How can I reduce my dog's anxiety?

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People aren't the only ones who suffer from stress, fear and anxiety. If your pet appears anxious it is really important that you understand the underlying causes and that you consider the best approach to help them to reduce and manage their feelings. Bear in mind that many symptoms of stress could be viewed as "bad" behaviour, it is important that you never punish your dog, this will be confusing for them and is likely to result in exacerbating the behaviours and anxiety.

What causes anxiety in dogs?

In the same way as with humans, stress is often the body and mind going into over-reaction and keeps the sufferer (your dog in this instance) in fight or flight mode all of the time. The cause of the stress will be specific to your dog and could be caused by any number of things such as loud noises, an irrational or real fear of harm, household objects (shiny floors or objects), aging, changes in routine, separation from their owner, changes in the household or boredom.

If left unchecked anxiety can turn into an anxiety disorder which could mean that it becomes a part of day to day life for you and your dog, this will be much harder to deal with and manage in the long term as it becomes more part of their ingrained behaviour.

What are the symptoms of stress or anxiety in dogs?

Many of the symptoms of stress could be viewed as "bad" behaviour, but are really a symptom of stress, it is important that you never punish your dog, this will be confusing for them and is likely to result in exacerbating the behaviours and making their stress worse.

Symptoms of anxiety, stress or fear in dogs can include the following:

aggression
toileting in the house
excessive drooling
destructive behaviour
depression
excessive barking or howling
pacing
restlessness
repetitive or compulsive behaviours

How can I reduce my dog's anxiety and stress?

There are many different ways of dealing with stress or anxiety and it might be a case of trial and error to see which one works best for you and your dog. Below are some of the options that you might like to try. It is important never to punish your dog and that you consult a veterinary professional if the behaviour persists for further advice.

What are "Dog Appeasing Phermones" (DAP)s replica products and how do they work?

There are many synthetic products that are designed to replicate "dog appeasing pheromones". These are the pheromones released by mother dogs in the days after giving birth to her puppies. The pheromone comforts and supports the mother dog and the puppies and gives them confidence to explore the world calmly. They aren't generally detectable from species to species so humans can't detect dogs pheromones but it is likely that dogs can sense human pheromones (due to their strong sense of smell). Products containing replica pheromones can help pets (dogs and cats) to remain calm when they are home alone, if they are nervous dogs around visitors in the home, if they are scared of loud noises such as fireworks or if they become stressed when travelling. In scientific studies, DAP has been proven to help treat dog separation anxiety, and can help dogs in situations where they might be feeling anxious, such as during thunder storms.

Products are designed to release the replica phermones when stress is triggered by the dog's temperature increasing. Most products will last for around 4 weeks so it can be an expensive option. For products such as diffusers and plug ins, you can generally purchase a refill which will be cheaper than buying a whole new item each time. Please bear in mind that it is not recommended to use DAP collar on dog's who have lesions on their skin or skin complaints as these might be aggravated by the release of the replica pheromone. Some products are synthetically produced and others contain natural ingredients.

Do Dog Appeasing Phermones (DAP)s really work?

Feedback is mixed and depends upon your dog, but reviews show that around 70-85% of people rate products as 4 or 5 stars (out of 5). Many people assume that they don't work but then do notice a difference when their diffuser or collar wears out and an improvement when they have been replaced. Studies have shown that dog appeasing pheromone products can work, particularly in younger dogs and puppies when they first socialising with other dogs. Any use of Dog appeasing pheromones or replica pheromones should be in conjunction with positive reinforcement training.

It is important to highlight that whereas any of these products help to manage your dog's stress and anxiety symptoms. they do not treat the anxiety and stress itself. The pheromones are not known to have any negative side effects so it might be down to giving them a go with your dog and seeing if they help your individual situation. It is also worth trying out some of the other remedies we have identified in this article to see what works best for your dog.

ADAPTIL DAP Calming Pheromone Collar £16.85

ADAPTIL Calm Home 30 Day starter kit 48ml £17.99 (Diffuser set)

Natural Remedies

The Dog Doctors Herbal Calming Spray 240ml £14.99

CBD Oil for dogs

Is CBD the same as marijuana?

CBD and marijuana come from the same source, the hemp plant but they aren't actually the same. Whilst both are derived from the hemp plant, CBD doesn't contain the levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the ingredient that makes you "high" found in cannibis.

Does CBD oil work for dogs?

