Ever had one of those days when nothing seems to go right?
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The same thing can happen in dogs. It's called trigger stacking, and could be a response to a day of non-stop triggers and stress.
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Common triggers for many dogs include other dogs, traffic, car rides, being introduced to kids, physical pain or being in a new environment.
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one trigger may not be too much for the dog to withstand, but after having been exposed to too many, it can push the dog past their tolerance threshold.
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If there's one surefire way to spot trigger stacking in dogs, it's by learning to recognize and read their body language.
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The body language your dog displays will likely reflect their fight-flight-freeze response.
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Preventing triggers from stacking up will require some awareness of what your dog becomes triggered by.
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It May be helpful to make a list of known triggers to your dog, like busy sidewalks, loud noises, etc, that he may be sensitive to.
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Avoiding those situations, especially if your dog has been exposed to other triggers, can prevent stacking.
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Positive reinforcement dog training can also help your dog develop a new relationship with some of their triggers.
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watch out for stressors to prevent your dog from encountering more in the next 24 hours to avoid possible outbursts from your dog.