Keeping Both You and Your Dog Free of Stress

By Don Hanson, PCBC-A, BFRAP

< A version of this article was published in the September 2025 issue of Downeast Dog News>

< Updated 2025-09-01 >

< The link to this page –   https://forcefreepets.com/youdogstressfree/ >

I recently wrote about my dog Muppy being diagnosed with bladder cancer and how I believe it is essential for me to maintain a positive outlook so as to help her maintain her current joy of life. This article offers some suggestions on how you can keep your lives as stress-free as possible.

Our dogs are keenly aware of our emotional state due to their ability to read our facial expressions and body language and detect our mood based on the tone of our voice. They also know how we feel based on changes in our scent when we are fearful, sad, or happy. FMI – How Your Dog Can Tell How You Feel & How It Affects Their Behavior – https://forcefreepets.com/how-your-dog-can-tell-how-you-feel/

We know our dogs can have a bond with us, and that means when we’re feeling down, it can negatively impact them. Likewise, our being happy can bring great joy to our dogs. Having a positive outlook greatly benefits our health and that of our pets.

You are responsible for making your dogs’ lives the best they can be. Your dog’s quality of life is directly under your control, not theirs. It is all your responsibility, and it is no small task. The most important thing you can do is to keep both your lives as stress-free as possible.

These are some of the things you can do to minimize your dog’s stress.

• Ensure you are meeting your dog’s physical, mental, and emotional needs. In my article on Brambell’s Five Freedoms, I address how you can use them to ensure you are meeting all of your dog’s needs. FMI – https://forcefreepets.com/brambells-five-freedoms/
• Know how your dog communicates stress and discomfort. Dogs are primarily visual communicators, so understanding their body language and behavior is essential to helping keep them comfortable. These are all things that should be covered in dog training classes for both puppies and older dogs. If your trainer is not covering this material, ask why or find another trainer. You can also find many resources on canine body language and communication on my blog at https://forcefreepets.com/resources-on-canine-body-language-communication/
• Avoid known stressors. Just like us, our dog may have things that almost always cause them stress. If walking by a particular house does that, avoid that house. If using the vacuum cleaner is a stressor, one of you should take the dog for a walk while the other vacuums. If disagreements between family members upset the dog, ask those family members to take things off-site when they are arguing. Pain can also cause stress, and dogs can be very good at hiding their discomfort. If your dog is continually acting irritable and stressed, a visit to the veterinarian is in order. If another pet causes your dog stress, talk to your veterinarian or an accredited pet behavior consultant.
• Maintain your dog’s usual routine. Keep your dog’s life as predictable as possible. If your dog is stressed or ill, that is not the time to change when and what you feed, or what you do together. It is also not a time to bring another pet or person into your home.
• Make sure your dog gets adequate rest. Healthy dogs can easily sleep between 14 and 17 hours per day. Make sure your dog gets the rest they need.
• Moderation in physical exercise is good! If your dog is wound up and hyper much of the time, they may be getting too much stimulation at the dog park, daycare, or even playing fetch. Moderation in those activities is essential. Too much physical exercise is as bad as too little. Remember, one of the best and most natural activities for our dog is to take a meandering walk with lots of opportunities to stop and sniff. FMI – Walking the Dog–Please Make It Enjoyable for Your Dog! – https://forcefreepets.com/walking-the-dog-please-make-it-enjoyable/
• Take care of yourself – If you are stressed for any reason, your dog will know. Your feeling out of sorts may also impede your ability to take care of your dog and other pets. Whether you seek professional counseling or talk to a family member or friend, please ask for help. Also, eat right, exercise, and ensure you are sleeping well.
• Do things you like to do together. Whether it’s going for a walk, playing, snuggling, or any combination, continue to do the things you and your dog both enjoy.