Similar programs have been used all over the world to make shelter life for dogs more comfortable and aid in their speedy adoptions. The kennel walls are sprayed with a different scent each day to stimulate their olfactory senses. Each day a different sound will be played in the CD player to stimulate their auditory senses.
Sometimes it will be the sound of rain falling in the forest, birds calling, or even some classical Mozart! Dog toys are rotated each day as well so that each dog will experiences something new to interact with, at least on a daily basis. This is an effort to introduce novelty into their environment and keep them thinking. After all, you can only get excited about a slobber filled tennis ball so long.
In addition; for one meal each day the dogs will be fed out of different feeding dispensers in order to trigger their natural scavenger instincts, to work for food. This video shows a stressed dog performing repetitive behaviors: frequent jumping up at the bars of his cage and spinning.
This video shows a dog demonstrating aggressive behavior toward people who walk by or stop at her kennel. Stress may occasionally cause a normally non-aggressive dog to behave aggressively. There is a significant body of research that highlights the negative effects of kennel time even on highly trained dogs.
Each of the dogs had been police trained and were involved in active duty. The researchers found that when the dogs spent time in their kennels after their working day was done, they quickly became stressed and exhibited signs of mental illness such as repeatedly bouncing from the wall, pacing, spinning, and continued walking around their kennel. The results indicate that for some dogs, separation from humans can cause severe psychological and behavioral reactions, affecting mental and physical health.
If the situation arises where you have to travel and you cannot find a pet sitter for your dog, here are some tips for finding the best boarding kennel and prepare your dog.
It includes additional tips for reducing anxiety and worry on both sides of the fence. If you have just got your dog home from boarding kennels and notice changes in his behaviour , then check the following signs of kennel stress.
If boarding was stressful for your dog, then shaking is one of the most obvious signs to look for. Many mammals shake when nervous, and dogs are no different. High levels of adrenaline can therefore lead to muscles twitching uncontrollably, making us shake when scared.
Dogs communicate with behaviors, so aside from their body language, the other way they have of showing they are stressed is by vocalization.
Stress whining will often come in combination with other signs of anxiety including cowering, ear flat to the head, and a tail between the legs. Nervous dogs tend to lick themselves and drool when anxious. They can also yawn more than usual too. Looking startled is a key indicator for stress, as well as the eyes appearing to be dilated with a rapid blinking motion. Canine anxiety will often show with ears flattened to the head versus their normal appearance.
Is your dog cowering from you? Does he appear scared after a boarding visit? If so, this obvious change in body language is a huge indicator of boarding kennel stress in dogs.
As well as cowering and fearful body positions, you might also see them shifting their weight from leg to leg and tucking their tail between their legs. Hair loss due to stress can also be a by-product or your dog pawing or scratching at himself which they will often do when anxious about something. The Spruce Pets website says:. Many dogs will pant when they experience fear, anxiety, or stress.
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