Anxiety is a common issue in dogs, and it affects dogs the same way it affects humans. Dogs manifest anxiety differently, and many see it as unhealthy behavior. As a result, your dog could chew on furniture, pee where it is not supposed to, bark and whine at people, etc. Many people find this behavior unacceptable, yet the dog, most of the time, might be helpless.
Even though such behavior could be annoying, the poor dog manifests signs of anxiety. As a result, one needs to take some intelligent steps to reduce stress in dogs.
Anxiety in a dog is no cause for alarm. Once you identify the reason, you can support your dog to live a happy and healthy life.
Here are proven ways to reduce anxiety in dogs:
Exercise Your Dog
Indeed, a tired dog is a well-behaved dog. A hyperactive dog with excessive energy will easily manifest signs of anxiety. It will be easy for such a dog to jump around and display different anxiety symptoms. However, exhausting your dog through a helpful exercise plan can engage their mind enough to release anxiety.
When anxiety arises, the dog manifests excessive energy. As a result, playing via exercise can relieve such and prove incredibly helpful. Go for a game of fetch and catch, consider going for a long walk, etc. When you exercise, you not only help relieve anxiety but make them feel good about themselves as well.
Try Giving Your Dog CBD
CBD is a health supplement from the cannabis plant that can deal with many health issues. Thanks to research, CBD can handle health issues like anxiety, pain, insomnia, appetite issues, etc. The good news is CBD also works for dogs, and you can use it to limit pressure, based on research.
There are CBD treats that your dog will appreciate. You can also give your dog CBD oil, relieving anxiety and handling other health issues. As long as you go for high-quality CBD for dogs, you can expect various health benefits.
However, ensure your dog’s intake of CBD is supervised, so they do not overdose on it.
Use Dog Calming Music
Music can be incredibly therapeutic for animals and humans as well. This explains why many pet owners leave their TV or radio when they are not around. Such can help the dog feel comfortable. However, a more effective way to calm anxiety in a dog is to use some special dog calming music.
You can attempt various calming music, which will relieve anxiety in dogs and make them feel relaxed. Such music will help combat anxiety and deal with loneliness, boredom, and excessive activity. The soothing mechanism can calm them during a stressful event, especially dogs with noise phobia.
Many dogs love classical music, according to research. They will appreciate harp music since it can sedate and soothe them.
Consider Dog Massage
Massage is effective for humans, but animals will find it helpful as well. Massage aims to identify pressure points in various body parts and relieve them. The joints, muscles, tendons, and other body parts are usually tensed most time. However, with structured massage on various body parts, you can ease anxiety in your dog.
You can massage your dog in many ways. Consider the circular movement of your finger and hand in various parts of your body. This will not only activate the cellular intelligence but relieve tension. With this, you get a relaxed dog. When your pet or stroke a dog, you also experience stress relief, so it benefits both parties.
Distract Your Dog
At times, some situations might trigger anxiety in your dog. A dog might be anxious because of excessive strange faces, too much noise, and many others. In such a case, distraction can work.
Engaging the dog to focus on something else like you or a toy can drown out the distractions around, reducing anxiety. This is not about starting a new training plan but introducing tricks that can be helpful and bring about positive reinforcement.
Consider distracting your dog (especially those who love food) with treat-dispensing toys as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. This can reconfigure the dog’s brain to associate frightening events like strangers with treats.
Try Desensitization
Anxiety can often arise due to an extreme fear of something, an event, or a place. Your dog could have a phobia for excessive noise, a place, etc., which triggers the fear that manifests via anxiety.
However, an effective way to counter this is by introducing such an object or item of fear in small and controlled intensity so that it doesn’t trigger the anxiety. The idea is to repeatedly expose the dog to such stimuli and reward your dog for handling the situation calmly – positive reinforcement.
For instance, assume your dog’s anxiety springs up when encountering other giant dogs. Consider playing videos of big dogs via TV and increase the dog size. Do this when your dog is calm, and repeat it with time. Over time, your dog will get accustomed to big dogs not to trigger anxiety.
Conclusion
Anxiety is an actual condition that affects many dogs. It might be separation anxiety, or it could be triggered when exposed to some stimuli.
Luckily, there are various helpful ways you can help a dog with anxiety.