My Sidekick and Me: Stress Stacking

By Lisa Desatnik, CPDT-KA, FFCP, FDM, CPBC

I got a call the other day from a dog owner requesting help for her dog. She could not understand. Her dog usually enjoyed the company of guests in their home. Her dog would solicit head rubs from unfamiliar people he saw on typical outings to parks where they frequent.

This time, she had brought her dog on a short leash to a busy, local brewery. There was a lot of noise. There were a lot of people. Kids were running around in erratic movements, some screaming as they played. Plenty of other dogs were also in close proximity, also kept on a leash.

Potentially there could be a lot of variables at play – maybe her dog was tired, hungry, overheated, not feeling well.

Then there is another very plausible explanation. Stress stacking.

Stress stacking (also referred to as trigger stacking) occurs when multiple events that induce stress occur either simultaneously or within a relatively short time span. Collectively all of these events decrease an animal’s tolerance for coping, increasing the chances of that animal responding in a bigger way.

Why? A stressful occurrence affects animals physically. Among its impacts, is a rise in cortisol levels, the stress hormone associated with the flight or fight biological instinct. It can take hours, sometimes even days, for those hormones to come down to baseline. Until that happens, the dog (or other animal) has greater sensitivity. And with each event, that sensitivity is heightened.

This goes for both good and bad stress. For dogs, examples of where stress from include a vet or grooming experience, pain or illness, lack of rest, unpredictable sights or sounds, long exercise, training class.

Humans experience stress stacking too. Remember that day when everything seemed to be going wrong, and then you suddenly had an outburst that was very out of character for you?
Yes, that is stress stacking!  Have you ever been running late for a meeting, and then hit every red light on the way? I bet you were a lot more prone to honk your horn at those who put on their brakes just as the light turned yellow.

Stress stacking is a consideration that is important to keep in mind when you see an unusual (or even not so unusual) big response from your dog (or person or other pet).

Dogs who live in homes with very hectic lifestyles, erratic and noisy kids moving around – invading personal spaces and taking valued possessions, without a means of escape, can experience ongoing stress stacking and chronic stress.

If you share your life with a dog or other pet (or even another human being), it is important for you to recognize when this occurs and signs from your dog that he is not feeling ok in that moment.

Be your dog’s advocate.  Give him space as needed. You may want to leave your dog at home instead of bring your pet with you to that brewery when you know it will be packed. Practice good management. Teach your dog how to move away from conflict. Help your dog strengthen his resilience.

Lisa Desatnik, CPDT-KA, FFCP, FDM, CPBC, with So Much PETential was voted 2024 Cincinnati’s Best Community Choice Award winner in pet training. She is a certified dog trainer, a certified Family Dog Mediator, and the first trainer in Hamilton County to earn Fear Free certification. She is also a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator. She is committed to using and teaching the most positive, science-based approaches to changing behavior. For more information, visit SoMuchPETential.com.