Easy Ways to Reduce Doggy Anxiety

My last blog post explained what dog anxiety is and why we need to take it seriously. So here are some simple ways to ease our dogs’ anxiety.

A black dog in a blue collar sniffing the air on a grassy hill

1. Understand the Cause

The first step with any behaviour or emotion is to understand why your dog is feeling that way. For example, are the anxious because you are leaving them alone? Is it because there is another dog across the street? Is it because there are loud noises?

2. Give Them Space from the Cause

The next step is to give them space from what is making them anxious. If they are anxious around other dogs, cross the road next time so they can get away. This will help them feel safer and less stressed. It also helps them learn to trust that you will protect them and keep them safe.

A small tan dog on a lead looking up at its walker on the pavement

3. Give Them Choices

Let your dog make some decisions for a change! We decide nearly everything for our dogs- what they eat, where they walk, when they rest, who they play with, etc. Letting your dog make some of these decisions will help them feel more confident and reduce their anxiety.

4. Encourage, Never Force

If your dog is afraid of something, offer them support and help them. Never force them to confront their fear, but encourage them to investigate at their own pace.

For example, if your dog is afraid of traffic cones, reward them for looking at the cone but don’t force them to approach it. Let them approach it in their own time when they are ready and confident enough to do so.

A dog licking an orange lick mat on a patio

5. Naturally Calming Behaviours

Licking, sniffing and chewing are naturally calming behaviours for dogs which release endorphins and help reduce anxiety. So, encourage these behaviours! Lickimats, snuffle mats and natural chews are great ways to help our dogs relax.

References

American Kennel Club: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/treating-dog-anxiety/#:~:text=Dog%20anxiety%20can%20affect%20all,to%20behavioral%20and%20other%20issues.

Arhant, C., Winkelmann, R. and Troxler, J., 2021. Chewing behaviour in dogs–A survey-based exploratory study. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 241, p.105372.

Dogs Trust: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/behaviour/signs-your-dog-may-be-stressed

Duranton, C. and Horowitz, A., 2019. Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgment bias in pet dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 211, pp.61-66. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159118304325