7 Ways to manage your own stress when helping your reactive dog

Ever been told your anxiety is making your reactive dog worse? You’ll frequently hear people suggesting your dog will pick up your stress and you should just stay calm! You can’t just switch off anxiety, if only, so what can you do about that? Here are seven ways to manage your own stress when helping your reactive dog.

1.Make a plan

Having a plan to follow gives you some control back; knowing what you have to do when you spot your dogs trigger is a great stress reliever. Plus, you’ll have something to focus on that isn’t the potential reaction. Even if it doesn’t work, just the fact that you are trying can really help you to feel less stressed. Using a clicker can be really useful – check out the video below for more about how to do that!

2.Expect the worst

We find our dogs unpredictable because we wait to see how they are going to respond. We are often too optimistic and hope things will be fine. When they aren’t, we get frustrated. Instead, make a list of everything that MIGHT trigger your dog and assume he will be triggered – every time. Initiate your plan regardless of what he does, or how he reacts, and be surprised when he does a good job.

3.Make more space

Making space between you and your dogs trigger isn’t just good for his stress levels, it’s good for yours too. Your dog will stay calmer, and so will you. You can work on reducing the distance later!

4.Don’t go down alleys and narrow paths

If making space is a good stress reliever, then definitely don’t go down narrow paths where you might get trapped. Also look out for tight corners, alleyways that open onto the path your are walking on, shop doors, and driveways! It’s ok to cross the road, give them a wide berth, or even get a friend to run ahead to scout the area.

5.Don’t look

Just like your dog, when you look at your their trigger you’ll start to worry, and the more you look, the more stressed you will become. When you have a good plan though, you will be less tempted to look as you’ll be focusing on your own dogs body language. But until then, distract yourself with something else and look away until the trigger is passed.

6.Make yourself smile (or laugh)

Laughing and smiling is a great way to release tension so it works as an outlet and stops . Singing a silly song in your head (or out loud, if you like) can make a big difference. Something like “happy birthday”, “crazy frog”, “Benny Hill” or the theme from Scooby Doo might work. Alternatively, “just keep swimming” from Finding Nemo or “Baby Shark” might work for you too. Failing that listen to your favourite comedians podcast for some giggles, instead.

7.Take a friend

Having someone to come along is a great stress reliever. Plus you’ll feel more confident with an ally! And, you can make each other laugh and smile if things go wrong. You can also use them to look ahead at hidden entrances and they can run interference if a uninvited, but friendly, dog comes over to say hello.

Do you have a strategy of your own? I would love to hear about it, let me know in the comments…