Oh, those wild and crazy dogs and puppies! How we love their energy, but regret the repercussions of all that arousal! Tugging on clothes, biting the leash, chewing everything in sight, and good old-fashioned body-slamming akin to WWF Wrestling are some of the more common complaints brought to behaviorists and trainers. Many other dogs end up being surrendered to shelters because their guardians can’t cope with their “unmanageable” behaviors.

These wild antics are often labeled “impulse control” issues or even impulse aggression, but are they really as simple as that? Are these dogs so “out of control” that they can’t calm down and relax? Why is it that when good-intentioned dog parents exercise their antsy canines more, they seem even more impulsive? What’s going on?

The answer is often stress. Although many dog seem to “have it made” with their comfy homes and fancy beds, not to mention being fed, walked, fluffed, and pampered beyond the dreams of many humans, they can still suffer from stress. Thankfully, animal stress is now being studied in greater depth. Science is learning more about how stress (good and bad) can affect animals, while behaviorists and trainers are beginning to understand that many impulse control behaviors might actually be stress-related.

What is stress?
Stress comes in two forms: good stress, such as when you are newly in love or starting an exciting new job, and bad stress, which is brought on by fear, worry or anger. Either way, the sympathetic nervous system releases adrenaline and other chemicals into the bloodstream, causing the heart, lungs and blood pressure to “stand on the gas” and get ready to take action. When this happens, other things start to shut down. Digestion is slowed or inhibited, the immune system is depressed, and even growth, as in a puppy, can be stymied to conserve energy in case he needs to flee or fight. This same process also happens during aroused play.

What are the signs of stress in dogs?
Common indicators of stress often include red eyes, panting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, sweaty paws, muscle tightness, drooling, shivering, vomiting, and drinking excess water, to name just a few. Dogs will also display behaviors that express anxiety, including biting the leash, jumping on people, reactivity towards people or other dogs, pacing, digging, barking, and excessive tail wagging. It’s easy to mistake many of these signs for impulse control issues, or even over-friendliness. Unchecked, however, they become learned behaviors. Helping dogs learn how to “unwind” requires behavior modification and training, together with a good stress reduction plan that includes lifestyle and environmental changes.