If you have a dog, at some point in time it is possible that your dog will get stressed out. There are many reasons why it might happen.
When this happens, the last thing you want to do is add on to this stress by not knowing how to calm down a dog. If your dog is kept from being calm for too long, they may become sick, have a nervous breakdown or even die.
What causes stress and anxiety in dogs?
There are several issues that can contribute to your dog becoming stressed out.
For example, if your dog is in a new home he may become stressed because of all the changes around him.
Even though you might be excited about having a new dog, it is not uncommon for your old pet to become scared because he feels abandoned and unsure of who you are.
Another common cause of stress in dogs is being left alone for long periods of time, especially if they have been used to having someone at home with them most of the day. This can happen when you go back to work or school.
Another big contributor to your dog becoming stressed out is lack of physical activity. If your dog is bored he will become tired, frustrated and even destructive.
This happens because your dog is trying to relieve some of the boredom by chewing on things or digging holes.
What are the first signs of stress in a dog?
There are several signs that you can look for to determine if your dog is becoming stressed out.
These include:
Pacing
Dogs will sometimes pace up and down the room as well as back and forth. This happens because they need an outlet for their energy, but do not have one available. It also lets them burn off some of their frustration.
Tail Chasing
When dogs become stressed they may begin to chase their own tails. Although this behavior is normal when puppies are young, if your dog keeps chasing his tail when he is grown it can be a sign that something is wrong.
Chewing Objects
Dogs will chew things in order to release some of the tension that has built up inside of them. They may also do it in a destructive manner if they are upset with something else going on in their environment.
Biting
If your dog does not have much to bite, he may begin biting his toys or even you. This is because the only time when dogs will actually bite humans is when they are extremely stressed.
If your dog takes his frustration out by biting, it is best to leave him alone for a bit in order to cool down.
Pacing can be an obvious sign of stress in dogs. If you see your pet pacing back and forth or running all over the house, they might be suffering from nervousness or anxiety.
This behavior is seen in dogs that are new to a household or do not have much freedom at all.
If your dog is feeling stressed, they may begin chewing on almost anything they can get their paws on. This can include toys, shoes and even furniture.
As soon as you notice this behavior, it is best to remove any objects from the house that have been given to your dog.
It is better to prevent them from chewing on anything rather than have them destroy it when they are in a stressed out state of mind.
How To Calm Down A Dog- Effective Solutions
There are many ways that you can help to relieve your dog from stress.
The first thing to do is take a look at the environment of your pet and make sure there is nothing in it that causes them anxiety or nervousness.
If you think this might be the case, remove the object from their possession and see if they stop with the behavior.
You can also try and give your dog more attention and physical activity. This will help to give them something productive to do in order to relax.
Play Some Soothing Music
When you see your dog becoming nervous or uncomfortable around other dogs, try to distract them with some music.
It does not matter what type of music it is, as long as it is easy and gentle on the ears.
A lot of people tend to think that soft rock and reggae works best for calming down a dog. It is something you can try to see if it helps him or her.
Another option is to turn on the radio, even if it is just in the background.
Some dogs may calm down when they hear human voices because of their instinctual desire to be near other people.
If you think your dog might respond well to music, turn on some soft rock. If you want to play something more specific, there are dog-specific music tracks that have been designed for this purpose.
The truth is that it does not matter what type of music you play so long as it can calm your pet down.
The good thing about using music in order to reduce anxiety is that you do not have to worry about its effects on your dog.
It is also something that you can implement in the middle of a situation, rather than having to prepare ahead of time.
Try Bully Sticks for your Dog
Many people use bully sticks because it helps a dog to focus his attention on the present.
Another benefit is that they are something your dog can chew on when you need him to stay in one place for a while.
This way, he will not be acting out of nervousness or anxiety.
If your pet tends to get nervous at the vet, try giving him a bully stick beforehand. This way he will focus on chewing rather than on what is going on around him.
It can also help to keep your dog's teeth healthy and clean, as well as giving them something constructive to do with their mouth.
Try these options if you want to reduce stress in your dog.
It does not matter if you choose to play music or use a bully stick. Both are beneficial in their own way.
As long as you can find some way to interact with your pet during moments of stress, they will have the opportunity to calm down rather than act nervously throughout the day.
Get Some Exercise
If you think your dog is just bored and looking for something to do, take him or her outside.
Go for a walk or play some fetch. This can get rid of any excess energy they might have and release pent-up tensions from the day.
As long as your dog gets enough exercise during the day, there should be no reason for them to behave out of nervousness or anxiety.
It is something you can look into if they are acting hyperactive, even after playing fetch or having some time outside around the house.
The most important thing that you can do is to take a close look at your dog's behavior and environment.
Behavior Training
As with any pet, you will start to start seeing certain behaviors in them that can be hard to deal with.
Sometimes a dog may whine or bark whenever they feel scared or nervous.
When this happens, it is important to not give into their whims and provide reassurance verbally. This should eventually encourage your dog not to continue the behavior.
However, it is also important to not give in when they are misbehaving out of excitement or energy.
By reaffirming that their behavior is wrong, your pet will eventually stop doing the action.
This means that if you see your dog barking too much or jumping up on someone, don't immediately reach to pet them or soothe them.
This can teach your pet that these behaviors work to get your attention fast. Instead, don't make eye contact or touch your dog when they're acting this way.
When ignored, your dog can stop this behavior and calm down.
Take Your Dog for a Walk
Sometimes all it takes to calm down your dog is for you to take them outside.
This can help take the edge off of their anxiety. Unless your dog is anxious around other dogs, invite your friends' dogs to go with you, since walking in a “pack” can help reduce your dog's fears.
If they are still nervous afterwards, it may be helpful to talk to your vet about getting them some medication or other treatment. The truth is that there are times when you cannot avoid stress in your pet.
However, there are ways for you to help take the edge off of their anxiety while also ensuring they get enough exercise during the day.
By following these steps, you can help your dog enjoy the day instead of constantly worrying about what is going on around them.
It's not always easy to tell if your dog is stressed out or just behaving badly. However, it does not take much time to figure out what works best for their needs.
As soon as you begin setting aside time to take your dog out for a walk, you should end up with a better-behaved pet.
If they are acting hyper or barking at people, it can be difficult to calm them down. However, if you give them a bully stick and take a walk afterwards, there is no telling how much better they will behave.
Hang Out with Your Dog
According to an article from the ASPCA, it is a good idea for dogs to get a minimum of two hours daily of human or dog companionship.
Not everyone has this much time every day, but it's a good estimate as a daily average. Knowing this can be useful knowledge when trying to handle certain behaviors in your dog. Some dogs will do better with more alone time than others,” he says.
That said, for a general guideline, dogs should get a minimum of two hours of dedicated social time with humans or other dogs on a daily basis, which can be broken up into chunks of time over the course of the day.
If you have an especially energetic dog, you might find that taking them for a walk before settling down to read or watch TV helps their mood.
If they're hyper, consider if the physical exertion is what your pet needs to alleviate boredom or restlessness.
Keeping your pets at their best requires an understanding of these factors and more. Make sure that any medications are working properly.
If your dog appears to be suffering more than usual, always consult with your vet rather than attempting to solve the problem on your own.
Though you may think that hasn't been working, it's important to realize that sometimes things do take some time to come around.
This post was last updated at April 25, 2024 16:49
