Kennel stress affects dogs in many ways. If steps are taken early when signs first appear, problems can be averted before they become serious. On the other hand, prolonged severe stress can compromise immune function and put an entire kennel at risk.

Stress is defined as anything that challenges a dog to change or adapt to new circumstances. Purina Research Scientist Ragen T.S. McGowan, PhD, says, “There are many factors that can lead to stress in dogs, and some dogs are better equipped to handle stress than others. Some individuals are easygoing, and others are more anxious, making it difficult for them to adapt readily to anything new.”

Some stress is considered good for dogs and necessary for development. Short-term, low-level stress that occurs when puppies and adult dogs are vaccinated is necessary to provide protection from diseases, such as parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, and rabies. In contrast, an individual dog is likely to experience long-term severe stress in response to a health condition, such as cancer or autoimmune disease.

“The stress response is normal, and in many situations of acute stress, it prepares the dog for challenges ahead,” Dr. McGowan says. “Mild short-term stressors actually help a dog to build the skills necessary to be behaviorally flexible and cope with anything that comes his way. Chronic stress, on the other hand, can be detrimental from both a behavioral and physiological standpoint. Long-term stress can be detrimental to the immune system, leaving a dog more susceptible to disease.”

In a kennel environment, stressors could include crowding, lack of adequate shelter or food, noise, and negative or continual threatening behavior from other dogs.