Ways to Ease an Anxious Dog

Every dog owner understands that dogs, like people, can get anxious.

They might become troubled for a number of reasons, whether it be the presence of strangers at the front door or the sound of thunder echoing outside.

These are more typical than others, and according to one research published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, many owners don’t realise that dogs are stressed by even common household noises such as a vacuum or washing machine.

The tell-tale signs of anxiety in dogs include:

• Shaking
• Barking or whining
• Tucked in tails
• Panting
• Loss of appetite
• Hostile or withdrawn behavior

So what are some of the ways to ease an anxious dog? Well if you are not sure what to do, try one or more of these.

Play music to calm them

It has been proven that by playing classical music, you can lower stress levels in dogs. The theory behind this is that the slow rhythms of the composition will tap into a dog’s natural fight or flight response and reduce their anxiety by slowing down the heart rate and decreasing cortisol levels in the body. It also works to alleviate noise sensitivity by blocking loud noises or sounds, especially during bonfire night.

Give your dog a belly rub

People often praise their dog if it behaves well in public, but rarely do they reward good behaviour with belly rubs. In fact, petting a dog on its stomach has been proven to reduce stress and increase oxytocin levels (the ‘good dog hormone’). By focusing on the belly rather than other areas of the body, you are avoiding triggering any type of response that might be causing your dog to feel anxious and they’ll be much happy with you by their side.

Try a Thundershirt

Another way to ease an anxious dog is by buying a Thundershirt. This is made with an acupressure-point pressure technology – like swaddling a baby in a blanket, except you’re wrapping the shirt around your dog. You can find these shirts online or through Amazon and they come in a variety of sizes for any breed. It reduces anxiety by evenly applying constant gentle pressure along the body which helps calm the nervous system. And it’s not just for thunderstorms! If you have a dog who gets anxious when travelling in the car, this could be helpful to them as well.

Massage therapy

Believe it or not, massage therapy for dogs can be just as beneficial for your canine companion as it is for you. It helps to strengthen the bond between you both and certain techniques via physiotherapy can also refresh strained or sore muscles to improve joint movement and flexibility. At home, there are plenty of ways to go about giving your dog a massage, whether you use oils or simply do some gentle rubbing on the body. If your pup is extra anxious in the wintertime, try using warm oil like coconut oil during their next rubdown!

Use aromatherapy

You can use calming essential oils around your home or you can even apply them directly to your dog’s body through a carrier oil such as coconut oil or jojoba oil. Lavender and chamomile are two of the best ways to help soothe anxious dogs! The nice thing about using oils is that they will have a long-lasting effect. Even after being diluted with something like water, you won’t have to worry about reapplying over and over again during a stressful event.

So now that you know some ways you can ease an anxious dog, try them out for yourself!

If none of these methods work or you feel like they might not be good for your dog go ahead and consult your vet. They might be able to help you with ways to ease anxiety or run some tests on your pup if they’re constantly stressed to check that they’re not experiencing any stress-related issues.  

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