Dog caves: Protection & security for small four-legged friends
Small dogs can be very active bundles of energy with a lot of self-confidence who really do a lot. But that also has its limits: Even mini four-legged friends occasionally have it Fear, stress and overstimulation to do.
Then you just need one Pause: A cozy, cozy cave is then one of the best options.
Covered Dog basket
Basically it is one dog basket, which comes either with or without a cushion. If the surface is hard, it is then possible to retrofit a suitable base: This can even be an advantage if you have joint problems, because you can give your four-legged friend an orthopedic mattress, for example.
The Difference between traditional sofas and denn is mainly due to the fact that the latter with cozy side walls and a roof are equipped. This gives the animal the illusion of being in a small, protected space.
Served natural need for protection of the four-legged friend
And that wakes them up Instincts of our four-legged friends in a positive way: Dogs have a deeply rooted, natural need for protection: If everything becomes too much for them, they quickly feel rushed and sometimes become afraid.
In the wild, however, dogs have a proven solution: When threatened, they retreat into small cavities or covered areas. There they feel protected from enemies and bad weather and can rest undisturbed.
You've probably already noticed this need at home: Many little four-legged friends relax much more when you give them a little «roof» with your hand on your lap. Almost all dogs occasionally hide under furniture such as beds or sofas.
Restlessness in the dog: Often underestimated problem
And if your four-legged friend behaves like this, you can be sure that he needs this retreat. Dogs are very sensitive animals that… significantly sharper sense organs than we humans: They hear significantly better, have an excellent sense of smell and can also see and taste comparatively well.
That means: Dogs sense danger in a different way than we humans. If everything seems fine to us, it is possible that the animals have a completely different perception.
Then it is possible to calm the dog down a little, but this cannot completely solve the problem: Instead, you have to consider factors that worry the four-legged friend. take it seriously and understand it.
A stressed four-legged friend is an unhappy four-legged friend
If this doesn't happen, everyone suffers: A chronically stressed four-legged friend can't actually be happy.
Without places to retreat and calm down, everyone suffers: the stress then also infects the human family, and many animals are then even labeled as “problem dogs”.
Negative change in hormone secretion
They are there Causes of the problems It's actually quite easy to explain: It's not “just” a matter of the psyche, but also of physical-chemical processes, that take place in the body.
If a dog senses danger or doesn't have enough rest, this doesn't go unnoticed by the brain: it senses that something is wrong, which is why it starts to react “Survival Mode” to switch.
Dog trainer Steve Kaye on stress triggers in four-legged friends. Source: Dog Trainer Steve Kaye / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH51Cm6C0cE .
This means: The brain is pouring more water “Stress hormones” such as cortisol or adrenaline out of. They help the dog to be able to defend itself better in an emergency. At the same time, the release of “relaxation hormones” such as melatonin or serotonin is reduced.
Possible consequences of a lack of places to retreat
Such an unbalanced hormonal balance actually only has… negative consequences for the four-legged friend and the dog-human coexistence: In the long run, a huge number of possible problems arise, for example:
- Hyperactive behavior
- Lack of concentration
- Changed day-night rhythm, dog sleeps less
- Greater susceptibility to infections and other diseases as well
- Aggression.
The possible triggers are very diverse. Often it is because dog owners or their family members (including children) simply do not give the animal enough breaks.
Often additional treatment is necessary
If your dog has a long history of stress, getting a den is often a step in the right direction. But that is not always enough: If you have behavioral problems, it is often advisable to seek professional help. Many dog owners then go to the vet, but in many cases a visit to a dog behavior consultant is more likely to be successful in the long term.