Ernie, an eight-year-old Bloodhound, who stays at Treetops Pet Resort, needs lots of stimulation to remain happy while staying at the kennel.
“He’s been banned from other places because of the separation anxiety and the destruction. He gets better over time at an extremely slow pace,” says Forrest Hyslop from Treetops Pet Resort.
Dog anxiety is a common challenge both pet owners and shelters face. Whether it’s due to separation anxiety, lack of stimulation, or extended stays in shelters, dogs express their distress in different ways.
Dogs and anxiety
A 2020 study of 14,000 dogs by Scientific Reports found around 72 per cent of the dogs experienced some form of anxiety.
“There’s some dogs when they’re here for a long period of time,” Hyslop explains. “They start to express the fact that they are at their limits with being here by shredding their bed or barking more.”
Anxiety can build up and can be released in a variety of ways.
Separation anxiety is common in dogs staying at a kennel. The transition from their home to a new location or even from one caregiver to another can trigger stress.
“It can all be pretty scary for the animals. We know that this isn’t what they’re used to, and then we also know that over the next 24, 48, or 72 hours, they’re going to get used to the routine. They’re going to get to know us,” says Kathleen Dickson, an animal care and clinic services coordinator with the City of Calgary.
How to help anxious dogs
Hyslop noted that specific caregivers may make the dogs feel more comfortable, and if the handler changes, the dogs may revert to their nervous ways.
“There’s a very small chance that the dog will just not be cool with a certain person over time, and the separation anxiety, you know, it intensifies depending on who’s being the handler.”
Hyslop says dogs may become more responsive to a caregiver of the opposite sex if they aren’t calming down with him.
“Usually they respond accordingly or more positively to a different person, which can then start dissolving the separation anxiety, and then the atmosphere becomes more positive,” said Hyslop.
One effective way to address dogs’ anxiety is through socialization. Other dogs in a shelter, play yard, or home can provide much-needed distraction and support.
“It’s usually the other dogs that end up providing that distraction, the positive atmosphere,” says Hyslop.
This interaction usually provides anxious dogs with a sense of normalcy. However, certain dogs may not thrive in a group setting and require more focus from the caregiver.
Can drugs help?
Dr. Tegan Olesen, a veterinarian at the Cochrane Animal Clinic, notes that many pet owners usually seek anxiety medication for quick fixes.
“I’m finding that a lot of owners might be requesting a short-term solution for things like barking or noise phobias where they’re kind of triggered by something short-term,” says Olesen.
These short-term solutions may benefit dogs staying at a shelter for the first time, making them feel comfortable and helping them settle in.
Anxiety in dogs is a widespread issue, regardless of their background.
“We see anxiety in dogs no matter their upbringing,” says Olesen.
If socialization and medication haven’t helped with the stress, spending more time with the dogs in a kennel can help slowly dissipate the anxiety.