Stress in Dogs – Causes, Analysis, Measures

To survive, animals – including dogs and humans – must be able to adapt to changes in their bodies and the environment. They must perceive and process relevant stimuli, make the right decisions, and translate these into behavior as quickly as possible, which sometimes literally decides between life and death.

The neurobiological mechanisms that have evolved over time often no longer fit the modern living conditions of our dogs. For example, stress is often triggered today in situations where there is nothing for dogs to fear and where fighting does more harm than good. This stress can become chronic and often leads to physical and psychological illnesses.

Nadin Matthews provides a practical overview of causes, analysis, and measures.

Robert Mehl explains which (neuro-)biological aspects play a role in the stress response. The neurobiological antagonists are also examined, i.e., the parts of the brain that dampen the stress response and promote relaxation. This makes it understandable why and how the presented measures work.
In addition, we discuss the protective factors that influence stress tolerance and how dogs can be strengthened from puppyhood to resist stress-related illnesses (resilience factors).

The webinar summarizes the phenomenon of stress and provides guidance on how dogs can learn to cope with it better with the support of their owners.