Sarah's Dog Log: Noise Sensitivity (Mild to Moderate Anxiety)
Stressed Summer. Laying flat, body tense/quaking. Head lowered more than usual. Quick pant with slightly pulled lips. Base of tail clamped down. Hyper alert with tendency to avoid gaze. Movements quick. For the new folk: before I got sick I was a dog trainer and, most importantly here, a freelance canine behaviorist (B.S. in psychology, graduate studies in both behavior and cognition) for about 14 years. This means that when people were faced with a behavioral issue in their dog - a fear, a bite, a bark - I'd go into their home, assess the situation, help them understand what was going on, and teach them how to fix the problem. I loved it. The best part was knowing that you'd walk in and most likely be putting a family back together. It's a powerful experience. It has been suggested to me that I start writing some of my dog tips out. This is my first attempt in many years. Today is the Fourth of July, so this first post is some quick and dirty information about help...