<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we\u2019ll be covering the top five triggers that might make your dog act distant, why your dog might not want to be touched or spend time with you, and some tips on how to build your dog\u2019s confidence and connection with you again. Doesn’t that sound nice?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re looking to help your dog get engaged and hanging off your every word, you better download the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a>. We\u2019ve got a brilliant personalized training program just right for your dog\u2019s breed and age, and a team of dedicated and friendly, professional dog trainers<\/a> to help you every step of the way, in our 24\/7 in our in-app chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stressful experiences, illness and pain, and negative training methods break a dog\u2019s spirit. They take their hormones and emotions into a crazy roller coaster; all which can trigger a dog to act distant. If you were faced with any of those, you\u2019d likely shut down too, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Going through a traumatic or stressful event like a car accident or being too close to noisy fireworks<\/a> won\u2019t be on your puppy\u2019s list of favorite things. When these kinds of situations happen, it can easily make your puppy seem distant, spaced out or feel like they\u2019re ignoring you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When your dog is in discomfort, uncomfortable, or ill, they may appear distant. It is not always clear when a dog is in pain, but a high proportion of behavior problems or unwillingness to engage can simply be because the dog just doesn\u2019t feel great. It\u2019s pretty much like you\u2019re feeling under the weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Physical punishments, use of choke collars, slip leads<\/a> or other collar corrections can trigger a dog to shut down and act distant. They\u2019re truly non-ethical training tools you should stay away from, quite frankly. Other aversive methods also include shouting and telling your dog off<\/a> and making them upset and depressed; it\u2019s only natural that they\u2019ll feel like staying away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like humans, hormones can play a huge role in the way that a dog feels. And as a puppy grows and develops, their hormones can be all over the place. As a result, this can make them hyper and have the zoomies. But on a rough day it can make them feel blue and appear distant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Senior dogs can get old and grumpy. It\u2019s the circle of life, really. Their hormones can again play an important role in making them act distant as they sadly start to suffer from cognitive decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog has gone from soppy to stressed about being touched, it\u2019s likely that they\u2019re in pain or feeling unwell. But if you have a new rescue puppy or dog<\/a>, it might be the case that they probably weren\u2019t handled positively before they met you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppy 101, handling should always be done in a gentle and nice way. It needs to be done right from the beginning, when they\u2019re young puppies, so they\u2019re able to learn that hands are and lead to nice things; that they won\u2019t reach out and hurt them. Not in your house, they won\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs are sensitive souls and can have an escape-avoiding response to stressful situations like loud homes, or in environments where they feel unsafe. They\u2019re also wonderful enough to pick up on our moods, which might also not want to hang out with us when we\u2019re feeling upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n But look, at the end of the day, everyone has off days. It might be possible that for once, you are not the problem, and they\u2019re just craving some alone time, don\u2019t worry! Boredom, pain, aging and stress can all cause a dog to act distant from you. Understanding them can help you find the underlying cause as to why they\u2019re acting distant, and show you how to get them to engage with you again. Look at you, being a dog psychologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are 5 reasons why your dog may be distant from you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boredom can lead a dog to act distant or be disinterested in you, as they\u2019ve had to seek their fun elsewhere. If you\u2019re not being any fun to be around, it\u2019s not surprising that their moods might switch off! Don\u2019t worry, you don’t have to work on your questionable sense of humor to entertain them; a simple game of fetch or treats will do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When dogs don\u2019t feel well, they can act distant. Sometimes it\u2019s easy to spot that something is wrong, (like when they\u2019re vomiting<\/a>!) but especially when they\u2019re sluggish or lethargic,<\/a> you can take it as a sign that there might be an underlying problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As dogs get older, they can start to struggle with cognitive decline. Sometimes, this can lead to Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, which is what we think of as doggy dementia. For elderly dogs, this looks like them zoning out or appearing distant. It\u2019s quite sad actually, but we\u2019re sure you can make them feel comfortable and loved during these difficult times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs are creatures of habit and like to have a regular routine<\/a>. It provides predictability and stability, which are two things they absolutely thrive on. If you suddenly change your puppy\u2019s daily routine,<\/a> it can make them worried and act distant as they lose confidence and are not sure what\u2019s happening next because their feeling of safety is gone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019d probably feel the same if your sweets cupboard changed locations every time you looked for a treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When a dog has no control over a stressful or negative situation, it can cause them fear<\/a> or anxiety. They tend to go into a state called \u2018learned helplessness\u2019, which can look like your dog is being distant, but in reality the dog has just given up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We often see learned helplessness as a reaction to a dog who has been repeatedly told off, or has had aversive or painful training methods used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rescue dogs<\/a> will often feel anxious and go into a shut-down or distant state when they go into their new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some dogs may also act distant due to separation anxiety<\/a>, because they\u2019ve panicked so much when you\u2019re gone, that when you come back they pretty much shut-down. If your dog is struggling with fears<\/a>, phobias or anxiety that is causing them to enter learned helplessness or act distant, there are things you can do to help them build their confidence and help regain that lust for life that\u2019s buried in them somewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remove stressors<\/strong> – use a white noise machine<\/a> for noise phobias, or fireworks<\/a>, stop leaving your dog home alone longer than they can handle; we don\u2019t want them to develop separation anxiety<\/a>. Don\u2019t hesitate to have a Vet check<\/a> if you feel like illness or pain are lingering somewhere – we definitely want to rule them out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be consistent and have a routine<\/strong> – giving your dog a consistent daily routine<\/a> will provide them with the security, reliability and predictability they need to feel confident in life. Having a schedule for meals<\/a>, play sessions and walks<\/a> is key – it will help lower their stress and anxiety as your dog will be able to grab on to it for reference when they go about their day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use <\/strong>positive reinforcement training<\/strong><\/a> – learning will often blow a dog\u2019s mind; in the best way possible. It essentially makes them have a huge amount of confidence by teaching them that engaging with you or doing \u2018something right\u2019 brings about wonderful rewards. Think about the rewards your dog likes – treats<\/a>, toys<\/a>, play, or strokes – and use them loads every day when training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you heard about clicker training<\/a>? It\u2019s a fabulous method to build confidence in particularly worried or shy dogs. You can also use a clicker to teach lots of tricks<\/a>, which I\u2019m sure you\u2019re very excited about trying out eventually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teach your dog happy handling<\/strong> – if your dog is not comfortable being handled, bathed<\/a> or groomed<\/a>, use your trusty treats and rewards<\/a> to show them that hands are nice and won\u2019t hurt them. If you have a hand-shy dog you\u2019ll need to take this slowly and use plenty of treats<\/a>, or stuffed Kongs<\/a> so that they\u2019re able to build up positive associations with being touched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Play games<\/strong> – Play is a great way of building a relationship. You\u2019re strengthening your bond while having fun, and raising your dog’s confidence at the same time. Most dogs love to play, though dogs who lack confidence may take some time to warm up and be interested in playing with you. But with that patience and love of yours, you\u2019ll see that they eventually come around\u2026it\u2019s only a matter of time until they\u2019re stuck to you like a magnet to a fridge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a pro tip for you – when using tug toys<\/a>, pull them away from them rather than shoving them in their face, no one likes that! Be patient and take things slowly<\/strong> – if your dog appears shy or a bit distant, flooding them with attention by trying to get them \u2018to come out of their shell\u2019 is risky – it might be you\u2019re putting too much pressure on them, which will in turn make them less likely to engage, not more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re trying to get your puppy to warm up to you, it\u2019s important to take every step slowly and at their pace. Remember to read their body language<\/a>, and take it a day at a time. When they realize that they are safe and actually have choices in situations, you\u2019ll see them flourish into confident, lovely dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s good to remember that certain breeds of dogs are naturally more independent, and like to spend time on their own. Primitive breeds such as Shiba Inus and Akitas, or breeds traditionally bred to work like Border Collies<\/a> and German Shepherds<\/a> may not lie on top of you like those who were literally bred to do so like Pugs<\/a>, Chihuahuas<\/a>, or Papillons. But you never know – their mighty personalities may love being all up in your business!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you think your dog is struggling with anxiety, whether it\u2019s a fear of noises<\/a>, separation anxiety<\/a>, firework anxiety<\/a>, or they seem scared of everything<\/a>, it\u2019s wise to talk to your Vet <\/a>and a qualified dog behaviorist<\/a> for help with this. We want your dog to live the happy life they\u2019re meant to, so don\u2019t hesitate to give professionals a call!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs can appear distant for many reasons, and understanding the underlying cause will help you deal with it quicker. While it might be a reaction to pain, a stressful event, hormones or age, some dogs can have personalities that are just a bit more aloof, or are bred to be more independent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, and of course, accepting a dog for who they are and what their character is like, is also something you must do. They accept you for who you are, don\u2019t they? Gosh, dogs teach us so many life lessons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"french](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/distant-1.jpg\")
What can trigger my dog to act distant?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Trauma or stress <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Illness or pain <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aversive training methods <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hormones <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Age<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"pug](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/distant-2.png\")
Why does my dog not want to be touched? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why does my dog no longer want to spend time with me? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dogs have lived with us since domestication<\/a>, but they still very much differ in personalities from each other. Some breed types, besides each individual personality, lean towards hanging out with humans more or less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n5 reasons why your dog may be distant from you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Boredom <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Injury or illness <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Ageing and cognitive decline <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Changes in routine <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Anxiety and stress <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
These are all quite sad situations, which is why we\u2019re so happy to see you here reading this article. For us, it means that you\u2019re keen on becoming the best life partner for your new puppy<\/a>. For your puppy, it\u2019s wonderful news, knowing they\u2019re part of a reliable and loving family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/distant-3.png\")
How can I build my dog’s confidence again? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Our training games library<\/a> has plenty more ideas of fun things you can try to engage your dog with. You\u2019ll see – they won\u2019t get enough of it eventually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n