Resilience in Dogs: What It Is and Why It Matters

Date: 2024-09-24   |   Author: Beth Dowbiggin

The term “resilience” has recently become a buzzword in the world of human mental health and psychology. But did you know that resilience is also crucial for  health and wellness?

 Resilience, at its core, is an individual’s ability to bounce back from and adapt to or resist the negative aspects of stress. Picture your dog’s stress capacity as a bucket: daily events fill this stress bucket, and if it overflows, physiological and behavioural changes occur. Managing your dog’s “stress bucket” is vital, especially if your dog is reactive, anxious, or fearful.

The Seven Domains of the Resilience Framework

•  Activities that help reduce stress levels and promote relaxation, such as relaxation exercises, nosework/scentwork, free movement and decompression walks in nature.
•  Creating safe zones and safe, trusting relationships; managing the environment; and establishing trust.
•  Bringing a dog’s cortisol levels back to baseline after stressful events. Activities like tug, play, or vocalization can help.
•  Regular vet check-ups; pain assessments; quality sleep and rest; optimal diet and nutrition; environmental enrichment.
•  A dog’s brain naturally looks for patterns and predictability. Providing patterns, rituals, and predictable reinforcement strategies can greatly reduce stress.
•  Positive social experiences and secure social attachments contribute to resilience.
•  An individual’s feeling of choice and control. Allow your dog to make their own choices when it is safe to do so.

Building Resilience: Where to Start

One of the best and easiest ways to help your dog adapt to and bounce back from stress is a —a walk in nature where your dog has the freedom to engage in natural doggy behaviours such as sniffing, rolling, and running, either off-leash or on a long line. Try to aim for 1–3 decompression walks a week with your dog.