"Mine dog every time I get home it is overjoyed to see me, jump on me, bark and run around me. You can see that he is happy and that he loves me. "
This speech is a common thought of many owners who have a when they return home clash with your dog. But it's true? Is the dog really showing a positive emotional state in this way?
Unfortunately not always restlessness is synonymous with happiness, often instead it is a manifestation of a emotional distress that makes us agitated.
But let's go into detail:
Because many dogs meet them on arrival say hi to him calmly and others not? If we could get into head of a dog we could read his thoughts in that situation. A quiet dog might think "Hello you came back let me feel what new smells you have, where have you been who you met .." fear I thought you would never come back .. "
Many times a dog that greets in this way shows other signs of discomfort even in everyday life, in other contexts and situations; for example, he always follows us around the house, constantly looking for a physical contact o visual with us, he is insecure in new situations or does not understand; or live there everyday always in restless manner, jump, run, bite, destroy. In the first case, jumping on and being agitated on our return could be signs of an anxious state of our dog, in the second case instead they could be one difficulty managing your emotions and a lack of self-control.
When the dog behaves this way and we stop at cuddle e blow it up on the doorstep while he jumps on us, we are confirming this his unease (we are telling him that it is good to be agitated and worried) because we are considering our return as an event and not as a normal thing (we are emphasizing and focusing on that situation). While in fact we should to come in quietly at home wait for the dog to calm down and then give our attention gratifying him, as if we said "Quiet is a normal thing that happens and will happen every day, see how I live it normally and calmly?"
And when do we leave the house and leave it alone?
Same thing sometimes happens when usciamo e we leave the dog at home alone with him who starts to get excited and complain because our preparation to go out anticipates the fact that then he will be alone. Often his behavior feeds our guilt feelings leave him alone and then also in this case we involuntarily frame this situation by trying to reassure the dog that we will return soon, that nothing will happen and be good. All with a feeling of anxiety that can cause a increased discomfort in the dog instead of a relaxation. Again a quiet behavior and a normal greeting they will help the dog understand that the situation he is experiencing is back to normal and that nothing serious will happen.
If you have been familiar with these situations and want to learn more, ask advice to a veterinarian doctor experienced in behavior to better understand the severity of the problem and find out what to do to help the dog and the whole family system to better live their relationship.
Dr. Luca Calderisi
Veterinary Physician expert in Behavioral Medicine
photo: patti haskins, Enrico Alone.
