Does anxiety keep your dog from being as happy and healthy as he could be? Animals also suffer from varying degrees of anxiety just as their humans sometimes do. Here are five ways you can help ease your dog’s stress levels, and help him enjoy life again!
Related: Great Ways to Calm an Excitable Dog
If there is a known trigger to your dog’s anxiety, such as booming thunder or fireworks, be sure to stay with him while the event is ongoing. Like people, dogs react to physical comfort. Don’t underestimate the power of sitting beside him, brushing him or just being in the same room with an anxious dog; your presence can work wonders!
Have you tried aromatherapy and found it to have a calming influence? Maybe your dog will, too! You should only purchase essential oils and scents that are made specifically for dogs, however. People products can be toxic for animals, and there are plenty of options available for your pooch. For example, you might try a spray to douse the air around his bed or a plug-in that releases a gentle spray.
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You know how your favorite ice cream can simply melt your cares away when you’re stressed out? Well, the same type of “therapy” can work wonders for your dog, too! There are many canine treat/snack products on the market that contain natural ingredients designed to increase a sense of calm. The next time you’re at the veterinarian’s office, you might want to get his advice on more traditional medications as well.
Sometimes retreating to a small space that he can call his own is all it takes to calm an anxious dog. Opinions on the subject differ, but you might want to consider using a crate when your dog’s behavior is dangerous to himself, other pets, or even the house! Being in a crate that he can’t escape from can help a dog calm down and regain a sense of control.
Doctors recommend exercise as a means of reducing our own stress and anxiety levels so it makes sense that it would work for our fur babies, too, right? Sometimes running or playing off excess energy is all it takes to make a dog more relaxed and peaceful. Try using your dog’s favorite outdoor physical activity as a way of redirecting his nervous energy: allow the fresh air and sunshine to work it’s magic on both you and your beloved pooch!
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My dog is a very loving yellow lab who is usually loving to all. Bandit has just started nipping at people. These people Bandit has known forever. Every so often he will nip at them for no reason. He may occasionally nip at a stranger. He is two years old and just started doing it about six months ago. He never did it before. I don’t want to get sued. He has no medical problems. Help.