I actually did, just the other day, shake my whole body after going through a tough moment because I was inspired by how good Ginger is getting at self-regulating her hard emotions! It’s amazing how much they teach us when we’re paying attention and willing to learn, isn’t it?! I love this piece, Chloe! Thank you for sharing it!
I recently adopted an 8 year old female dog who has been in 3 homes before me. We are working on not turning into demon dog during walks and when looking out of her favorite window. She yawns a huge yawn after calming down. She’s improving everyday but still needs to yawn away her stress occasionally.
Oh yes, yawning is 100% another way dogs express and dispel their stress! Best of luck to you and your pup. I was also home number four for my first little guy Sammy, and he StRuGgLeD for a long while to feel safe and comfortable.
Great article, Chloe. I actually have tried to shake off before. Just a loose jiggling of my body, limbs floppy. I wouldn't say it burns energy like a burst of movement, but it usually shifts my mood.
Shaking it off as easily as my dog does, sounds wonderful. If only. I had a tense morning and just now took my Gretta for a walk. It helped. Regarding barking; my former dog Layla was a wild maniac on walks and her bark was a completely unique awful sound. Sounded like she was in pain, made everyone look. I was mortified. The vet even said he’d never heard such a sound.
Oh man, that sounds like a lot to handle! My sheltie Sammy had what I called an ice pick bark: short, sharp, and ear-piercing. I can’t tell you how many times I spilled my morning coffee on myself because of it.
Yes, breathing can also be really instrumental in notifying our fight or flight that the situation is safe and it can turn off now. And Pants thanks you for the compliment!
I love this!! Horses will do this, too, and sometimes will even do down on the ground and roll, which gets bonus points for grounding at the same time!
Enlightening. I can identify a a human easily stressed and as the recent rescuer (with my husband) of an endearing mutt who carries more trauma than expected. While sweet-natured, she barks and growls at little things and goes ballistic at the sight of people who remind her of tormentors. I've heard that dogs can be taught to shake. Ours might benefit from the teaching.
This is a BRILLIANT idea. I’m also working on teaching Pants to shake it off on command (using the capture method), but that’s more to get her to shake all the water off her fur when I bathe her, not so much to complete her stress cycle. If you do this with Chica, let me know what you notice - I’m super curious!
It’s an interesting training method where you just wait for your dog to do the thing you want them to do, name the thing, and reward. You’re catching them in the act, or capturing. It’s how I taught Pants to pee on command lol.
Deep breathing is often the first thing we're taught to dissipate tension, but it does take quite a bit of time, doesn't it? That's why I prefer the idea of shaking it off - it's more dynamic and works faster. I hope it helps!
Love this one! So well said. The comparison to a dog "shaking it off" is a perfect analogy. Humans often fail to let things go that are not actually a threat. I teach this to my patients every day!
It really resonates with people, doesn’t it? I love helping people realize that just because their brain says it’s a lion, doesn’t mean it’s ACTUALLY a lion.
Such a great perspective…I’ve never thought about this when my rescue flips her switch haha
Thank you, and thanks for reading!
I actually did, just the other day, shake my whole body after going through a tough moment because I was inspired by how good Ginger is getting at self-regulating her hard emotions! It’s amazing how much they teach us when we’re paying attention and willing to learn, isn’t it?! I love this piece, Chloe! Thank you for sharing it!
I recently adopted an 8 year old female dog who has been in 3 homes before me. We are working on not turning into demon dog during walks and when looking out of her favorite window. She yawns a huge yawn after calming down. She’s improving everyday but still needs to yawn away her stress occasionally.
Oh yes, yawning is 100% another way dogs express and dispel their stress! Best of luck to you and your pup. I was also home number four for my first little guy Sammy, and he StRuGgLeD for a long while to feel safe and comfortable.
Oooo trying this tomorrow!
Let me know how it goes!
Great article, Chloe. I actually have tried to shake off before. Just a loose jiggling of my body, limbs floppy. I wouldn't say it burns energy like a burst of movement, but it usually shifts my mood.
That sounds like a wiggle party, I love it!
This has such double merit - i get to understand my dog better and I get to help myself be a better balanced human for my dog ...and for me.
Oh wow, thanks! I appreciate you saying that!
Shaking it off as easily as my dog does, sounds wonderful. If only. I had a tense morning and just now took my Gretta for a walk. It helped. Regarding barking; my former dog Layla was a wild maniac on walks and her bark was a completely unique awful sound. Sounded like she was in pain, made everyone look. I was mortified. The vet even said he’d never heard such a sound.
Oh man, that sounds like a lot to handle! My sheltie Sammy had what I called an ice pick bark: short, sharp, and ear-piercing. I can’t tell you how many times I spilled my morning coffee on myself because of it.
Pants is a cutie. We can learn so much from our dogs. Instead of shaking breathing can do the trick.
Yes, breathing can also be really instrumental in notifying our fight or flight that the situation is safe and it can turn off now. And Pants thanks you for the compliment!
I love this!! Horses will do this, too, and sometimes will even do down on the ground and roll, which gets bonus points for grounding at the same time!
NO WAY. This is so cool, I had no idea!
Enlightening. I can identify a a human easily stressed and as the recent rescuer (with my husband) of an endearing mutt who carries more trauma than expected. While sweet-natured, she barks and growls at little things and goes ballistic at the sight of people who remind her of tormentors. I've heard that dogs can be taught to shake. Ours might benefit from the teaching.
This is a BRILLIANT idea. I’m also working on teaching Pants to shake it off on command (using the capture method), but that’s more to get her to shake all the water off her fur when I bathe her, not so much to complete her stress cycle. If you do this with Chica, let me know what you notice - I’m super curious!
Guess it’s time to find out what the capture method is.
It’s an interesting training method where you just wait for your dog to do the thing you want them to do, name the thing, and reward. You’re catching them in the act, or capturing. It’s how I taught Pants to pee on command lol.
That is how the instructor in Chica’s first class taught her dog to shake on command.
This was great Chloe …and congrats on all of the new subscribers, that is amazing!!
Thank you!
Thank you Pants. I have been doing deep breathing but it takes a long time for that tension to dissipate. So I am thinking of other options now.
Deep breathing is often the first thing we're taught to dissipate tension, but it does take quite a bit of time, doesn't it? That's why I prefer the idea of shaking it off - it's more dynamic and works faster. I hope it helps!
Love this one! So well said. The comparison to a dog "shaking it off" is a perfect analogy. Humans often fail to let things go that are not actually a threat. I teach this to my patients every day!
It really resonates with people, doesn’t it? I love helping people realize that just because their brain says it’s a lion, doesn’t mean it’s ACTUALLY a lion.