10 Ways You and Your Dog Can Relieve Stress Together

In today’s world, stress is common, for both humans and canines. People tend to experience stress in work situations, when they’re facing big changes or have responsibilities they find overwhelming.

Just like humans, dog often suffer from stress. The most common reasons dog experience stress include:

• Fear of being home alone
• Loud noises
• Traveling
• Visiting their veterinarian
• Being around strange people, children or other animals
• Being abused, neglected or abandoned

Signs of Stress in People

Humans often experience cognitive symptoms (memory problems, inability to concentrate, seeing only the negative or constant worrying), emotional symptoms (depression, anxiety, moodiness, feeling overwhelmed, loneliness), physical symptoms (aches and pains, stomach issues, chest pain, loss of sex drive, frequent illness) and/or behavioral symptoms (eating more or less, sleeping too much or too little, withdrawing from others, procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities, using alcohol, cigarettes or drugs to relax, nervous habits).

Often stress can creep up on you without you realizing it. You get used to it and it starts to feel normal. This is why it’s so important to find ways to relieve your stress on a regular basis.

Signs of Stress in Dogs

When your dog feels stressed, he or she may act out irrationally, such as displaying aggression or separation anxiety. Your dog cannot relieve their stress in the same ways people do, such as talking it out with a trusted friend or punching a heavy bag.

The signs of stress in dogs can be subtle. In fact, some stress-related behaviors mimic normal behaviors.

Here are some common signs of stress in dogs:

• Pacing or shaking
• Whining or barking
• Yawning, licking or drooling
• Dilated pupils and rapid blinking
• Startled appearance
• Ears pinned back
• Cowers or shifts weight to hind legs
• Shedding
• Panting
• Sudden urge to urinate
• Refuses food
• Loss of bowel function
• Avoidance behaviors (sniff the ground, lick genitals, turn away)
• Hiding or trying to escape

People Can Pass Their Stress to Their Dogs

A recent study found that dog parents can transfer their stress to their dogs. So if you’re feeling stressed, the sooner you can start to relax, the sooner your dog will too. Plus, knowing you’re helping to calm your dog can help you feel better too.

10 Ways You and Your Dog Can Lower Stress Together

1. Get exercise

The number one way to reduce stress – for both of you – is to get regular, daily exercise. Walking, playing, trips to the park; any form of physical exercise will not only reduce you and your dog’s stress level, but it will help you both live longer, healthier lives.

2. Play games

Playing games together requires you both to focus on the game at hand, helping you take your thoughts away from your stressor for a while. They help stimulate your dog mentally, which can be just as effective as physical exercise, especially games where your dog needs to work or solve a puzzle for a treat or reward.

3. Snuggle up

Snuggling under a blanket together (or use a ThunderShirt for your dog if they don’t like being under a blanket) can help produce a feeling of calm. For humans, a weighted blanket can provide extra stress relief. For canines, the ThunderShirt can help release calming hormones like oxytocin or endorphins.

4. Listen to soothing music

Listening to music can have a relaxing effect on both people and dogs, especially slow, quiet classical music. This type of music can have beneficial effects on physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure and decreasing the levels of stress hormones. Sounds of rain, thunder and nature sounds may be relaxing, particularly when mixed with other music such as light jazz, classical and easy listening.

5. Enjoy aromatherapy

While you have to be careful about which essential oils you use around your dog (citrus essential oils such as lemon and orange should not be used in a home with pets) some people and dogs find scents such as lavender produce a feeling of calm. There’s even a calming toy called the Aromadog that releases a blend of lavender essential oils into the air, helping dogs feel relaxed and happy.

6. Surround yourself with nature

A growing number of studies show visiting natural environments can reduce stress. Go hiking, camping or just spend a day at a park, by a lake or river. If you are feeling chronically stressed, try to incorporate more natural elements into your work and living space, such as plants, water fountain or aquarium.

7. Find a focusing activity

If you find yourself biting your nails or fidgeting, or your dog is exhibiting nervous habits like excessive licking or destructive chewing, try finding activities to help you both stay focused and centered. For example, you might enjoy coloring in an adult coloring book, journaling, drawing, painting, knitting, crocheting, etc. While you’re engaged in your focused activity, try giving your dog a calming chew to help them refocus their energy.

8. Take a time out

When you and your dog are feeling stressed, it can be helpful to take some time out together. Find a quiet room and just sit together. You can invite your dog to go into his or her crate, where he or she may feel safe. If you speak, be sure to use a soothing, calm tone. Try using a meditation app to cultivate a more relaxed and healthier state of mind.

9. Practice yoga

Yoga is one of the best things you can do to relieve stress. And now, you can even do yoga with your dog. There’s even a name for it – Doga. The idea is finding ways to connect with your dog while you’re doing yoga. There are lots of stretches and moves you can do that helps you slow down and build your connection with each other.

10. Pamper yourself and your dog

Grooming – both you and your dog – can be relaxing. Maybe you’d like to try a home facial, pedicure or manicure. And for your dog, a thorough grooming session might be in order. If they’re stressed, don’t force them, but if they’re calm, a grooming session done with patience and relaxing music can do wonders for both of you!

Stress is a normal part of life; just remember chronic or overpowering stress can be detrimental to both humans and canines. This is why we all need to make time in our lives to de-stress.

One of the amazing things about being a dog parent is how important they are to our emotional wellbeing. Dogs make people feel good. Many of us respond to dogs in a positive way. When we interact with our dog, oxytocin levels increase in both species. This is why dogs are wonderful to be around anytime we are feeling stressed.

How do you and your dog relieve stress together? Please share your experience in the comments below.