If you’ve ever tried to calm a dog down, you know that it can be a challenge. The best way to calm your pooch is by using calming products. Here are some signs and symptoms to look out for if your dog is suffering with anxiety.
Dogs exhibit different signs of stress depending on the dog and on the situation. Typical signs of stress and anxiety are:
Ears back, Excessive panting , Drooling , Shaking ,Hiding away, Barking excessively ,Toileting in the house, Licking lips , Tail between legs Ensure your dog has toys to keep them occupied. Keep your departures and returns calm and quiet. Consider getting a diffuser, some spray, collar or medication for calming an anxious dog.
The pheromone released in ADAPTIL is identical to the dog appeasing pheromone secreted by a mother dog from 3-5 days after the puppy’s birth to provide reassurance to the puppies. Remember that not all dogs are calmer when crated; some dogs panic when caged and will injure themselves if forced to be confined. Gently reassure your dog.
If the stimulus is outside close curtains, turn on the television or radio and distract your dog with play or treats. Reward your dog for calming down and absolutely avoid punishment for behaviour related to fear, phobia, or anxiety. If your dog has chronic anxiety, or gets anxious about a specific issue such as separation anxiety or noises, speak to your vet or a trained animal behaviourist for advice.
Puppies and dogs that get less social and environmental exposure may become habitually fearful. This is why it’s so important to expose puppies to a variety of social situations and environments when they are young (up to the time they are 14 weeks of age) to decrease the chances of fearful behaviour. This time is called the socialisation period.
Other people find well-socialised puppies a pleasure to be around. We’ve all met dogs who bark and lunge when they see other dogs, or who are fearful around certain people. Often, it could be easy to assume that they’ve had a bad experience or been hurt in the past. That’s not always the case, however. Simply having had no experience of being around children or other dogs, for instance, can be enough for some dogs to turn to fearful or aggressive displays because they are trying to keep themselves safe from a situation they never learned was safe.
Puppies are all different – some are naturally brave little characters while others are more timid. Whatever your puppy’s temperament, investing some time in socialising them while they’re young will equip them with skills for life and enable them to cope with most situations they may meet. Certain times of year are often more anxiety inducing for dogs than others. For example Christmas but over-indulgence in unfamiliar foods or fatty gravies can cause gastroenteritis. To us, it is hard to tell what’s inside a wrapped gift, but a box of chocolates is no secret to your dog as they can sniff out food regardless of the wrapping paper. Remember chocolate is toxic to your dog so always put edible presents safely out of the way to avoid emergency vet visits over Christmas.
Chocolate, macadamia nuts, onions, grapes, sultanas, raisins and alcohol are all toxic to pets (so keep that Christmas pudding out of reach!). Bones can splinter off and get stuck in your pet’s intestines, so never allow your pet to chew on them.
Popular Christmas plants like holly and mistletoe, along with their berries, are toxic to pets if ingested so keep these out of reach! And although most species of Christmas tree are low in toxicity, they could cause a stomach upset if chewed. It’s also important to clean up fallen Christmas tree needles so that they don’t get stuck in paws. While some pets love a party, many find the noise, excitement and number of faces overwhelming. Ideally pets should have their own quiet space to retreat to if you’re hosting people at home, where no-one will disturb them. You can move their food, water and bed there a few days in advance to get your pet used to having them in a new spot.
If your party has children attending, make sure that they know how to interact safely with your pet and never leave pets and children unsupervised. Even the friendliest of pets have a limit. Checking everyone is having a good time, including our furry family members, makes for the perfect party so have a look at our top tips for keeping everyone happy. Dog anxiety can affect all breeds, but may affect each individual dog differently. Although it is something that all dogs experience from time-to-time, if disproportionate levels of anxiety are left unchecked, a dog can develop an anxiety disorder. If left untreated, dog anxiety can lead to behavioural and other issues. Dogs are naturally very social and cooperative animals. When dogs show aggression it’s usually a clear sign that they’re frightened and feel that they’re in direct threat.
They show aggression as an attempt to increase the distance between themselves and whatever is worrying them. If the behaviour works, they’re likely to repeat it again the next time they’re in a similar situation. The more you practise recognising the subtle, initial signs that a dog is feeling uncomfortable or afraid, the sooner you’ll be able to respond appropriately and prevent the situation from getting worse. If you can respond to their subtle signs of discomfort, your dog will be less likely to communicate by lunging, baring teeth, snarling, growling, snapping, or biting. The more we can show our dogs that we understand and respect how they are feeling, the more they can trust us to help them. And the safer they will feel. Ignoring or discouraging these kinds of signs from your dog could teach them that there’s no point in showing subtle signs of fear because it doesn’t work. So next time they might feel that they have no other option than to lung or bite straight away.
If your dog shows any signs of aggression, avoid the triggers for that behaviour as much as possible. This might mean keeping your dog completely away from whatever appears to be making them feel uncomfortable. Dog anxiety solutions are just the thing for nervous pups. From sprays to spot-on treatments and tablets, you can help your dog relax in no time. Whether you’re protecting your pet from firework anxiety or helping a worried pet stay calm while travelling, the most most-recommended dog anxiety products Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements Calming Care Thunder Shirt Dog Anxiety Jacket. Dog TV. Hyper Pet Licking Mat for Cats & Dogs. Spotify’s My Dog’s Favourite Podcast. Best Friends by Sheri Calming Donut Dog Bed Snuggle Puppy.
So there you have it, our top five calming products for dogs! We’re sure that at least one of these will help your dog start feeling more relaxed and happy again. Remember to keep them away from sunlight and other sources of UV light, as it can be harmful for their skin.
