Dogs come in all shapes, sizes and personalities, and many of us choose our dogs in line with the personality and needs that fit best with our lives. However, you might spend hours researching your perfect dog only to find out that it has an anxiety disorder.
Thankfully, there are some ways to support your dog. From creating a safe and comfortable space to using calming sensory stimulants, here are some tried and tested solutions that you can try at home.
How to spot signs of anxiety
Some dogs are genetically disposed to have nervous personalities, but this is different to an anxiety disorder. Symptoms of such a disorder include uncontrolled urination and defecation, destructive behaviour, chronic panting, excessive whimpering and trembling. You might also notice that your dog frequently has its tail stuck between its legs.
A dog with anxiety may exhibit one or more of these behaviours frequently, especially when it’s in an uncomfortable situation. It’s a serious problem if your dog is showing multiple of these symptoms at the same time.
Create a safe space
As with any anxiety disorder, safe spaces are crucial to make an individual feel calmer. Dedicate a part of your home to this safe space, making it super comfortable with a spacious dog crate, plenty of snuggly blankets and enough food and water.
It’s important to keep this area temperate throughout the year, ensuring it’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Make it accessible too so your dog can retreat as and when it wants to.
Incorporate lots of exercise and playtime
In many cases, dogs are anxious because they haven’t been socialised around other dogs, meaning that they easily feel threatened. The pandemic played a crucial role in this, leaving many dogs also afraid of humans they haven’t encountered before.
In order to instil confidence in your dog, allow them to embrace their natural instincts with games like flyball and fetch. When you let them off the lead, give them enough time to have a good sniff around and explore the surroundings.
If you want your dog to have other dog friends, why not enrol them on some group walks? With so many dog walking companies around, you only have to pay a few pounds to have a professional take your dog on a group walk whilst you busy yourself with something else.
Try Calming Snacks for Pets
Another alternative is calming treats for dogs. These treats have been crafted specifically with ingredients known for their calming properties, like chamomile and valerian root, to relieve your furry friend. Such calming dog treats can be a handy addition to your toolkit to soothe your dog’s anxiety. However, before introducing any new food items into your dog’s diet, always seek advice from a veterinarian.
Calming sounds and smells
As it turns out, aromatherapy isn’t just for humans. When you think about it, though, it makes complete sense. With over 40 times more scent receptors than humans, certain essential oils have been proven to have very positive results with anxious dogs.
If your furry friend is suffering from anxiety, as highlighted above, you can take comfort in the knowledge that there are multiple ways that you can help. By taking the time to understand the signs and identifying how to curb any triggers that may be contributing to your dog’s discomfort, you will be on the way to creating a calm and comfortable home for your pup.