A calm dog lying down.

5 Ways to Help Calm an Anxious Dog

Posted by Kyle Burton on

Do you know a fearful Fido? Or have a worried Wolf at home? Stress and anxiety in dogs can manifest itself in many ways. It can come in the form of a wet mattress. Or a pair of half-eaten shoes. It displays itself through incessant biting, whining, itching, shaking, and barking.


You may also notice that your dog suddenly becomes abnormally bad-tempered and destructive around the home. You might even notice them not eating their meals or withdrawing themself more from the household. 

 


Besides factors like neglect, abuse, and mistreatment, the most common reasons for dog anxiety are the fear of abandonment, loneliness, loud noises, travel, and anything that might be new or strange to them. 


The best way you can help your canine companion is to determine why they feel this way. Once you find the cause of the anxiety, you can work on a proper treatment plan for your apprehensive pup. 


Related: Our Story


What Can I Do to Keep My Canine Calm?


Although the treatment and actions you take entirely depend on what kind of anxiety your dog is experiencing, here are the five main ways you can help calm an already anxious dog


Exercise

If your dog is nervous a lot, mainly if caused by separation anxiety. Using activity and exercise before you go out is beneficial, and this works as a tool to tire out your pet and a chance to spend some time with them.


Take your dog to the park, throw the frisbee around or go on a short walk before crating. Lots of love, pets, and communicating with them is also vital. They will begin looking forward to this time with you and be more comfortable with the solo rest afterward. 


Dark, Pleasant Environment

Something as simple as covering the crate with a thin blanket can help put them in a restful mood. 


A quick tip: Put something to secure the blanket over the crate, or you might have a dog with a stomach ache and only fabric shreds left when you get home. 


A dog under a blanket relaxing.

A simple dimming of lights in the room they are staying in can also be very helpful, and it sends a general signal to the brain that it is time to relax. Don't worry if your dog is out and about in the house. Dogs have remarkable vision capabilities that allow them to see just fine in a darker room. 


Adding a supplement can help your dog relax easier. Check out our full line today.


Music Therapy

Does music or calming audio help you relax? It is because music therapy naturally sedates you and has been proven helpful for humans and animals. The power of music can be distracting and relaxing while you leave for work or off to the grocery store. Providing your pup some soft music in the background can also alleviate noise sensitivity, like traffic or noise from people outside. 


Youtube has hours of free calming music tracks for your pets at home. 


Related: Tips to Keep Your Dog Calm During Fireworks


Aromatherapy

Regarding aromatherapy for our pets, we need to be extra cautious about how much and what kind of essential oils and fragrances we use around our animals. However, more recently, in the stores, you have noticed oil diffusers for pets, and an array of aromatherapy products made specifically for your dog


While there is limited science that aromatherapy products and alternative therapies can benefit dogs suffering from anxiety, there is evidence that therapy can influence behavior.


Try oils like Lavender, Bergamot, and Ylang Ylang in an oil pet diffuser specifically made to be low concentrated and safe for pets. Or even check out puppy pet diffusers that actually give off calming maternal pheromones to younger pups.


Supplements

Relatively newer to the scene are calming supplements and CBD pet products. Studies show the positive benefits of CBD and other health supplements for pets. Dog treats are available online and in stores that contain helpful supplements that can help anxiety


They tend to contain supplements like CBD, melatonin, ginger, thiamin, hemp extract, chamomile, L-Theanine, or L-tryptophan. 


Are Anxiety Relief Supplements Safe for My Dog?

Dogs can benefit from vitamins and supplements just like people do to stay healthy and happy. And although it is not safe to dose your pet with a human-size amount of any vitamin or supplement, supplements specifically designed for pets can be entirely safe for your animal at home


A calm dog with their owner.

We always recommend starting slowly and working up. Talk to your pet's health professional before starting anything new.  

 

At Healthy Paws Herbals, we care about your dog too! We know that they are our best buddies! So we use only Whole Hemp Extract in our products. Rest assured, our products are backed by years of experience, making them the safest and most effective herbal products for pets on the market


Healthy Paws Herbal Labs' can help your dog with the NO MORE DRAMA Calming Relief. It's made with all-natural ingredients like Ban Xia, Chai Hu, Da Huang, Zhen Zhu, Broad Spectrum Hemp Extract (FDA Register Lab), 0.0% THC…and other beneficial ancient Chinese Herbs that have been working wonders for thousands of years. 


Related: Meet Our Team


Anxiety is debilitating. Not only for us as humans, but our animals can also suffer greatly. 


Fortunately, symptoms like excessive biting, barking, urinating on the carpets, and chewing on everything in sight, can be treated. Small steps and lifestyle changes can help you and your dog feels better.


If you have a dog that suffers from anxiety, Healthy Paws Herbal Labs can Help Now!

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