Arousal p2

Author: Denise Partlow

Instagram: @modernk9 Carolinas

One thing that’s important to understand is the reaction your dog decides to have, when they’re highly aroused, may not ever go away but what you can do is help them so that they don’t become aroused in the first place.

If you feel like your dog experiences high levels of arousal often, the first thing to do is check with their vet to be sure there are no medical concerns and it’s also a good idea to look into your dog’s nutritional needs to make sure their diet is meeting those needs.

Then familiarize yourself with your dog’s breed(s). It will help you to have a little bit more compassion and understanding of what your dog is going through. There are many breeds out there that it’s actually in their DNA to react this way, such as your bully, guardian, and herding breeds. They were designed to act on a moment’s notice or to alert at the first sign of danger. This often makes it difficult for the modern day dog owner to manage their dog’s behavior.

Next I would also reflect on your dog’s daily routine. Are they getting an appropriate amount of physical activity & mental stimulation? Both of these can lower arousal levels. It also puts the dog in a state that allows for learning to take place. But it’s also possible to do too much. Make sure that it’s a healthy amount and that your dog isn’t constantly being exposed to exciting activities on a daily basis.

The next post will talk about what you can add into your training to help your dog lessen their arousal levels.