restlessness in dogs, what to do?
Many people know a feeling of restlessness. You have trouble in relaxing. For example, you may find it hard to (continue to) concentrate or sit still for a long time. But why is this? What makes you feel restless? Let not only humans suffer or get affected by this, but also dogs. In this blog, we will tell you more about recognisable behaviours, causes and ways to prevent or reduce your dog's restless behaviour from now on, among other things.
causes restlessness
Restlessness can arise in dog owners as well as dogs themselves from stress or too much energy. Thoughts cannot be turned off because there is continuous busyness going on in the head. Restlessness is in most cases accompanied by physical complaints.
Your dog can experience short-term but also long-term stress. For example, stress in dogs caused by fireworks, other dogs or a car journey usually does not last very long. But should a dog be stressed by the stress of his or her owner, his or her holiday stay in a dog boarding centre or by constantly getting too little attention or exercise, this can also be seen in the dog's behaviour. Chronic stress, besides being unpleasant, is also not good for your dog's health. Possible physical complaints that may develop as a result of stress are urination problems, no or little appetite, stomach and/or intestinal problems or skin problems. In addition, you can recognise stress complaints when your dog suffers from hair loss, a dull skin, chills, diarrhoea, obsessive behaviour, anxiety or aggression.
Having too much energy does not have negative connotations like feeling stressed or anxious. Energetic behaviour is often seen as active and enthusiastic. However, it can also lead to persistent restlessness, which can be very unpleasant. The energy level of dogs depends partly on the breed of dog. But busy behaviour in dogs is usually linked to stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. This explains why energetic dogs react to everything, jump up and lay still very little.
BEHAVIOURS STRESS & TOO MUCH ENERGY
Agitated behaviour in dogs is easy to recognise. Stress in dogs can manifest itself in different behaviours. As mentioned earlier, you can think of your dog not being able to stay still in one place, running around the house all the time and actively reacting to sounds or movements. If your dog keeps chasing you, keeps demanding attention, can't get enough of playing, is hyperactive, shows demolition behaviour, barks or squeals more often, it could well be that your dog has too much energy.
PREVENTING RESTLESSNESS
One of the main reasons dogs experience stress or too much energy is a lack of rest. Stress hormones make sleeping more difficult. On average, a dog needs about 15 hours of sleep a day. You can try to support your stressed or energetic dog in taking that rest. Provide a quiet, nice and safe (sleeping) place.
The other solution to prevent/reduce stress or for too much energy is sufficient exercise. This ensures relaxation and rest. It is therefore recommended to take at least one long walk (1 to 1.5 hours) on a day with your dog. Nevertheless, this does not always guarantee that stress hormones are reduced or your dog's energy needs are filled. You will need to keep a close eye on notable behavioural traits.
A Dogmill is a dog treadmill that allows you to keep your dog moving and meet his or her (high) energy needs. Running on the dog treadmill is a playful activity at the same time. Your dog can determine the length and intensity of a work-out, as a Dogmill is non-electric. Furthermore, you don't spend any extra time on it yourself. Do you have any questions following the blog or are you curious about our product?