CBD oil works by interacting with the body's naturally occuring endocannabinoid system to soothe and calm anxiety naturally, this stimulates the bodies natural ability to create serotonin, which is a natural mood stabilizer. Studies show that CBD oil can be effective in the treatment of anxiety for humans but there are not currently any studies that show that they work for humans. CBD oil reduces fearful reactions to certain situations and can help is to unlearn learnt behaviour such as fears and phobias, this means that we are no longer scared by situations we would normally be scared of.

CBD oil can also be effective in the treatment of arthritis, joint issues, neuropathic disorders, neurological disorders (such as seizures), blood disorders, some tumours and cancers, pain relief, regulating mood, seizures and diabetes.

How should I administer CBD oil for my dog?

CBD oil is normally administered as 2mg CBD for each 10 pounds of weight, so if your dog weighs 50 pounds, it would need 10mg of CBD serving. If you looking to use it for separation anxiety you should administer it around half an hour before you leave, it is safe to increase the amount in small doses if you do not see any improvement.

CBD oil can be administered through treats (with the CBD oil infused into them), putting the CBD oil in their food, or by simply putting it in their mouth.

Pawsome Products Hemp Oil for Dogs 30ml £13.97

C&G Pets Hemp Aid Anxiety Spray £9.99

Dog calming treats

Scrumbles 100% Natural, Calming Dog Treats, Grain Free Turkey flavour 100g £2.99

Lily's Kitchen Organic Dog Treats Bedtime Biscuits 100g pack of 3 £11.99

Lintbells, Yu-CALM One-a-day Medium Chewies for Dogs- Calming Supplement (1 month supply) £19.99

Are there other ways of calming my dog without medication?

Exercise- many dogs have excess energy and this can result in anxious or nervous behaviour. Wear them out with nice long walk or extended play time which will serve as a distraction.
Physical contact-give them a cuddle- dogs have feelings too and feeling loved and nurtured can make the world of difference to a dog that is stressed.
Massage- massage can be calming and help a stressed or anxious dog get to sleep
Play music- classical music is particularly good for calming dogs or natural sounds. Make sure that you listen to music with your dog at first to check that they like it and that it doesn't make symptoms worse (one dogs bird song is another dog's heavy metal!).
Have some quiet time- create a safe space where they can feel comfortable and have some quiet time. This doesn't mean shutting them away (which could make symptoms worse). Ensure that they have options so that they can choose the place where they feel most calm. Putting a blanket over a table or giving them somewhere to hide is a nice option.
Give them a challenge- such as a puzzle or teaching them a new trick. Trying playing hide and seek with them by hiding their favourite treats around the house or garden for them to find.
distraction techniques- fun game, lots of encouragement- take them out for a game of frisbee or catch
Avoid triggers-pay attention to when they are more calm and when they are more stressed and consider alternatives such as for example trying a grain free diet- an upset tummy could easily translate into being anxious and jumpy. Once you understand the triggers you will be able to be sensitive to their needs and better able to support them.

Giving your dog a range of mentally stimulating, interesting and fun toys to play with will stop them being destructive with the things that you don’t want them to chew. A range of toys is advisable to appeal to their different needs and moods, for example chew toys are great for teeth and are mentally stimulating, balls are obviously great to chase and exercise with, and ropes, frisbees and toys combining ropes with balls etc are great for you to play along too. Make sure that the toys you choose are appropriate size and don’t have any risk of choking, also monitor if the toy becomes smaller through chewing and throw it away before it becomes a choke risk. You should also be careful not to leave dogs (particularly puppies) alone with toys that could be a choking hazard.

Dog chew toys

KONG- stuffable toy Medium Pack of 2 £16.49

Natural Rubber Dumbbell toy £19.99

KONG-Wobbler £12.99

PetSafe Busy Buddy Bristle Bone Dog Chew, small, £6.99

Idepet Dog Treat Ball set of 3 £9.99

KONG Genius Toy, Large £13.49

Dog puzzles

Dog Sniffing Mat Puzzle £19.99

Nina Ottoson by Outward Hound Dog Brick Interactive Puzzle Toy £16.00

Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel Plush Dog Toy Game £18.54

Thundershirts/Anxiety coats

You could also consider a dog thundershirt which can help dogs to feel calm and less anxious. They work by gently applying pressure to your dog's chest, helping to calm their breathing and reduce fear and anxiety. We would recommend using these for specific situations where your dog might be feeling stressed such as if there is a thunderstorm for example rather than your dog wearing a thundershirt all of the time.