Does your dog leap into the empty bathtub at the first sign of trouble? Or are you worried she just might eat the neighbor’s cat someday when she runs out of papers to shred and pillows to destroy? Read the new report published by My Best Bark, so you can all learn to relax!
The website, which is chock full of product reviews to make your puppy’s life just a little bit better every day, asks and answers the age-old question of all dog owners: “What on earth are you doing this for?”
Check out the article at https://mybestbark.com/is-your-dog-neurotic-understanding-dealing-with-and-helping-neurotic-dogs
My Best Bark’s new study examines both the range of causes for canine neuroses and the most effective, evidence-based treatments, including home remedies such as the use of essential oils with diffusers, behavioral training, and prescription medication.
While there is scant hard data on neuroses per se, surveys indicate that over three-quarters of dogs experience behavioral problems such as excessive barking, aggression, and anxiety. Furthermore, many studies have concluded that dogs are apt to mirror their owners’ stress. In other words, it’s probably your fault!
As My Best Bark’s article explains, while some breeds may be more genetically predisposed to neurotic behavior, factors such as socialization, hormonal imbalances, and traumatic events in the dog’s past can also play a significant role. Rescue dogs, for example, may have had an abusive owner, but a simple frightening incident as a puppy - the dog’s tail caught in a door, for example - could be a sufficient trigger for otherwise well-adjusted pets.
Neurotic dogs often display separation anxiety, a condition that afflicts up to 40% of dogs and is typically expressed in destructive behavior away from their owners. Strangers, crowds, children, and other animals may also be frightening to them. Thunder, fireworks, and other loud noises can also cause neurotic reactions.
If they don’t get enough exercise, many dogs, especially working breeds, become neurotic. Exercise releases endorphins that make your dog feel better, in addition to providing an outlet for their physical energy. If more physical stimulation does not yield the desired effect, home remedies include music therapy - classical music, for example, can have a sedating effect - and calming coats and blankets that act like swaddling clothes. Aromatherapy and supplements such as chamomile and melatonin have also been proven effective.
Home therapies often only work as a “quick fix.” A veterinarian may recommend behavior modification therapy, which gradually allows your friend to “unlearn” his or her anxieties. In more serious cases, dogs can be prescribed medication such as lorazepam.
“One thing the report makes clear is that the dog owner needs to first understand the source of the neurosis,” commented a spokesperson for My Best Bark. “It’s not one size fits all - the owner may want to mix and match different therapies to see which ones prove the most effective.”
Dealing with other people’s complaints about your dog’s behavior is frustrating when you don’t know what to do. And watching your puppy cower, seemingly inconsolable, at the sound of thunder can be heart-rending.
Go to https://mybestbark.com/is-your-dog-neurotic-understanding-dealing-with-and-helping-neurotic-dogs and find the solutions that work for you and your best friend!
