Dog Pacing – Why It Happens and How to Help Your Pacing ...

According to Dr. Ochoa, pacing in dogs is generally caused by stress or anxiety. However, sources of anxiety and stress could be a variety of things: trips to ... Skiptocontent DigitalEdition CustomerService GiveaGift PhotoContestVoting Menu DigitalEdition CustomerService GiveaGift PhotoContestVoting Bookstore Subscribe GiveaGift DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds Bookstore SubscribetoDogsterMagazine Menu DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds Bookstore SubscribetoDogsterMagazine Search Searchfor: Search Searchfor: DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds DigitalEdition CustomerService MyAccount Menu DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds DigitalEdition CustomerService MyAccount HomeDogHealth&CareDogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog Photo:VincentScherer/GettyImages DogHealth&Care DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog Isyourdogpacingfrequently?Findoutwhatcanbecausingyoudoganxietyandstress. By StephanieOsmanski , March9,2020 Shareonfacebook Facebook Shareontwitter Twitter Shareonlinkedin LinkedIn Shareonpinterest Pinterest Shareonemail Email Justhowpacinginhumansisoftenassociatedwithrestlessnessoranxiety,dogsmightbeginpacingiffeelinganxiousorexperiencingstress.Inmostcases,dogpacingisnotaserioushealthissue—rather,merelyabehavioralresponsetogeneralnervousnessoranxiety. “Whenadogpacestheyareusuallywalkingbackandforthfromonespottoanother,”saysDr.SaraOchoa,DVM. “Sometimestheywilljustbewalkingaroundthehousewithoutadestinationinmind.” Dogsmightpacewhilewaitingforsomeoneorsomething—likeforafamilymembertocomehomeorwaitingformealtime.Somedogspaceforawhilewithahigh-valuetoyortreatintheirmouthandmayevenwhine.Becausedogpacingisn’ttechnicallyamedicalissue,“treatment”isallabouthelpingyourdogfeelmorecomfortable.Themorecomfortableadogis,thelesslikelyheistofeelanxious.Iftheanxietyistargetedandtreated,thenthedogmightstoppacing. “Itiseasytoidentifya dog whohasa pacing problem.A dog is pacing whensheiswalkingbackandforthinarepetitivepattern,”saysAmandaGagnon,certifiedprofessionaldogtrainerandgraduateresearcherofanthrozoologyatCanisiusCollege.“When pacing occursforashortperiodoftime,itisnothingtoworryabout.However,ifa dog paces foranextendedlengthoftimeorcannotbedeterredfromtheactivity,itmaybetimetocallaprofessional dog trainer.” Somekindsofpacingareconsiderednormalandmostcanbetreatedwiththehelpofatrainingspecialist,whocanprovideeasysolutionstodistractthedoganddiscouragepacing. “Normaldogpacingisusuallycausedbyexcitement,theneedforattentionoranalerttosomethingunusualintheenvironment,”saysKristenPapile-Kranjc,CMDT,ofLongIslandCanineClass.“Thistypeofpacingcanbeaddressedbyadogtrainerorbehavioralspecialist.Distractiontechniquessuchasgivingthedogahigh-valuetoyorbonethathedoesn’tseeoftentokeephimbusy,playingwithyourdogortakinghimoutforawalkaresomesimplesolutions.” Whydoesdogpacinghappen? AccordingtoDr.Ochoa,pacingindogsisgenerallycausedbystressoranxiety.However,sourcesofanxietyandstresscouldbeavarietyofthings:tripstothevet,waitingforsomeoneorsomethingtohappen,havingtopeeorpoop,orgeneralrestlessness. “Mostdogswillpaceathomeoratthevetclinic,”Dr.Ochoaexplains.“Athome,theymaypacebackandforthnearthefrontdoorwaitingforafamilymembertocomehome.Theymaypacenearthebackdoorwhentheyneedtogooutandpotty.” Thevet’sofficeisoftenasourceofstressfordogs—youknow,shotsandotherweirdinstruments,andwhatnot.Thiscancausesomestresseddogstorespondbypacing. “Attheveterinaryclinic,dogswillpacewhentheywanttogohome,”Dr.Ochoaadds.