We all love our dog smiling, giggling and goofing around across the room but have you ever noticed your furry friend shaking or pacing? It’s heartbreaking, right?
Don’t worry, we’ll bring your dog’s smile back together. We'll explore how to calm a dog’s anxiety and make them happy all over again.
Early Signs
First, you need to recognise the early signs of anxiety in your dog.
These signs can vary:
- Restlessness or Pacing
- Excessive Licking or Chewing
- Panting or Drooling
- Whining or Barking
- Trembling or Shaking
- Avoidance or Hiding
- Changes in Appetite
- Destructive Behavior
- Increased Vigilance
- Urinating or Defecating Indoors
- Clinginess
- Changes in Body Language
- Excessive Shedding
The longer they experience, the more challenging it gets to deal with. However, It's never too late to help, but early intervention can help prevent the anxiety from worsening and improve your dog’s overall well-being.
Understand The Root Cause
Addressing the root cause of your dog's anxiety is an essential and crucial factor. Many dogs have anxiety which is generally sown from being abandoned by their owner and the environment. Watch the dog, it involves careful observation to identify the root cause. Access the dog's history and seek professional help.
Build Confidence
In humans, reasons for getting anxiety are varied but it's only caused when we lose confidence, the same goes with dogs or any other pets too. So, to make them happy all over again, build their confidence, and help them feel secure in various situations.
Here are some ways to build your dog’s confidence:
- Positive Reinforcement Training
- Socialization
- Interactive Play
- Building Independence
- Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning
- Encourage Exploration
- Respect Their Comfort Zone
- Build Trust
- Teach New Skills
- Professional Guidance
Physical Contact/ Cuddle
Physical contact and cuddling are proven incredible ways of comforting dogs, especially when they are feeling anxious or insecure. Physical contact can provide a sense of security and reassurance. Being close to your dog makes them feel safe and loved. Cuddle is the best go-with factor.
Nutritious Diet
A balanced nutritious diet plays a crucial role in a dog’s overall health (including mental health and behaviour). Maintain a balanced diet, keeping their health in mind, and make adjustments as needed to keep them healthy and happy. Consult a vet to ensure that the diet meets all their nutritional needs. Give them Chew Treats as appreciation.
Safe Place
You and their favourite toys are their safe place, there’s no other place they’d rather wanna be when they’re anxious. Make them feel safe around you. Provide their favourite toys, and observe their emotional and playing pattern. Make sure to give them an Interactive Toy and play along with them.
Comforting Practices
Here are some helpful comforting practices to calm their anxiety:
- Gently approach and stroke them, use a soft soothing voice, and avoid sudden moves.
- Avoid chaotic environments, play gentle music and create a relaxing aroma around them.
- Groom them, draw a bath for them, and make them feel relaxed.
- Massage them, use a Slicker or Massaging Brush to groom their fur.
- Reward them with good treats and Favourite Toys.
- Maintain consistency, follow an organized routine.
By incorporating grooming practices into the routine you can help your dog calm their anxiety.
Conclusion
Addressing and managing a dog’s anxiety requires a combination of understanding their needs, implementing calming techniques and keeping consistency in it. By recognizing early signs of anxiety, you can calm your dog’s anxiety in the nick of time and bring their wide smile back again.