If you’ve ever been in a house with a dog during a thunderstorm, you’re familiar with what a nervous dog is like. New people, new animals and unfamiliar places tend to bring out anxiety in dogs.
It’s especially troubling when dog anxiety seems to persist even after the initial cause has subsided. In this Chewtorial, we’ll be focusing on how to calm an anxious dog at home, as well as what to look out for in instances where your dog may need professional help.
1. Consult a Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Enlisting a certified professional trainer is a good first move because they should be able to judge whether your situation is serious enough to warrant medical attention. A pro dog trainer can also show you different behavioral therapy lessons that can help you learn how to calm a dog down.
2. Provide Regular Interactive Play & Exercise
Incorporating exercise and interactive play provides both the mental stimulation that your dog craves, as well as helping to tire them out. Engaging your dog in active play allows them to exert energy in a productive way that will leave them feeling tired rather than anxious.
3. Use a Pheromone Diffuser or Collar
If you’re hung up and wondering “What can I give my dog for anxiety?” you’re not alone. Pheromone diffusers are an easy option that can provide a calming effect by releasing synthetic pheromones that help your dog relax. Diffuser collars are another excellent option that can be even more effective than a room diffuser because they go wherever your dog goes.
4. Give Them Soothing Supplements
Like the diffusers, supplements can help your dog calm down with naturally relaxing pheromones, only these are usually mixed in with food for oral dosing. Supplements are most effective when implemented as part of a behavior modification plan. It’s also important to make sure you’re choosing supplements designed specifically for dogs with anxiety because some anti-anxiety products for humans can be toxic to dogs.
5. Ask Your Vet About Medication for Anxiety
Regardless of how well these steps help with their anxiety, be sure to include your vet and keep them informed. If your dog’s anxiety is a symptom of a chemical imbalance or part of a potentially painful underlying medical condition, they’ll be more equipped to diagnose it, as well as determine if prescription medication is the best route.
Hopefully these help to ease the burden of a dog with anxiety.
Chewy