Dogs suffer from stress and anxiety as much as people do, though it can be harder to recognize their symptoms. Your pet might try to tell you that he’s stressed by pushing his ears back, tucking his tail, salivating, yawning, licking his muzzle, or lifting his front paw. Other, more obvious signs of dog anxiety include cowering or hiding, trembling, panting, or expressing his anal glands.
And just like people, there are plenty of ways to help relax and soothe pets. Love listening to a certain type of music to unwind? Apparently, so does your dog. When it comes to tension-taming tunes, pups seem to prefer the sounds of soft rock or reggae to jazz, pop, or Motown. Playing the music was linked to a decrease in shelter dogs’ heart rates (which is a sign of less stress) in one 2017 study.
But even if you’re not a fan of Bob Marley or Michael Bolton, don’t worry. There are plenty of other ways to calm your furry friend. Here are five simple strategies worth trying:
1. Examine your routine
Before shelling out for any products that promise to soothe your pup’s stress, consider how you might be able to help him feel calmer. For instance, having a predictable daily routine that helps your dog anticipate when he’ll get to eat, go outside, and spend time playing with you could help him feel more confident and less nervous. That’s especially true if his stress seems to stem from separation anxiety
2. Compression wraps
Those Thundershirts might make you pup look funny, but they really can make a difference (And not just during thunderstorms or fireworks.) The wraps work by swaddling your dog and applying gentle, continuous pressure, which is thought to help reduce fear. worth a try?
3. Music
Music or the the radio is often a good way to calm a dog, If i have a nervous dog on my table ill often put the radio on. i find the talking and music of the radio helps to distract the dog and often helps settle. similar to leaving the tv on if you pop out for an hour. dogs love a bit of ed sheeran or some old skool dance
4. Massage
Anecdotally, physical touch is thought to ease anxiety and aggression in dogs. And though there’s not much research to support this, gentle petting seems to help dogs stay calmer during stressful or uncomfortable situations like getting shots or having their blood drawn, visiting the vet or groomer
5. Seek professional help
We took buddy to some dog glasses when he was a pup, he had a bit of playful aggression. after about 6 weeks of socializing with other dogs and people i could see a massive change in him. He was definitively more obedient (at times) and his aggression was more mannered. although is wouldn't necessarily say this was just down to the glasses, it definitively helped.
If your still struggling with behavior then consider meeting with a board-certified veterinary behaviorist or certified applied animal behaviorist, who can help you put together a specific plan to change your dog’s underlying emotional response— so he can get back to his happy, tail-wagging self.