Your pup is almost one year old, can you believe it? Enjoy these last few weeks of their "under 1" status. At this stage, you might notice that your dog has abundant energy that seems to flow out of them faster than a fire hose. But here's the thing: It's time to be mindful of the fine line between excess energy and anxiety.
Just because they're bouncing off the walls doesn't necessarily mean they're having a great time. It could be a sign that they're feeling a little overwhelmed and anxious. So, how do we strike that perfect balance?
You want to provide enough exercise to keep them mentally stimulated and physically tired without overdoing it like a toddler who chugged a gallon of sugary juice at a birthday party. Keep those walks, play sessions, and mental games engaging, but also be attuned to your pup's cues. If they start showing signs of exhaustion or anxiety, take a breather and swap that game of fetch for a calming puzzle toy or a cuddle session on the couch.
The key is to be flexible, experiment with different activities, and listen to your dog's body language. Together, you'll find that magical balance where energy and anxiety meet in the sweet spot of happy & content.
This week's focus:
Burning excess energy
Canine separation anxiety
How to keep your dog occupied when you work from home
How much exercise your dog needs
Stuffed Kong recipes, and more
All That Energy
Does your pup do their best whirlwind impression at certain times of day? Or bounce off the walls when guests come to visit? All that pent-up energy can be hard to release for many dogs.
Dogs are crepuscular, meaning they tend to be most active at dawn and dusk. You might notice their "witching hour" is in the evening.
A great way to burn excess energy, whether prior to friends coming over to visit or as a response to insane zoomies from your dog, is to give them an enrichment activity to do. Now, the easiest is just grabbing a food-stuffed puzzle to work on, but enrichment is so much more than food!
Ah, the age-old question of hyper dogs versus anxious dogs: like trying to decipher if your friend had too much caffeine or is panicking over an upcoming job interview.
The key here is observation – if your pup's zipping around like a pinball and they've missed out on their usual exercise that day, it's likely just pure energy. But if you spot pacing, panting, and other restless behaviors, it could be anxiety knocking on their doggy door.
Sometimes, our dogs are a blend of energy and nerves – like drinking five shots of espresso with a side of jitters. Put on your detective hat and look for patterns, triggers, and behaviors unique to your pup. Finding the right balance of mental stimulation, physical exercise, and snuggles is the key to unlocking your dog's bliss.
If you're worried about whether your dog has separation anxiety, it's all about observation. Pay attention to their reactions when they're alone.
Having a pet camera set up makes this easy. Are you seeing excessive barking (lasting longer than 15 minutes), destructive chewing, or attempts to escape? Other symptoms can include pacing, panting, drooling, or accidents inside the house?
If you notice these behaviors consistently and your dog seems distressed, consult with a certified dog behavior consultant to work on helping them feel better about being alone.
Teaching your dog to use a treadmill can be a game-changer when it comes to exercise, especially in hot climates or times when you're not able to go outside. It provides a safe and controlled environment for your pup to get their much-needed physical activity, even when it's scorching hot outside or miserably rainy.
But treadmills aren't just set it and forget it! Start slowly, pairing just being on the treadmill with good things before slowly increasing speed. And always supervise your pup during treadmill time!
Working from Home – How to Keep Your Dog Occupied and Quiet
Ah, the joys of working from home! It can be frustrating when your dog decides they MUST be a part of your team meeting. To keep your dog quiet while you tackle those spreadsheets, it's all about creating a peaceful environment.
First, tire them out with a nice long walk or play session before you start. Then, provide engaging activities like puzzle toys, treats, or a special "work-time only" chew to keep them happily occupied. And don't forget to give them some play breaks throughout the day – it's good for them and for you!
Preventing Separation Anxiety When You Work From Home
Working from home has its perks, but it can also lead to some clingy canines. To prevent separation anxiety when you're trapped under a pile of work, gradually get your dog accustomed to being alone for short periods of time in another room.
Give them calming activities like puzzle toys or a soothing playlist of doggy spa music (science has proven dogs like soft rock and reggae), and before you know it, they'll be confident and content to nap the day away while you conquer that email inbox.
Daily exercise is a critical part of keeping your dog healthy physically and mentally. The amount varies from dog to dog but they should get at least 30 minutes a day regardless of their breed or size.
Larger, high-energy breeds tend to need more physical activity than lower-energy breeds and may need 2 hours a day to have their needs met. There are many forms of exercise, such as walking, hiking, or swimming, that your dog may love.
Even on miserable days, there are ways for your dog to exercise indoors, such as going up and down stairs, playing hide-and-seek, or even treadmill workouts. Finding one you both can enjoy is key to making it a daily routine.
Research shows that at least one anxiety-related disorder has been seen in 72.5% of all dogs. The most common across all breeds was noise sensitivity.
Understanding and learning how to recognize the signs of anxiety is an important step in helping your dog. The sooner an anxiety disorder is diagnosed, treated, and managed, the better your dog will feel.
Treatment and management involve many factors and are best done with help from a certified canine trainer and behaviorist or a veterinary behaviorist.
Want to spice up your dog's stuffed food toy routine? Try out different recipes! Not only does this increase the value of your dog's puzzle toys, but it also increases enrichment simply because it's a new taste and texture for your dog to experience.
Some dogs just can't help but inhale their food. We often assume that our dogs are being piggy, which can sometimes be the cause, but there are many others. Understanding the cause of your dog's speedy eating habit can help you find the right solution.
Slowing your dog's eating is important. When dogs eat too fast, they are at risk of choking and many will vomit, which puts them at risk of aspiration pneumonia.
There are many tricks you can try, such as adding some water, letting them eat alone, using slow-feeder bowls, as well as several others. You may need to try a few different ones till you find what works best for your dog. If there is a medical or behavioral issue causing your dog to eat quickly, it is helpful that it's properly diagnosed, treated, and managed for reasons beyond just slowing your dog's eating down.
Many dogs are sickened and killed each year after eating poisonous mushrooms. It even happened to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's dog! Depending on the type of mushroom, how much, and the length of time since your dog ate it, the signs of toxicity will vary.
Dogs find mushrooms in yards, parks, and out on hikes and walks. If your dog plays out in a yard, check the yard for mushrooms before letting them out. Mushrooms grow very rapidly and can be found in the spring, summer, and fall, as well as the winter in some climates.
If your dog eats even one mushroom, please immediately contact your vet, animal poison control, or an animal ER. The sooner you bring your pup in, the sooner treatment can begin. Delaying treatment can result in more extensive organ damage.
We've reviewed products for safety, efficacy, and durability. What we recommend is veterinary and behavior-approved.
Time to Start Giving Joint Supplements
This may come as a surprise, but it's around this time that you can start giving your dog joint supplements. In fact, 25% of dogs over 1 year old have arthritis! It jumps to 50% between ages 5 and 10. Get ahead of it now so it doesn't become a problem in the future.
If you need to slow your dog's eating down, these bowls and puzzles will help. But the added benefit is they can be used for enrichment. For example, sniffing out food in a snuffle mat can tire your pup out more than a walk around the block.
Being away from your dog can be really difficult, especially when you don't know what they're doing. Are they still crying an hour after you've left, or are they taking a nap? Pet cameras are a fantastic way to keep an eye on your fur baby so you can either enjoy your time away or catch problematic behaviors early and be able to address them.
