HUMAN LIFESTYLES AND ROUTINES
It is not only the environment that can cause a dog to become FASEDUP or stressed. Our lifestyle and how humans act and behave around our dogs can also have a profound effect on them. This can result in the dogs becoming unsettled and reactive, or compel them into making decisions for themselves as there seems to be no "order" or structure in the dog's life that it can take comfort from. For instance -

• Changes in routine - eg.
  - Children around more at weekends and school holidays
  - Adults at home due to illness, or because they are on holiday
  - Dog's usual carer absent so walked and fed by a different person
  - Introduction of a new human, dog, or other animal to the "pack". If a dog is being introduced, be it a puppy, adolescent, mature, or older dog - each has a different effect on the structure and hierarchy of the dog "pack". It can become a very stressful time while the dogs work out their places and roles within the new "pack" order
  - Family members leaving home (eg. Divorce, or children leaving home for university etc.)
  - Moving house
  - Death of either a dog or human "pack" member
  - New neighbours moving in next door (particularly if they have a dog or children)
  - Workmen (such as builders) working in the dog's territory
  - Changing the motor vehicle that the dog is used to traveling in
  - Too much traveling
  - Moving furniture (particularly where the dog likes to rest and relax behind or underneath)
  - Moving the dog's bed to a less secure and private location
  - Changing where or when it is usually fed
  - Sudden and dramatic changes in its diet
  - The dog almost seems to be saying "I can't cope with any more surprises or changes! Get me out of here!"
  
  

  As with all the examples on this web page, we are not suggesting that all dogs will become FASEDUP by everything we list here - some dogs thrive on changes and enjoy the new horizons that they provide. However, some dogs find changes (particularly those where the dog took comfort and found stability in their old routine) to their routine very unsettling and can have a knock on effect to their long-term stress levels. Take note of any sudden changes in behaviour and look back to see if there have been any changes to the dog's routine that may have triggered the dog to be FASEDUP. Ideally a dog should become accustomed to slight changes in its routine and lifestyle so that it becomes less effected if more changes have to happen in a crisis (eg. Its handler being kept in hospital).

  
  
• Emotions of humans or other dogs in the household. Dogs are extremely good at picking up on human emotions both by watching their body language, listening to the tone of their voices, and the pheromones that they can smell in the air around the human. They use their senses to detect both positive and negative emotions (eg. Excitement, jubilation, recent sexual behaviour, anger and arguments, nervousness, frustration, sadness, depression, and particularly stress) and these emotions seem to be very "contagious" across species. Examples of this can range from -
  - Dogs becoming FASEDUP when they detect their handler's nervousness at shows and become nervous themselves
  - Other dogs in their pack displaying "loud" calming signals to either the humans or dogs around them, or suffering from long-term stress symptoms which makes them restless and uneasy in their company.
  - FASEDUP dogs training in one part of a training area and effecting the rest of the dogs trying to work in the same venue (eg. High pitched screams or barking from an over FASED dog can effect the performance and concentration of the other dogs working in the venue).
  - Stressed or workaholic handlers often end up with stressed and over stimulated pets (and family members!)
  

  Dogs need sufficient rest time in the day to lower their long-term stress levels, and sufficient rest time within a weekly period to prevent a "back log" of long-term stress building up. This can be achieved by managing the dog's living environment so that it will not be disturbed or distracted at certain times of the day and night, allowing it to really relax and sleep deeply. An ideal solution for reducing these long-term stress levels is to provide the dog with a comfortable sleeping area (such as an indoor kennel), which the dog can snuggle into and not see or hear what is going on around it.

  
  
• Being overwhelmed. Another way of reducing long-term stress is to avoid giving too much eye contact, touching, or speaking to your dog all the time - see also "On & Off Switches". All these are very high value Life Rewards for dogs as they are signaling to the dog that they have our attention - even yelling or shouting at a dog is seen by the dog as a reward. This is why so many dogs repeat "bad behaviours" (eg. Stealing prized possessions from their owners, barking, pestering the handler to play at inappropriate moments such as when watching your favorite TV show, jumping up at visitors) - the humans look at the dog and speak to it or push it away and so reward the dog's behaviour. This is also the case when a dog is over excited or FASEDUP. The dog is being given the signal that it is "right" for it to be FASEDUP and that if it repeats the Environmental Photo it will be rewarded with the handler's attention once again. You often find that dogs who get so much attention only sleep deeply when their owners are out, as this is the only time the dog is sure that it will not be spoken to, looked at or asked to do something for the owner.
  
  
• Confusion and misunderstandings due to the inconsistency of commands or expectations given by various members of the family. Often dogs are confused and do not understand what they are being asked to do but are desperate to please their owner. They become worried about doing anything in case they do the wrong thing and displease their handler. To overcome this problem see Your Dog's Dictionary and On/Off Switch for more information about how to be consistent with your commands and signals and communicate better with your dog.
  
  
• Too high expectations from humans - your dog is not a robot, it is an animal with animal instincts! Too much control and demands on a dog can make it FASEDUP and stressed. It needs time "to be a dog" and be "off duty" without having to try to anticipate your every command or very high standards. No animal (or human) is expected to be in "work mode" twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Sadly some dog owners are what could be called "control freaks" - they want to have some power over another animal or human because they have so little control over the rest of their lives (such as work, home life, or unfulfilled or unobtainable ambitions).

  Taking charge. Because of all the changes around it, or through indecision on the handler's part, many dogs feel that their only option is to take charge of situations as their handler seems unable to resolve the conflict or situation that they find themselves in. This "Taking Charge" to resolve situations can manifest itself in certain ways - eg. - Dogs pull on their leads to escape - "Nagging" other dogs by chasing after them and grabbing the dog's coat around its neck, making them feel stressed and frustrated as well - Lunging at strangers or other dogs to make them move further away - The dog thinking - "What shall I do next?"; "How can I please you?"; "Why are you anxious/nervous/angry?"; "If you can't solve the situation I will!"

  
  
• Made to be leader. The handler intervenes between two or more dogs that are living together in the same household and insists that one dog is fed first, walked first, played with first etc when in fact it is the other dog that is the natural leader of the group.
  
  
• Made to be underdog. Conversely, humans can intervene in pack hierarchy and make the natural leader a lower ranking individual to other dogs in the household. This not only frustrates the dog in question, it also makes the other dogs wary and uncomfortable about taking privileges that the natural leader should be having.
  
  
• Finally, do not compare your dog with any others. Each dog is unique with its own abilities and weaknesses. Sadly some owners regard their dog as a "failure" or "useless" because it does not compare favorably with a friend's or neighbor's dog. Dogs can pick up this negative attitude that their handlers have with them and will become FASEDUP in either of two ways. Either the dog will become anxious and worried, trying to anticipate the handler's requirements all the time, or it will loose confidence in itself and become withdrawn - it feels it is not even worth trying to do anything for the handler as it sees itself as a "failure" (see Lodgers).

FEARS & ANXIETIES

STIMULATION & EXCITEMENT

UNCOMFORTABLE & PAIN

EXAMPLES OF BEING FASEDUP DURING TRAINING OR IN A SHOW ENVIRONMENT

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