Us humans have all kinds of daily stress factors that make us a bit edgy at times.
Dogs don't have the same concerns but the do experience stress.

 One stress trigger for dogs is change: someone new in the house or someone missing. If you go for an overnight tri, your dog doesn't understand that you'll be back the next day. Giving mixed signals also stresses dogs; for example you scold your dog for jumping and then allow it the next time.

Dogs thrive on consistency, illness, ageing, loneliness and even the noise of vacuum cleaners and thunderstorms can also cause stress.

The level of stress experienced varies form dog to dog. But a lot depends on how You react to stress.  An English Bulldog with a high-strung owner could care less but a Pomeranian and even some Rats would be a basket case.

Symptoms of stress include:
Increased sleeping
Whining
Digging
House soiling
Excessive licking
If your dog exhibits signs of stress have your vet examine it for physical problems. If it gets a clean bill of health, figure out what triggers your dog's stress. Your dog can't sit you down and explain that your cat has been making its life a living hell. You have to know your dog. For starters "adjust the dog's lifestyle to be predictable and thoroughly healthful". Watch if closely notice any behavior changes and sleuth for possible causes. It is important to be patient when looking for your dog's triggers and also to try and be patient with guiding you own life into a state of balance. If you don't get rid of the stress, you don't get rid of the problem.

Identify the source:
Aging
Boredom
Changes in routine (moving to a new home, altering your walk schedule)
Developmental side effects (teething, female in heat, unaltered males)
Illness
Intense heat or cold
Loud noises
Harsh, non-existent or inconsistent training
Separation from owners
Tense relations with other pets or people

Try these solutions:
Get your dog a checkup for possible physical causes.
Maintain your dog's normal routine
Use gradual desensitization by exposing your dog to its stressor for few minutes and slowly building to longer intervals.
If these solutions don't ease your dogs stress talk with your vet about supplementation and or medication.
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Ring a bell to go outside

Teaching a dog to signal when it needs to go out can be a challenge. Some dogs develop their own signals, such as barking or scratching at the door. These signals call our attention to the dogs needs but a bell tone is preferable to barking of clawing marked doors.

To teach your dog to ring a bell:
Hand a swag of sleigh bells or one or two medium sized bells attached to a sturdy cord on the door at dog nose height.

Ring the bell before you open the door. Your dog will notice the door always opens right after the bell rings and become curious about that relationship. Within a week or so, most dogs try ringing the bell themselves, hoping the door will open.

Listen for the bell.  When you hear it immediately go to the door, praising all the way and take your dog outside to its potty area. Wait while it eliminates then praise calmly. Don’t praise vigorously because an excited dog might not finish and soon will need to go again.

You can hang a second bell outside for your dog to ring as a come in signal. Some dogs will ring to ask for outdoor playtime. Curtail these false alarms by taking the dog outside on leash. If it doesn't do its business within three minutes take it back inside. Dogs soon realize the bell works only for potty outings!!!

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Our Dogs

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, and your dog. You are his
life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last
beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

 I cannot save the world all at once...but I can do it one dog at a time!
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