks Did it make a difference?
I think the infuser probably helps to ease a dogs transition into new environments.
Since moving into my new house Samson has had to get used to his new sleeping quarters in the garage. I think this has made him a little stressed, the evidence of this can be seen where he has scratched at the door.
There is no evidence of more scratching so it seems to have
helped. If anything at all it has helped put my mind more at ease when leaving him. However, the postman came to the door yesterday and when he knocked Samson started scratching the living room door to get out. Now I am suspicious that he scratched the garage door in as he may have heard something outside rather than because he was stressed.
I thought the infuser may help him settle at night so I plugged it in and switched it on during the night time, and when left during the day (two hours here and there if someone nipped to the shops for example).
Pet Remedy
Adaptil collar Participant: Victoria Quinn Name of Dog: Masie Any Stress or anxiety displayed? Yes, she displays stress to noise. Duration tested: 2 weeks Did it make a difference?
“I think the collar helped a little bit however she still displayed stress behaviour, especially on New Years eve with all the fireworks.�
Day 2
Adaptil collar
Day 6 (NYE)
Adaptil collar
“After using the adpatil collar for 2 weeks we noticed small changes in Masie, however when tested on new years eve she still reacted to loud noises, however not as bad as usual. Masie gets most stressed when my dad leaves the house, this time she still displayed this behaviour however she calmed down a little quicker than usual.�
TASTE
Kong Participant: Victoria Quinn Name of Dog: Masie Any Stress or anxiety displayed? Yes. Duration tested: 33 minutes
“We stuffed the kong with treats and it kept Masie entertained for over half an hour. It worked well as a distraction technique however I don’t think it would work well in stressful extremely situations.”
33 Minutes
Kong toy
TOUCH
Thundershirt Participant: Victoria Quinn Name of Dog: Jessie Any Stress or anxiety displayed? Yes. She is prone to noise and separation anxiety. Duration tested: 2 weeks Did it make a difference?
“We first tested the thundershirt out when my dad was working away, Jessie can often become agitated and upset when he leaves. We did notice a big difference she settled onto the sofa with not much fuss.�
“I really didn’t expect the thundershirt to work. However we tried it out on New years Eve with all the fireworks. Usually Jessie reacts really badly and tries to hide under the table. “
Thundershirt
“This year however she was noticeably better she sat on the sofa with us. She still showed a few signs of stress but they were noticeably reduced.�
Personal reflection
I wanted to test the products to see how effective these products really were. I know that many of the products are subjective to the dog, as every dog will react differently. However it allowed me access the dog and owners reaction to the product. A lot of owners have this preconception before trying the product that it won’t help that much so their is no need to buy it. However after trying the products the majority of owners were pleasantly surprised and would purchase the product in the future.
SIGHT and hearing Other products on the market.
Calming Cap The Calming Cap filters the dog’s vision in order to reduce the visual stimulation that the pet experiences which helps them in stressful situations.
Through a Dog’s ear Through a Dog’s Ear: classical music clinically demonstrated to calm canine listeners. Studies show these solo piano arrangements reduced anxiety behavior and induced calmness in 70 percent of dogs in shelters or kennels and 85 percent of dogs in households.
Key insights
Direction 1 Products such as Thundershirt, The Kong and Pet Remedy would be beneficial for dogs in shelters the combination of using the dog’s senses helps calm a dog down. Each product could be tested on a dog in a shelter to see which they react best to.
Direction 2 I think it would be really interesting to further develop and research into the dog’s senses and what they react to. This research showed that using all the senses can calm down a dog.
Direction 3 Toys such as The Kong toy, help keep a dog’s mind active while treating good behaviour. Treating good behaviour through means of a toy could be something I could look further into.
See testing videos:
Thundershirt
Adaptil Collar