“Iseedogswhodonotliketobeatthevet.Theywillpacebackandforthintheexamroomorthewaitingroomthewholetimetheyarethere.” Theolderthedog,themorelikelytheyaretodeveloppacingbehaviors.Inolderdogs,pacingcouldbeasignofdementia. “Assomedogsage,theystartpacingaroundthehouseandactmorestressedduetothemnotalwaysknowingwheretheyare,”Dr.Ochoaadds.“Wedoseesignssimilartodementiaindogsandastheyage,theywillbegintopacemore.” Pacingcanalsobeanearlysignofsomemedicalissuesthatrequireimmediatetreatment.AccordingtoDr.JasonNicholas,authorof101EssentialTips:DogHealth&Safety,pacingcanindicateabloatingissue. “Ifyourdog’sstomachisbloated,orifthey’reanxious,pacing,orrepeatedlytryingtovomitwithnoluck,theyarelikelysufferingfromGastricDilationandVolvulus(GDV)–alsoknownasdogbloat,”Dr.Nicholasexplains.“Dogsaffectedbybloatwillhaveadifficulttimegettingcomfortableandlyingdown.Pacingandrestlessisoftenoneofthemostobviousandearlysigns,sopayattentiontoit.” Dogscanpaceforavarietyofotherreasons,too;stress,anxiety,andbloataren’ttheonlycauses. “Dogswillalsopacebecausetheyareboredorcarryexcessiveenergy,”saysGagnon.“Lesscommonreasonsforpacingarematingbehaviors,attention-seekingbehaviorsandmedicalissues.Humanscanoftendeterminewhetheratriptothevetisneededbyattendingtootheraccompanyingsymptomssuchaslethargy,moodchangesandlossofappetite.” Howtohelpyourpacingdog Pinpointingthecauseofyourdog’spacingisimportanttohelpingyourpet.Ifyourdogiscarryingexcessenergyorsufferingfromboredom,Gagnonsaysit’saneasyfix. “Thisiseasilyfixedbyaddingexerciseandmentalstimulationtothedog’sdailyroutine,”Gagnonexplains. Orifyourdogispacingasawaytopatroltheiryard,Gagnonrecommendslimitingtheiryardtime. “Somedogs,particularlydogswhospendtheirdayinayard,developahabitofpacingasawayofpatrollingtheboundaryoftheiryard,”Gagnonadds.“Thisbehaviorisbestpreventedbylimitingtheamountoftimethedogspendsalongintheyardwithouttheirhumans.” Fordogswhopacebecauseofstressandanxiety,Gagnonrecommendstrainingclasses. “Stressandanxietyoftenrequiretheassistanceofaprofessionaltrainertoremedy,”shesays. Otherremediesfortreatingstress-inducedpacingincludeshowingyourdogthateverything’sokay. “Ifyourdogispacingbecausetheyarewaitingforsomeonetocomehome,helpingcalmthemorlettingthemouttoplaywillhelpwiththepacingathome.Ifitisduetoaging,therearesupplementsthatyoucangiveyourdogtohelpwiththeanxiety,”saysDr.Ochoa.“Atthevetclinic,youcangiveyourpettreatsandhelpshowthemthatitisanokayplacetobe.” Inallcasesthough,Dr.Ochoasaysknowingyourdog’spacingtriggersisthebiggestwaytohelp.“Ifyouknowwhatcausesyourpettopace,youcanavoidthesituations.Sometimesyoucannotavoidthesesituations,orthepacingisduetoyourdoggettingolder.Therearesupplementsthatyoucangiveyourdogtohelpwithanxietyandstress.” Becausesomanydifferentfactorscaninfluencepacingindogs,Papile-Kranjcsaysthebestadviceisknowingyourdog’snormalbehavior.Anythingunusualmightwarrantavisittotheveterinarian’soffice. “Pacingcanalsobeasymptomofahealthissueduetoadisorder,advancedageorillness,”Papile-Kranjcexplains.“Knowyourdog.Befamiliarwithyourdog’sbehaviorandalsokeepcurrentwithhisveterinarycare.Anythingsuddenoroutoftheordinarytohisregularbehaviorthatisnotalleviatedbytrainingorbehaviormodificationtechniquesshouldbeaddressedbyaveterinarian.” Howdoyouaddressdogpacingwithyourpets?Letusknowinthecommentsbelow! Topphotograph:VincentScherer/GettyImages   Learnmoreaboutanxietyindogsondogster.com: 7MeansofDogAnxietyTreatment DoYouHaveaStressedDog?Let’sTalkStressinDogs HowIHelpMyDogWithHerFearandAnxietyIssues Tags: AskaVet,Behavior,Health&Care Comments 28thoughtson“DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog” Thanksforthetip;soundsworthatryifIcan’tfindanunderlyingcauseforJasmine’spacing. Reply