Have you ever noticed a sudden change in your dog’s behavior?
Maybe your usually friendly dog suddenly becomes wary of strangers. Perhaps your calm dog all of a sudden begins to act nervous and aggressive. Or maybe a happy, carefree dog begins to demonstrate the signs of depression. It’s enough to drive a dog mom crazy because, after all, all we want is for our mutts to be happy and healthy.
Today I’m sharing a few tips for addressing the onset of behavior changes in your dog, as well as some ideas for fixing the issues. Keep in mind that I am not a veterinarian; I’m just sharing my own experiences in hopes of helping dog moms who are going through similar situations with their mutts.
Socialization
Your dog might not be as socialized as she once was. Social skills are like a muscle that needs to be worked and trained, and like a muscle it can become weak if it isn’t used. You may have trained your dog well as a puppy, but long intervals of not being around other dogs and people can lead to unfamiliarity when your dog comes into a social situation. This can sometimes lead to an aggressive response, particularly if your dog feels that her territory is being challenged. It’s so important to continually socialize your dog, exposing her to different people, places, and things, and you must do this on an ongoing basis.
Home
Environment is everything, and your dog’s primary environment is her home. Could there be a trigger in the home that is affecting her behavior? Something as simple as a faulty piece of electrical equipment giving off a high pitch that only your dog hears can make a dog crazy and temperamental. It could be that their bed is infested with fleas and that you simply haven’t noticed quite yet. It might even be that your husband isn’t quite feeding her enough in an attempt to pinch pennies during a difficult financial year.
As you can see, many things could trigger an adverse reaction in your dog. Your home environment is her life, so be sure to assess and observe your dog to look for triggers.
Calm
There are many great ways to calm a nervous and anxious dog, and one that is growing in popularity is CBD treats and oil. There is a lot to know about dogs and CBD, and benefits including anxiety relief, minimizing aggression, pain management, and so many more. Take a look at the infographic below to learn more.
As always, I strongly recommend that you and your dog visit your veterinarian for regular medical care and of course any time that you’re concerned about your pet’s health and behavior.
Do you have any tried and true tips for managing behavior changes in your dog? I’d love for you to share them with me in a comment below.
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