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8 Ways to Calm Your Anxious Dog Easily

  • 21/07/2020

While prong and shock collars can help control your dog’s behavior and keep it calm, they can be very dangerous to sensitive breeds and smaller dogs like puppies. Devices like prongs and shock collars may eventually create fear and make matters worse. Your best alternatives are natural and gentle mechanical options that are highlighted below. The following are some of the best possible ways to calm your anxious dog easily;

Aromatherapy for Dogs

The use of CBD oils for dogs has become more popular than ever before. These oils are very easy to use especially when they are placed in a diffuser, which is then plugged to an electrical source.  Make sure the dog is in the room where you plug the diffuser to ensure that she gets access to the aroma of the oil. CBD oils release aromas that will calm the dog’s nerves and make her relax. Other similar products like Adaptil, will release pheromones, an odorless scent that will allay the dog’s fears and provide relief against anxiety.

Exercise the Dog

One effective long-term and free way of calming your dog are to exercise their mind and body. Exercise can also provide bonding time for you and the dog, especially when you hardly find time to be with them. Exercise will help tire the dog out and that can induce sleep and relaxation very fast. Anxiety will trigger excess energy but exercises will help your dog burn out such energy effectively. A long walk in the park or occasional hiking can help your dog relieve stress.

Massage the Dog

As you are aware that massaging can calm even the most anxious human, you should also know that the therapy can be good for dogs too. Anxiety in dogs often lead to the tensing of the muscles, and only a good and thorough massage can relax such tension. If you have to do the massage by yourself, simply start from the neck region and work downwards with some long strokes. You may want to take the dog to a professional massage therapist for better results. When you massage, keep a hand on the dog and use the other to massage them. Over time, repeated massages will help you identify where the dog is most stressed and you can work more on that particular region.

Use the Music Therapy

Humans are not the only ones that benefit from soft and relaxing music, dogs also benefit from such. You can play relaxation music in your home, car and just anywhere your dog is having anxiety and it helps a lot. There is actually certain types of music for calming dogs, so it may be worth looking to see if you need to download more for this purpose. In addition to calming your dog, good music can eliminate external noises from the street which helps those dogs that are sensitive to surrounding sounds. Research has shown that most dog breeds will prefer classical, harp, and slow rhythm songs for the calming effect. Music is a natural sedative you should try once in a while on your dog.

Use Calming Coats or Shirts

Many dog owners don’t believe that wearing coats on their dogs can create some calming effects. Calming coats or t-shirt can apply some mild and constant pressure on the torso of the dog. A calming coat will surround the dog like a swaddling cloth on a baby, thus keeping the dog at ease. This time of relaxation option is recommended for dogs that suffer anxiety attacks while traveling. It is also a suitable therapy for dogs reacting to the presence of a stranger, separation or loneliness, and noisy environment. There are several brands and models you can choose from depending on the size of your dog. Make sure the coat or shirt fits snuggly on the animal to achieve the best result.

More Physical Contact

There is nothing more soothing and more reassuring than your physical touch and presence with your dog. When you figure out the signs and symptoms of anxiety in your dog, you will be able to deal with it as early as possible. Cuddling the dog on the couch and petting them on a long session is very important in improving physical contact.

Make Use of Dog Relaxants

Dog relaxants come in different forms and they are provided as treats to dogs. One of the ways dog relaxants help dogs overcome anxiety is that they drive away from the attention of the animal from the triggers of the anxiety. One of the commonest dog relaxants is the calming chew that contains anti-anxiety ingredients. A container of the chew main contain as many as 100 or more chews, and these will last for weeks or months depending on the frequency of usage. Ingredients may include organic plants like ginger root, chamomile, mint, and valerian root. The relaxants may also be flavored with beef, chicken, or other food material to attract the dog.

Consider Use of Supplements

If anxiety in your dog causes or is triggered by health issues, perhaps the use of supplements will be an ideal option. Some common supplements that can help deal with and improve symptoms of anxiety are; Melatonin, Theanine, Thiamin, L-Tryptophan, and L-Theanine. If your dog has a sensitive stomach that makes them purge or suffer digestive disorders when anxious, a supplement containing ginger may help improve the situation. Most supplements are recommended for general and travel anxiety and they can be applied to all breeds and sizes of dogs.

Conclusion

If possible, you should eliminate the triggers of anxiety in your dog. If your dog is always fearful as a result of sighting bigger animals, perhaps holding the dog in your hand while walking outside can allay their fears. If external noises are the cause of fear and anxiety, perhaps using a soundproof wall or shutting down the windows and doors when indoors can help prevent such triggers. It is also important to avoid leaving your dog alone for too long, perhaps you should take them to the baby-sitter if you will stay away from home for too long. Make sure you take your dog for routine health checks.

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