WBA Fear Anxiety & Stress: What It Means & Why It's Important

FEAR ANXIETY STRESS WHAT IT MEANS & WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

Definitions: FAS Fear “An aversive emotional state consisting of physical and psychosocial responses to a real threat or danger”

Anxiety “A generalized feeling of apprehension or anticipation of danger”

Stress A state of physical, mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding conditions

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Fear “involves the immediate moment …with the pet reacting fearfully to stimuli” that is seen, heard, smelled, felt or otherwise experienced

Anxiety “the ‘what if’, or the ‘oh no!’ negative

Fear & Anxiety

anticipation of what danger or threats are about to come next. The animals’ body moves into a state of high alert and trepidation …even before the actual fearevoking stimulus arrives”

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Where does it begin?

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It begins with a stressor STRESSOR

STRESS RESPONSE

ADAPTION

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Stressor A stressor is any experience, environment, or inanimate or living object that results in a stress response.

Experience

Living Object

Elicits a Stress Response

Inanimate Object

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Environment

VIP

Stressors are from the subject’s perspective.

Our perception is irrelevant.

Only the dog’s perception matters.

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STRESSOR

STRESS RESPONSE

ANYTHING THAT DISRUPTS NORMAL STATE OF FUNCTIONING

ATTEMPTS TO RETURN BODY TO BASELINE

PHYSIOLOGICAL / PHYSICAL

TYPE

ENVIRONMENTAL e.g, Temperature, something ‘scary’ present (either living or inanimate) PHYSIOLOGICAL e.g., Hunger/thirst

BEHAVIORAL

EMOTIONAL

INTENSITY

EXPERIENCE e.g., Walking on leash PHYSICAL TRAUMA e.g., Pain or injury PSYCHOSOCIAL e.g., Relationships to humans or dogs

VALENCE

ANXIETY e.g., anticipation of a threat PERCEIVED or ACTUAL Any previously noted stressor can be imagined or real

INTENSE More time to return to baseline

AFTER BASELINE RETURN ATTEMPS

ADAPTIVE • Allows improved function or fitness to the environment • Can result from acute stress (good or bad)

MALADAPTIVE • Results from chronic stress • Immunosuppression • Progression of behavior disorders • Decreased health & well being • Impaired learning & performance

ACUTE Occurs then it’s over TIME

FEAR e.g., resulting from prior conditioning like thunderstorm phobia or being threatened

MILD Less time to return to baseline

ADAPTION

CHRONIC Multiple instances of unrelated acute stress Repetitions of the same acute stress GOOD (EUSTRESS) BAD (DISTRESS)

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THE DETAIL

Types of Stress

Stressors that cause a negative reaction are referred to in a training context as a stimulus or a “trigger.”

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“Not all stress is bad. Some degree of stress is part of normal daily functioning and is necessary for the animal’s survival. Stress is a normal response that allows animals to respond to the world

Stress Response “STRESS”

around them and survive. Stress is involved in all aspects of normal functioning, from eating to walking. Stress responses are protective and keep animals away from danger or allow their escape to safety.

Animals have both eustress—the “good stress” that helps them perform a needed task—and distress, which launches the animal into a survival state of “fight or flight.” Adaptive stress allows improved function as needed for survival. When stress is prolonged or disproportionate without serving a function, it can become maladaptive. In response to FAS, hormones flood the body and can wreak havoc on it if recovery to baseline isn’t possible. “

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Stress & Adaption

Get Sore

Rebuild Stronger

decreased function & well-being

Workout

Scary Person on Walk

maladaptive

adaptive

improved function & well-being

Stress is adaptive – the organism responds to the stressor by adapting in a positive or negative way

Bark & Lunge

Get Shocked

Fear Strengthened

Fear Generalizes (All Walks and People are Scary)

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Importance 1 In animals, it can be challenging to distinguish between fear and anxiety because they cannot verbalize their feelings.

2 We must recognize signs of fear, anxiety and stress to help reduce it.

3 Learning dog body language and canine communication is essential.

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Visible Signs of Canine FAS Physiologic Panting Pacing Scanning (hypervigilance) Dilated pupils Increased heart rate Piloerection (hackles)

Body Positions Flee Hide Mouthing Lowered Standing position (upright, tense, forward or backwards leaning)

Vocalizations Barking Whining Growling Crying Huffing Howling

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Body Language & FAS Where We Train

Stop & Report These Signs Immediately

We Give Breaks, Distance & Reevaluate

We Train Here

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FAS

Respect the dog’s communication

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References • Becker, M., & et al. (n.d.). Fear Free Veterinary & Trainer Certification Courses. Fear Free Pets. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from http://www.fearfreepets.com/

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