Restlessness, what do you do about it?

causes of restlessness

Restlessness can come from stress or too much energy in both dog owners and dogs themselves. Thoughts cannot be turned off because there is continuous busyness going on in the mind. Restlessness, in most cases, is accompanied by physical symptoms.

Your dog may experience short-term but also long-term stress. For example, stress in dogs caused by fireworks, other dogs or a car ride usually does not last very long. But should a dog be stressed by the stress of the owner, his or her vacation stay at a dog boarding facility or by constantly not getting enough attention or exercise this is also reflected in the behavior. Chronic stress, in addition to being annoying, is not good for your dog’s health. Possible physical symptoms that may arise as a result of stress are urinary problems, no or little appetite, stomach and/or intestinal problems or skin problems. In addition, you can recognize stress symptoms when your dog suffers from hair loss, a dull coat, chills, diarrhea, obsessive behavior, anxiety or aggression.

Having too much energy does not have so much of a negative connotation such as a feeling of stress or anxiety. Energetic behavior is often seen as active and enthusiastic. Yet it can also lead to persistent restlessness, which can be quite annoying. The energy level of dogs depends in part on the breed of dog. But busy behavior in dogs is usually related to stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. This then explains why energetic dogs react to everything, jumping up and lying still very little.

behaviors stress & too much energy

Unruly behavior in dogs is easy to recognize. Stress in dogs can manifest itself in a variety of behaviors. As mentioned earlier, you can think of your dog not being able to stay still in the same place, he or she runs around the house all the time and actively reacts to noises or movements. If your dog keeps chasing you, keeps demanding attention, can’t get enough of playing, is hyperactive, shows demolition behavior, barks or squeals more often it could well be that your dog has too much energy.

prevent restlessness

One of the main reasons dogs experience stress or too much energy is a lack of rest. Stress hormones make sleeping more difficult. On average, a dog needs about 15 hours of sleep a day. You can try to support your stressed or energetic dog in taking this rest. Provide a quiet, nice and safe (sleeping) place.

The other solution to prevent/reduce stress or for too much energy is adequate exercise. This provides relaxation and tranquility. It is therefore recommended to take at least one long walk (1 to 1.5 hours) on a day with your dog. Yet this does not always guarantee that stress hormones are reduced or your dog’s energy needs are filled. You will need to continue to closely monitor salient behavioral traits.

A Dogmill is a dog walker that allows you to keep your dog moving and meet his or her (high) energy needs. Running on the dog treadmill is a playful activity at the same time. The length and intensity of a workout is up to your dog, as a Dogmill is non-electric. Furthermore, you don’t spend any extra time on it yourself. Do you have any questions following the blog or are you curious about our product?