[nagdu] stress, how much is too much?

Mon Nov 12 20:14:43 UTC 2012

Hello Julie:

I will first speak to your inquiry regarding "how much stress is too much stress".
I, like most everyone on this list, view the human-dog team as exactly that--a team. Of course, there is a pack hierarchy, but when the dog is in harness, the two are much closer to being equal members of the same team. I say "almost" because I don't want to portray an unrealistic and maudlin view of what a guide team is. Because we humans have the greater skill in leadership and decision making, we will always (or should always) assume the role of leader, even when working the dog. However, think of yourself as a teacher, and remember that the dog is a dynamic, living creature that can feel stress, pain, joy, etc. Julie, I know that you know this, and thinking of a relationship in this way can help answer your question.
Because we don't view dogs as tools, we therefore know we have an ethical obligation to their well-being. Thus, I wouldn't ask my dog to work when doing so causes him unhealthy stress. Of course, some level of stress is necessary and healthy for learning and work, but there is a definite curve--that is, the benefits of stress increase with stress only so far, and then they start going the other way.
We want our dogs to be happy and to enjoy their work; we don't want to make them think that they are being forced to do anything against their wills. They aren't slaves, they are companions, partners, and family members--and if they aren't enjoying or taking pleasure from their work, then I don't think one should continue pressing them to do it.
Julie: as you know Monty best, you can best determine what is making him happy and what is making him anxious or stressed. If he loves his normal work, or seems to respond to it in a manner normal for him, then I would guess that he still enjoys it. If you are noticing that this abnormal behavior is only occurring when you participate in these conventions, meetings, etc., then you could probably conclude that this amount of work is too stressful to be enjoyable to him. Therefore, you can make other arrangements for him when you need to travel.
I want Bailey to enjoy his work--I know that there are probably days when he doesn't enjoy it as much, or when he isn't as sharp as usual, but so long as he enjoys it, and it isn't causing him undue stress, I will gladly give him work to do. I know you will make the best decision, as you have far more experience with dogs than I do. I do hope that Monty continues to work well and happily for many more years. 
Sincerely,
Robert Hooper
Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu
The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology; Department of Neuroscience
572 Stinchcomb Drive #3
Columbus, Ohio 43202
(740) 856-8195

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 2:26 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] stress, how much is too much?

Thanks!  Those are reactions to stress that I wouldn't have thought of.  
It makes sense though.  I like to go to bed early when I've had a rough day.

I think it's important, especially for the new handlers, to recognize stress/anxiety at it's first signs.  then the situation can be managed or extra encouragement provided to the dog before the problem escalates into a huge ordeal.  I think knowing when your dog has had enough and what to do about it is very important stuff.
Do the schools provide a seminar or something on noticing stress signals from you dog?  What about how to calm a stressed dog?

Julie

On 11/12/2012 11:35 AM, Tracy Carcione wrote:
> Sometimes, if we're away at a festival or convention, and Ben has 
> worked from morning to night for a couple days, I can tell that he's 
> wants a break.  If we're out late, he starts looking toward the door, 
> or turning forcefully towards our room.
> During class at TSE, on the weekend before the third week, he just 
> shut down.  He wouldn't get up when I called him.  He tried to crawl 
> under the bed and hide when I picked up his leash.  It was very 
> upsetting.  But I learned then that his reaction to stress is to 
> sleep.  If I let him rest, leave him in peace for a while, he's back to his usual self.
> Tracy
>> I'm wondering how your dog's show that they are stressed and how much 
>> is too much?
>>
>> a bit of background...a few months ago I went to an all day meeting 
>> out of town.  This involved about 8 hours of car travel there, an 
>> overnight hotel stay, the all day meeting, another hotel stay and the 
>> car ride home.  Monty has done all of these sorts of things before and since.
>> Before this weekend he showed few signs of stress and they were minor.
>> However for some reason still unknown to me Monty had a tough time 
>> this particular weekend.  His signs of stress included: looking at 
>> everything incessantly, startling at noises, lip licking, difficulty 
>> relaxing  at relief breaks, shaking and pulling like a crazed maniac in harness.
>>
>> For me his signs of stress were pretty high.  If he had continued at 
>> that level I would have stopped working him.  We have struggled off 
>> and on for the past few months with smaller episodes of stress/anxiety.
>> Overall things have improved dramatically.  Occasionally he will do 
>> the lip licking and the looking at everything, but he's not at a 
>> level that I feel is risky to his or my health or  safety.
>>
>> Recent messages to the list and my own situation caused me to think 
>> about and ask the questions: How much is too much?  What would cause 
>> you to quit working a dog completely? What would cause you to quit 
>> working a dog in a particular situation?
>>
>> Julie
>>
>>
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