Why does my dog shake when there are arguments or family stress?

Hi, thank you for contacting us through the forum. I understand this is a rough time for everyone involved. I hope things will settle again soon for you and Jack. With regards to what you can do for him, is there a place that is just Jack’s resting place or that he could become so ? A room where he can go and not be affected by the noises around him ? Ideally this would be where he chooses to go when you are arguing. There are some natural remedies that can be tried to reduce anxiety and stress in dogs, and one that does not have any consequences is Zylkene. Also a DAP adaptor plugged in the room where he sleeps might be an idea. The big difficulty in this, is that arguments are unpredictable and therefore there is not much that can be done to prevent this as such. However by administering Zylkene and using DAP the general level of stress for him can be reduced. I hope that this helps Jack, and that you both find deserved peace and harmony in 2018.

In these situation dogs are like children and they don't like heated arguments in the household , it gives them a sense of insecurity. I would personally suggest to try to talk in a more calmer manner. I don't think Bruno's lifespan would be reduced but his happiness and wellbeing could be affected.

This behavior can be normal for him or it could be a symptom of underlying stress and/or anxiety. Here is a link to an article about this issue in dogs. https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/what-does-it-mean-when-my-dog-does-the-shake-off You may want to start him on a calming supplement - a good, high quality one - not one of the local store bought ones that are usually a waste of money. Use one that has some science behind it. I would use Solliquin or Zylkene. It is worth a try to give it consistently for a few months to see if the shaking stops or reduces in frequency. https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=117298 https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=115875

Poor girl! Yes, this could be stress from the thunderstorms. Fireworks and loud noises can be really scary for dogs. One important thing to do to when your dog acts scared is not to reassure her. We think we are comforting her when we do that, but it's actually reinforcing the behavior and telling her it's ok to be scared. I recommend getting her a thundershirt to wear when there are fireworks or loud noises. These have been reported to help dogs with anxiety. At home, you can put her in a dark quiet room by herself to self-soothe. You can also turn on the TV or music to block out the sound. Finally, you can consider get a pheromone diffuser called DAP that helps dogs with anxiety.

Ruling out an underlying health issue such as pain or illness is always a good first step when your pet experiences a sudden behavior change. As seven is the start of the senior years, it is possible there is some pain from laying in the bed, or arthritis causing problems. if Milou checks out health, trying to find if there is a pattern to the "attacks" may be helpful- does it happen the same time every night? Same spot? Same triggers? Is the neighbor arriving home in a noisy car at that time, etc? This may help you figure out what is triggering it so you can make some adjustments- IE moving the bed somewhere quieter, making sure your dog is fast asleep prior to that time, getting out excess energy before bed, feeding a treat to keep the stomach from becoming too empty and causing growling/discomfort, etc. If you can't seem to find any pattern at all, taking a video of the even to bring to your vet or a local trainer may be helpful in better identifying what is going on, and finding a solution.

That is concerning. It is possible there is something they are hearing outside, such as a neighbor or wild animal, or even a critter in the walls that could be bothering them. Looking for a pattern (time of day, certain TV or radio shows on, person coming home, etc) may help you figure out what the trigger is to stop the behavior from happening. Taking a video of the behavior and bringing it to a trainer or behaviorist may also be a good idea to see if they can pick out any details that may provide more information.

Poor Bear! It’s so hard to know sometimes what is causing them to be that way. It could be something he heard that caused him to be anxious. You’ll likely never know. Try to distract him with play or a long walk. If you can burn off some energy, that helps the brain to move forward and forget the anxiety. Do watch him very closely for any signs of illness, some dogs can react that way if they don’t feel good. Watch his eating habits and pay attention to any signs of lethargy, vomiting or loose stool. If you see those, then I recommend to have him seen by his veterinarian. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.