5 Ways To Help My Anxious Dog

Hi, I'm Dr. Courtney Campbell, and in this video, I'll show you five easy ways to calm your anxious dog. Dogs see the world distinctly differently than we do. Many of their senses are superior to ours, and therefore they pick up sights, smells, and sounds that we may not notice. But the ability to understand why they are seeing and smelling these things is not always there. And that's when you'll see anxious behaviors. So if your dog suffers sometimes from stress or anxiety, or is generally nervous, watch this video and learn easy tools to help your dog overcome their anxiety. If you'd like to learn more and get daily tips and content about fun and easy ways to help your dog be happier, less stressed, and more behave, subscribe to DogTV's YouTube channel now. Just hit the subscribe button and become DogTV's new pack member. And in case you were wondering, DogTV is the first and only channel for dogs with scientifically developed programs to keep your dog calm and happy when you're away or when you're at home. DogTV has thousands of stress-reducing programs, all colored in colors dogs can see, with the music and sound that was proven by studies to reduce stress and relax their nervous system. So here are five easy ways to calm your anxious dog. Pressure and touch. Fortunately, there's growing research to show that pressure wraps do work for some dogs, and more importantly, they should be used in combination with other techniques to help decrease stress-related behaviors. The premise of a pressure wrap is to apply gentle, constant pressure, predominantly to the animal's torso, to relieve persistent anxiety similar to swaddling a baby or apply pressure to a person who's on the autism spectrum. Studies on the effects of moderate to deep pressure on the soft tissue have shown positive results in reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation. In some populations of dogs, the effectiveness can be as high as 80%. Pressure wraps can be used as a first step in treatment or as an option if no other technique is effective, or it can be used in combination with medications. Pheromone therapy. Synthetic pheromone therapy for dogs can provide adequate calming effects for anxious dogs, although these synthetic pheromone products are not likely to work as the sole means of controlling anxiety. Anecdotally, there are reports that they help, particularly as an adjunct to other effective means to help control anxiety. Consider adding these products simply to help other treatments, not as a first line in the defense and how to treat anxiety. Exercise. Consistent exercise in the form of walks and play can reduce anxiety by decreasing the dog's focus on their human's departure from home. While exercise will not cure a behavior problem, lack of exercise and lack of enrichment is a stressor to your dog, which can make stress behavior worse. Researchers found that dogs with separation anxiety and noise phobia had less daily exercise compared to those who did not. If your dog is medically able to do it, I recommend a walk for 20 minutes at least twice daily. Before the last two points, it's worth stopping and asking yourself the following questions to confirm that your dog indeed suffers from anxiety. Does your dog seem depressed? Does he practice some rituals like digging, panting, barking, or even chewing constantly? Does he howl or vocalize when he's home alone? And do your neighbors complain? Number two, music. There have been several studies that have supported the use of music to reduce anxiety in dogs. There are a myriad of different types of music that can be helpful, but the positive effects of music cannot be denied. Earlier studies indicated that classical music helped to calm some dogs. Heavy metal music didn't quite have the same effect. Safe zone. Establish a safe zone for your dog in the house. Ideally, this should be an interior room or cubbyhole away from external windows or walls. This is to avoid any outside noise or sights or simply anything that will distract your dog from achieving a more relaxed state of mind. Bathrooms, walk-in closets, under stair closets, open crates, or a special relaxing mat can all be effective. This area will have even more significance if it's already an area where your dog may be inclined to go when it's frightened. When it comes time for serious training in counter conditioning and relaxation, this is the area that will be used during the training process. Training will proceed much more smoothly and quickly if your puppy is already comfortable with the said location. Try also to minimize odors. Cats and dogs have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell, so it's important to reduce strong odors from the environment as much as possible. Good ventilation, clean bedding, and the use of disinfectants that don't pollute the local air with unpleasant scents can help to minimize noxious odors. Whether your dog suffers from anxiety or not, Dog TV can help. Dog TV is one of the main solutions for easing stress, anxiety, and overcoming loneliness in a non-medicinal way. I recommend trying Dog TV for seven days free and experience its positive effect on your dog almost immediately. And don't forget to like and subscribe to Dog TV's YouTube channel to get more videos like this one and to help your dog improve his behavior, health, and overall well-being.