Your pet isn't 'turning.' They are drowning in a hidden stress chemical that lasts for days.
Every scare your pet has—from the An Post van to a loud bang—pours into a mental bucket. When it overflows, they snap.
Adrenaline leaves quickly, but cortisol lingers in your pet's blood for 48 to 72 hours. Their 'bad Monday' follows them to Wednesday.
7:00 AM: The bin lorries wake them. 8:00 AM: A loose dog rushes them on the walk. Their bucket is half-full before breakfast.
When they growl at a gentle stroke, that hand wasn't the problem. It was just the final drop in a bucket that was already full.
Are you seeing the whites of their eyes? Panting when it's not warm? Scanning the room? Their brain is shifting to survival mode.
Suspend the walks. Skip the trip to Maxizoo. Give your pet 72 hours of absolute quiet to let their hormones reset to zero.
Let them use their nose in the garden. Lick-mats with yoghurt lower their heart rate and help process that 'stress residue.'
Is your pet reactive to callers? Put a note on your door. Stop the doorbell from resetting their 72-hour recovery clock.
A pet with undiagnosed hip issues or dental pain has a permanently full bucket. If they stay 'cranky,' it's time to see the vet.
Pushing them to 'face fears' while they're chemically overwhelmed is a recipe for a bite. Give them time, not exposure.
Your pet isn't being 'the boss.' They are chemically incapable of making good choices when stacked. Protect their peace to protect your family.
See the full breakdown of trigger stacking and get our 72-hour recovery checklist.