Our stress levels can influence our behavior, relationships, productivity and ability to maintain our psychological and physical health. Stress is an important factor to help facilitate healthy motivation but too much tension can have consequences on mental and physical health. Stress functions similarly in our dogs and can influence both positive and negative behavioral outcomes. As pet parents, it is important to recognize when our canines are experiencing negative stress and how to respond to the situation. The ability to identify possible sources of canine stress paired with knowledge of its neurophysiological effects can help us better care for our canines.
Cortisol is a hormone produced in our adrenal glands which is released when the body perceives stress. It stimulates what is known as the “fight or flight” response, which causes activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This response is characterized physiologically by increased heart rate, increased respiration rate, flushed skin and dilation of pupils. Canines exhibit these same physiological hallmarks but their behavior in response to stressors can manifest in ways different from that in humans, especially since they are unable to communicate verbally with their owners. The range of behaviors they exhibit when overloaded with stress or cortisol is effectively explained by the Four F’s: fleeing, freezing, fidgeting, and fighting. The figure below lists examples of behaviors that fall under each of these categories.
The Four F’s of Fear Response
| FLEEING | FREEZING | FIDGETING | FIGHTING |
| Moving away or creeping back, Running Away, Trying to Hide, Cowering, Tucking tail, Lowering body to the ground, Pinning ears back | Immobility, Stillness, Slow walk or movement | Excessive jumping, Increased panting, Hyperactivity, Heightened distraction, Frantic play, Hypervigilance, Inability to settle down, Self-mutilation | Growling, Snarling, Barking, Lunging, Biting, Piloerection, Raised tail [stiff arc shaped over the base] |
It is important to acknowledge that these behaviors are not sequential; a canine’s patterned response does not necessarily follow an order and can deviate from these specific examples. The above examples are generalized and meant to inform pet parents of physical signs to pay attention to so that we can intervene accordingly.
While the fight or flight response is essential for adaptation and survival, sustaining this response for long periods of time adversely affects canine health. Dogs that are experiencing chronic stress may suffer from loss of appetite, weakened immune system, diarrhea, behavioral problems, exacerbated illness, and issues with urination. High levels of cortisol can cause immune suppression which weakens the ability to fight off infection or disease, and chronic high levels of cortisol can cause Cushing’s Syndrome in canines, a disorder which is a direct result of the brain overproducing the stress hormone. It most often affects older dogs leading to a myriad of symptoms such as increased thirst, increased urination, increased appetite, excessive panting coupled with decreased activity, recurrent skin issues and an enlarged abdomen.
When we are able to understand potential triggers and how to respond to them, we are better prepared to mitigate – or avoid entirely – these negative symptoms and their side effects. Some general triggers found across breeds include: loud noises (gunshots, fireworks, thunder); separation; fear of heights and surfaces; and fear of strangers. The sensitivity towards these stimuli does, however, vary by breed and individual differences (gender, age). Pet parents can manage our dogs’ stress by employing desensitization and counter training. Desensitization is the repeated but controlled exposure to a stimulus that would typically cause a fearful, anxious or negative response. It is performed at a low intensity so as not to elicit a fear response, then gradually increases until the dog is successfully desensitized. Counter-training is a method by which a dog is trained to perform a positive behavior in place of a fear-based behavior. Regardless of method, the goal in each situation is to switch the brain from a cortisol driven state-of-being to one with a dopamine-oriented drive. This occurs on a subconscious level via their correlated neurophysiological processes within the brain.
Having an awareness of this relationship and practicing healthy habits with it in mind carries high value when teaching dogs new concepts and shaping their behavior. The effects of these practices highlight the emphasis of bond building as a basis for optimal teaching strategies. If our dogs are content, confident, focused and attached to us without cortisol interfering due to outside influences, we can create a space for a learning potential that exceeds most perceptions of canine capabilities. This is particularly important in consideration to working dogs due to all the different types of environments in which they must behave appropriately. Recognizing the underlying drivers of behavior and using them advantageously raises the ceiling in regards to what we and our dogs can be capable of.
This combination of teaching applies to all parts of a dog’s life. We must monitor expectations for our pups and their reactions, keeping their emotions and stress levels in mind, if we want to achieve the best results possible and create a happy and functional human and canine team!