Thedogfirstlyshowedalotofaffection.Thenstartedpacing.Hethenattackedourothertwodogsanddrewblood.Shortlyafterhehadapetridinglip.Heavoidswaterandwon'teat.Thevetsaidthelipmaybeduetothefight.Saidthattheresultsshowednohealthissue.Wehavebeengivenglucosemouthwashbeterdineandroyalcanningfoodthatwesyringeintothemouth.Wehavehadtoisolatehimhehasshownnofurtheraggressionbutstillpaces.Whatadvicecanyogivemetohelp Reply Mydogstartedpacingaftergettingintoafight.It’sbeenfivedayssincethefightandthreesincethefirstpanicattack.Thepanicattacksfirststartedduringourwalks,whichiswhenthefightoccurred.Ihadhimleashedwhiletheotherdogwasoffleashandcameuptous. Wearenowabletowalkwithouthimfreezing,butjustnowhewokeupandstartedpacing,panting,shakingandwalkingbackwards.Itriedtodistracthimwithplay.Itsomewhattiredhimout.Notsureifthiswastherightmovetohavedone. Reply Heyguyswehaveabeautiful8monthRhodesianRidgebackpurebread.He’sbeenamazinguntilrecently.Hepacesandcry’s.It’searlyeverymorning.Orwhenwearehavingdinnerandweputhiminhisspaceofthehouse.Whichisabigspace.Orithappenedagainyesterdaywhenwehadtoputhiminthehousebecauseoutsidewearedoingescalatingandhadadingo.I’mthinkingitforattention.Icouldbewrong.Wedonotrewardthisbehaviourbygoingtohim.Thisiswhatweweretold.Wegotohimwhenhestops.Ialsothinkitmightbetoomuchenergyinhim.Wewalkhimeverydayandtakehimtoapark3xaweek.Healsohasalargespacearoundourhousetorunaround.Weareon1/3acre.Whatshouldwedo? Reply Mydogpaceswhenshehastousetherestroomorwantstoplay Reply Pingback:WhatisDogPacingandWhyDoesitHappen? Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–SkyLinePets Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–DoggyDreams Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–Infinity07 Thanksforaninformativeandhelpfularticle! Dog’sGalleries Reply CBDoilisveryeffectivewhenmy15-yrdogpaces.Whetherthepacingisduetodementiaorfrompainduetoarthritis,theCBDoilhelpshimgetcomfortableagain. Reply Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–Comforts4Pets Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–yopetshop Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–PetSupplyDeals Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–JCBD Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–Ten15AM Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–PetsEquipsView Pingback:DogAnxietyAtVet–DogAnxietySymptoms Pingback:DogAnxietyRemedies–DogAnxietySymptoms Pingback:DogAnxietyAndVomiting–DogAnxietySymptoms Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–TheDogDelight Pingback:DogAnxietyPeeing–DogAnxietySymptoms Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–PetDedicated Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog|ITSANEWPETSTOREEVERYDAY Pingback:DogPacing–WhyItHappensandHowtoHelpYourPacingDog–Dogster.com–TheRankingStore Pingback:DogAnxietyMeds–DogAnxietySymptoms Veryinformative.Thankyou.Ihave2samoyedsandliveinanapartment.Mydogsarefantastic.Staftdayoutwithlongwalkandplayingwithsqueakyball.(1hr)andinthehousetilllateafternoon.theychilloitandsleepthenoitaround9-10.Foundthatcontinuedattention(whenout)andlotsoflove)Onweekendstakethemtootrails.Haveneverhadaproblem.Trulyadelightandunadulteratedhavemademethehappiest.GrewupwithdogsbutsinceIhavesamoyedsWon’townanotherbreedcuztheyaresoloving,kindandfunny.Maketerriblewatchdogs.Lovetoomuch.…[email protected]. Reply Forthoseofuswithactualproblemswithpacingdogs,thisreallyisapointlessresponse.Whatyouaredoingisn’tanydifferentthanwhatIdowithmyhoundbutstillhestillpaces.It’stiresomewhenpeoplecometoawebsiteforhelpthenseesomeonewhodoesn’tevenhavetheproblemthinkingtheyknowthesolution. Reply LeaveaCommentCancelReplyYouremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked*Typehere..Name* Email* Website Savemyname,email,andwebsiteinthisbrowserforthenexttimeIcomment. Δ CurrentIssue LookInside Subscribe GetDogsterinyourinbox! Stayinformed!Gettipsandexclusivedeals. 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