Anxiety can be a problem for dogs just like it is for humans. I’ve been working with dogs for over a decade now, and have worked with many anxious dogs. If we identify and address the issue early on, you can avoid any unnecessary behavior issues from developing further down the road.
Dogs have feelings, too. It doesn’t make sense when we humans take them everywhere, even in a very loud environment, such as a beach, the dog may get scared and worried. Anxiety can range from mild to severe. Dogs may pace around the house and pant, suffer from insomnia, chew things around the house or even self-injure.
Have you ever wondered how to reduce your dog’s anxiety? Dogs can be quite anxious as they lead a stressful life. But you can make their lives very much better by taking some time to play with them and get them involved in various activities.
Looking to chill out your dog? Here are some tips that could help:
- Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise. If they’ve got pent up energy, the chances of them having anxiety increase
- Give your dog a treat when you’re going to leave the house, so they have something to look forward to while you’re away such as wearing them their best dog clothes and accessories.
- Play with your dog before you leave the house. This will tire them out and make them less likely to get anxious when you’re gone
- Ignore your dog for a few minutes before you leave the house. This will help make sure that you don’t accidentally give them any signals that something’s about to happen that might make them anxious
- Talk to your vet. Your vet may suggest an over-the-counter dog anxiety reliever like Mellow Mutt or Cheerful Chihuahua for some added calm.
- Leave your dog something to do while you’re gone. Whether it’s a puzzle toy or a chew toy, giving your pup some dog accessories while you’re away is a good way to keep them busy and distract them from their anxiety.
- Give them something of yours to snuggle with while you’re away. An old t-shirt, a blanket, whatever—as long as it has your scent on it
- Exercising your dog regularly is one of the best ways to help with his separation anxiety and other phobias. Exercising will tire him out so that he’ll be less likely to exhibit anxious behaviors like pacing and whining.
- Distractions : If a thunderstorm is rolling in, turn on the television or some music to distract your pup from the sound of thunder and lightning outside. You can also give your dog a treat-dispensing toy or practice commands and tricks with him if you see he is starting to become anxious about something.
- Desensitization and Counterconditioning: Desensitization is about exposing your dog (in a controlled way) to the thing that makes him anxious so that he can become accustomed to it — for example, playing recordings of fireworks so that he becomes more comfortable with the sound. Counterconditioning involves associating something positive (like treats) with something neutral.
Wrap Up
Anxiety in dogs can manifest itself in a variety of ways, from excessive barking and destructive chewing to tail chasing and house soiling. If you’re hoping to help your dog overcome his anxiety, you’ve likely considered using medications like Prozac or Xanax.
The truth is that these drugs can help ease anxiety symptoms, but they don’t address the underlying causes of stress. Instead of treating the problem with medication, you’ll want to focus on some alternative methods to reduce your dog’s anxiety.
See, your dog doesn’t want to make all that noise! All your pooch really wants is for you to take a few minutes out of your day and focus on him or her. If you do this, soon enough, you will see the anxiousness melt away into a relaxed state of mind that all dogs enjoy from time to time.
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