Dynamite News
Common household noises may be stressing your dog, says study
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have found that people may not recognize that their dog is stressed when exposed to common household noises.
Washington: Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have found that people may not recognize that their dog is stressed when exposed to common household noises.
The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
While it's well-established that sudden loud noises, such as fireworks or thunderstorms, commonly trigger a dog's anxiety, a new study finds even common noises, such as a vacuum or microwave can be a trigger.
The research found that high-frequency, intermittent noises such as the battery warning of a smoke detector are more likely to cause dog anxiety, rather than low-frequency, continuous noise.
"We know that there are a lot of dogs that have noise sensitivities, but we underestimate their fearfulness to noise we consider normal because many dog owners can't read body language," said lead author Emma Grigg, a research associate and lecturer at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
Some common signs of a dog's anxiety include cringing, trembling, or retreating, but owners may be less able to identify signs of fear or anxiety when behaviors are more subtle. For example, stressed dogs could pant, lick their lips, turn their head away or even stiffen their body. Sometimes their ears will turn back, and their head will lower below their shoulders. Grigg suggests owners better educate themselves on anxiety-related behavior.
"Dogs use body language much more than vocalizing and we need to be aware of that. We feed them, house them, love them and we have a caretaker obligation to respond better to their anxiety," said Grigg. (ANI)