Heather’s Happy Dogs: Weekly walk photos, and fear vs anxiety: is it truly a choice?

Happy Walks for Happy Dogs

Big sigh of relief at the cooler temperatures this week, so we could get a bit more variety in our walks, enjoying the beautiful meadows.

SPOT THE DOG : can you find the second dog in the last photo?!

Cartoon drawing of a lion chasing a person

Always Learning – fear vs anxiety: is it truly a choice?

This week, I have been reflecting on the difference between fear and anxiety. Fear is a primary emotion that is very useful at keeping us safe from danger. For example, being scared of lions will stop us trying to stroke one! Anxiety is a secondary emotion, being scared of feeling fear. For example, being anxious about going into a cave in case we get scared by a lion. Because fear is a stronger emotion, it will override anxiety. In the example, we may run into the cave because there is a lion outside. Does this mean that we have happily chosen to go into the cave?

We can translate this into considering whether our dogs are truly making a choice, or being forced into one. A dog who is anxious about a new building might still enter it if they are more afraid of being shouted at. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they are happy to go inside.

How can we be sure that it is a true choice? Instead of addressing anxiety with traditional authoritarian methods (stern voice, slip leads, etc), truly listen to your dog and support them to overcome their anxiety with patience and empathy. Your relationship will be all the stronger for it.

How do we recognise anxiety ?

Don’t forget that my February leaflet, Dog Language of Love, explains how our dogs communicate through body language, including signs of anxiety.

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Heather

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