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September 15, 2021 - By :

How to Calm Down an Anxious Dog

There are many reasons that a dog can become anxious. Just like humans, dogs can have anxiety too! Their anxiety may stem from many triggers and factors. The most common kind of anxiety in canines is separation anxiety, which you can read about here. Besides separation anxiety, some anxiety in dogs may be caused by loud noises, unfamiliar people and dogs, unknown places or objects, and more. 

We all wish that our dogs could talk to us and communicate what they’re feeling, but unfortunately they can’t. This is why it is so important to pay special attention to your dog in certain situations to determine what makes them anxious. Once you determine your dog’s anxiety triggers and causes, it will be easier to calm them and ensure them that they can trust you. Here, we will go over the top tips for calming your dog when they are feeling anxious. Take note that these remedies may take some time to be effective, so be patient with your furry friend! 

 

Exercise With Your Dog

It is proven that one of the best ways to help relieve your dog’s anxiety is to get them outside and exercised! Similar to humans, exercising helps lower your dog’s stress and anxiety levels, and has a huge beneficial impact on their mental health as well. Make sure to take the time to take them on a long, leisurely walk, or treat them to some games of fetch. An important part of taking your dog out for exercise is that it will help you determine what their anxiety triggers are. It could be unknown places, or seeing unfamiliar people and dogs outside the comfort of their own home. Stay aware of your dog’s surroundings, and their responses in certain situations. This will better help you identify the causes of your dog’s anxiety, and even help them calm down if they suffer from separation anxiety. 

 

Remove Anxiety Triggers

One of the most helpful things you can do to reduce your dog’s anxiety is to identify and remove any anxiety causing triggers in your dog’s environment or surroundings. It may take some time to figure out what exactly triggers your dog’s anxiety, so make sure to always be aware and observant of your dog’s behavior in all situations. Some of the most common triggers for canine anxiety are strangers, being touched in certain places, too many people, or unfamiliar areas. 

 

Music Therapy

A great way to help calm down your anxious dog is to try music therapy. This is a proven method that has been very effective in reducing stress levels in dogs. Similar to when doctors recommend playing classical music for children when they are doing schoolwork, experts recommend playing classical music for your dogs when they are anxious or stressed. 

 

Try CBD Products 

CBD products have been scientifically proven to successfully treat a wide range of anxiety disorders in dogs. CBD is not a drug, but it can be partially responsible for regulating stress and mood levels. Before trying any CBD products with your dog, it is important to consult with your veterinarian to get their professional opinion and whether or not they think it is the right choice for your dog. When choosing CBD products, we highly recommend choosing a product that only has natural ingredients. Some of these ingredients include organic coconut oil, hemp oil, and MCT oil. 

As listed above, there are several at home remedies that you can try at home to help relax and ease your dog’s anxiety. Even throughout this process, it is important to watch your dog’s behavior, and to look for any red flags that indicate a serious medical condition or disease. If your dog’s anxiety or symptoms continue or become worse, immediately contact your veterinarian for further examination and testing. 

To learn more about COME.SIT.STAY and our expert in-home dog training, click here. Visit our Facebook page for all of the latest updates and information! 

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