Doggie Stress… Is it Yours?
By Elizabeth Anne Johnson.
Did you know that your own personal stress creates stress in your dogs?
Yes, your stress is their stress.
Even on the subtlest level your dog senses the cloud of stress molecules you might be off gassing at any given moment. They are the ultimate biofeedback system for us. All dogs have an innate ability to molecularly, biochemically, and vibrationally hone in on “who we are” under all sorts of circumstances.
The dog’s scent trigger recognition of our stress molecules is a natural part of a service dog’s capability along with their extensive training as a young dog. From seizures to illness to emotions, these dogs, as well as our own dogs, are “scentinels” for our body, mind, and spirit stress.
Sadly, stress is a daily part of human life, and our dogs learn to tolerate certain levels of our stress. When our personal stress threshold gets high, our dogs may look at us like we are an alien. We may see worry in their eyes, or behaviors like panting, pacing, protection that can turn into aggression, and sometimes fear. We can also see heroic acts and a glue-like behavior during physical stress or potential danger even before we know what is happening. How often has your dog cuddled up to you or asked for hugs just as you were getting stressed?
In the Five Element personality patterns we can see how each dog shows us this amazing biofeedback. Each element archetype has a unique stress response. How each element’s primary archetype reacts to stress is consistent – whether it is your stress or their stress.
Wood element archetypes are protective and can turn that protection into aggression towards whatever or whoever is stressing you or themselves. They will also often “alert” bark – we call it “ghost barks”- which feels like a release of the tension and stress energy.
Fire Dogs can turn into a panic situation, that can often create separation anxiety behaviors. Excessive barking, licking, panting, jumping, are stress movements that can be part of their response. Think of a warm cozy fire turning into a raging forest fire…
Earth Dog archetypes are the worriers. Panting, pacing, watching, following closely. Even though they are devoted they will look for something that soothes them and you, like treats, cuddles, or pets.
Metal will stay very close to you if your stress is born of fear, illness, or injury. They are trustworthy stewards always on task for a purpose. If there is a trust issue between handler and their dog their stress will show that mistrust and an apathy that is akin to grief behaviors. They may become non-responsive to training and show a rigidity.
Water may slink away from you and look frightened if there is a loud, high stress level. However, many water dogs will be gently protective of you and watchful if you injure yourself, are ill, or are tearful. They are the quintessential empaths and strongly feel everything you feel.
Chronic long-term stress within the household or within ourselves can create imbalances for us all. Our own personal stress commonly ends in chronic stress and illness in our dogs. We all have a loving responsibility to acknowledge this and work to change our own stress level and tolerance. So, taking care of ourselves is caring for our dogs as well.
Archetypal feedback is our dog’s way of caring for us as well as themselves. Their stress signals are a beacon for us to pay attention to. Stress signals from our dogs can also show us that their needs and wants are not being met. (see November’s Happy Healthy Dog Needs & Wants Article). Having their needs and wants met goes a long way for the dog’s personal well-being.
Can it go a long way for you as well?
Smile, wag your tail, go for walkies and sing once in a while!
Life is Good, Balance is Better
Elizabeth Anne Johnson has been working with the health and wellness of small, large, exotic animals, and wildlife for 35 years as an animal healer, veterinary technician, and wildlife biologist/rehabilitator. She is the author of Know Your Dog’s True Nature, Understanding Canine Personality through the Five Elements, vice-president of Global Wildlife Resources, and a TEDx Speaker.
ElizabethAnneJohnson.com
