Relevant: https://youtu.be/LoEotny5_jI?t=95
Anxious dogs, like anxious people, need help managing and reducing distress
31–40 of 104 posts
Re: Anxious dogs, like anxious people, need help managing and reducing distress
#32> If evidence suggests that many dogs, like many humans, misbehave because they are struggling with emotions and anxiety, why do so many pet owners and trainers look to punishment as the solution, rather than addressing the emotions directly? Same reason why so many people do the same to children - they're set in their views and are unwilling accept that they might be wrong. Also, it's less work (at lesst in the shor…
As a parent who has had to do a bunch of this work, I think a big missing piece in much of the dialogue around it is understanding how exactly the “gentle” style of engagement isn’t just indulging, tolerating, excusing, and even rewarding bad behaviour. The official word is that adopting a gentle and emotionally aware stance has to be paired with a strong sense of boundaries, but it’s often very unclear how to differ…
I think what the OP was getting at is perfectly exemplified in this comment. A person who is set in their ways and unable to comprehend the emotional state of another being, just viewing the resulting behaviors as purely "bad"
Re: Anxious dogs, like anxious people, need help managing and reducing distress
#33Is there a direct connection between falling birth rates and treating animals as if they were beloved children? It seems like these animals evolutionary strategy is akin to that of the cuckoo bird.
The film Children of Men missed this part from the book, which is regrettable because it was such an interesting little world building piece.
Re: Anxious dogs, like anxious people, need help managing and reducing distress
#34> If evidence suggests that many dogs, like many humans, misbehave because they are struggling with emotions and anxiety, why do so many pet owners and trainers look to punishment as the solution, rather than addressing the emotions directly? Same reason why so many people do the same to children - they're set in their views and are unwilling accept that they might be wrong. Also, it's less work (at lesst in the shor…
As a parent who has had to do a bunch of this work, I think a big missing piece in much of the dialogue around it is understanding how exactly the “gentle” style of engagement isn’t just indulging, tolerating, excusing, and even rewarding bad behaviour. The official word is that adopting a gentle and emotionally aware stance has to be paired with a strong sense of boundaries, but it’s often very unclear how to differ…
The idea that asking someone how they are feeling is an "emotional deep dive" is a portion of the problem. Asking a family member how they are feeling should not be considered an in-depth activity.
Re: Anxious dogs, like anxious people, need help managing and reducing distress
#35> If evidence suggests that many dogs, like many humans, misbehave because they are struggling with emotions and anxiety, why do so many pet owners and trainers look to punishment as the solution, rather than addressing the emotions directly? Same reason why so many people do the same to children - they're set in their views and are unwilling accept that they might be wrong. Also, it's less work (at lesst in the shor…
> Same reason why so many people do the same to children - they're set in their views and are unwilling accept that they might be wrong There are plenty who believe that withdrawing privileges is an entirely normal and appropriate response when children misbehave. This isn't punishment, although some children consider it to be.
Actually, it's the definition of punishment: inflicting or imposing penalties as retribution for an offense. Withdrawing privileges is an imposed penalty. idk if it's appropriate or not, but it's objectively punishment not just an opinion children have.
Re: Anxious dogs, like anxious people, need help managing and reducing distress
#36I love dogs, but aren't there bigger issues in this world that we should focus on first? Millions of children on this planet are malnourished or suffering because of wars, climate change or just bad government. Is it ethical to pay a fortune for magnetic brain stimulation of your dog, if somewhere else in the world several people's lives could be saved with that money?
This is whataboutism at its finest. You aren't wrong that there are other problems. Do you really think that a pet owner taking better care of their dog instead is going to make an impact on child hunger thousands of miles away?
If everyone that read your comment decided to donate, it might.
Re: Anxious dogs, like anxious people, need help managing and reducing distress
#37My older dog was a stray as a puppy and we give her fluoxetine(commonly called Prozac) to help with anxiety. Even after years of training we have issues with trying to walk her during daylight because she crumbles in fear. Our other dog being present gives her some confidence but they both also react more to other dogs when they think they have to protect the other, so it's a daily struggle.
Vets give Prozac to dogs?
Of all the medications that we've gotten for our dogs over the years, the Prozac has also been one of the cheapest. That's without any pet insurance.
Re: Anxious dogs, like anxious people, need help managing and reducing distress
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is whataboutism at its finest. You aren't wrong that there are other problems. Do you really think that a pet owner taking better care of their dog instead is going to make an impact on child hunger thousands of miles away?
If everyone that read your comment decided to donate, it might.
No chance. Donating is not a solution to world hunger.
Re: Anxious dogs, like anxious people, need help managing and reducing distress
#39My older dog was a stray as a puppy and we give her fluoxetine(commonly called Prozac) to help with anxiety. Even after years of training we have issues with trying to walk her during daylight because she crumbles in fear. Our other dog being present gives her some confidence but they both also react more to other dogs when they think they have to protect the other, so it's a daily struggle.
Vets give Prozac to dogs?
You can legally give a dog or most animals pretty much anything so long as you remain in compliance with prevention of animal cruelty laws. You can get medication at a farmer's market or similar that'd be highly regulated for human consumption, so long as it is marked appropriately.
Re: Anxious dogs, like anxious people, need help managing and reducing distress
#40This is very coincidental with PJ Vogt new podcast "Search Engine", they released a preview episode in the last days titled "How Sad Are Monkeys In The Zoo" [1] that tackles this problem of animal emotions. I was very surprised to learn that most animals in Zoos are on constant anti-depression and anti-anxiety prescriptions.
https://pjvogt.substack.com/p/welcome-to-search-engine
Edit: typo