Caring for Your Dog’s Mind: What Drains and Restores Their Energy

For Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s take a moment to look beyond wagging tails and zoomies to the emotional and mental wellbeing of our dogs, especially those who’ve already faced hardship, like many rescue dogs. Just like people, dogs can experience stress, emotional fatigue, and even burnout. Recognising what depletes them, and what helps them recover, is vital to supporting their long-term health and happiness.

What Drains a Dog’s Mental Energy?

Many dogs, especially rescues, come with trauma, uncertainty, or overstimulation baked into their early experiences. Even in a loving home, these challenges can show up in unexpected ways. Common energy drains include:

Loud, unpredictable environments

Inconsistent routines or unclear expectations

Unwanted handling or overstimulation

Forced socialisation or lack of autonomy

Harsh corrections or punitive training

Excessive exercise without recovery time

For a sensitive or previously neglected dog, even a walk in a busy park or meeting a stranger can be emotionally exhausting. Stress stacks up, and without rest, it can lead to anxiety, reactivity, or shutdown.

What Helps Dogs Replenish?

Mental wellbeing isn’t just about avoiding stress, it’s about building in recovery. Restorative, choice-led experiences can help your dog rebalance, such as:

Sniff-based “decompression” walks that let them move at their own pace

Quiet alone time in a predictable, secure space

Consent-based interaction that allows dogs to approach and engage on their terms

Clear, kind communication through consistent cues and positive reinforcement

Mental enrichment such as puzzle toys or scent games

Uninterrupted sleep in cozy, low-stress environments

For rescue dogs especially, creating a sense of safety and predictability is everything. Many have never had control over their lives, offering choice now is a powerful form of healing.

Special Considerations: Reactive & Elderly Dogs

Some dogs need even more mindful support:

Reactive dogs burn energy fast. They benefit from structured calm time, low-pressure routines, and a strong sense of safety.
Older dogs often face pain, fatigue, or sensory decline. Gentle handling, short walks, and lots of naps go a long way.

No Two Dogs Are the Same

There’s no universal recipe for dog happiness. The key is tuning in, watching how your dog responds, respecting their signals, and adjusting your approach.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, take stock of your dog’s emotional world. What might be quietly draining them? What helps them truly relax and feel secure?

Listening to our dogs is one of the most powerful ways we can love them. And for rescue dogs, it can be the difference between surviving and truly thriving.