Regardless of breed or age, dogs can become restless when faced with intimidating situations. Although dogs express it in different ways, anxiety can lead to dangerous behavior if left untreated. An agitated dog may pant, salivate, bark excessively, or hide under furniture. Fortunately, you can do several things to manage your dog's anxiety, including desensitizing techniques and using alternative therapies.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Responding to Dog Anxiety
Step 1. Don't amplify the dog's anxiety
It's natural to want to comfort, pet his head, and calmly talk to your dog. You may even worry if you are faced with a stressful situation such as surgery at the veterinary clinic. Unfortunately, your dog can sense your anxiety, which can make him feel that the situation is out of control and become more agitated.
Do not give your dog treats or respond by cuddling or petting him. This will encourage the dog's restless behavior and make him learn to repeat it
Step 2. Act as normal as possible
Since your dog will notice your response to stressful situations, show that everything is going to be okay. If you act normal, the dog will not be afraid. If your dog shows signs of restlessness such as shaking, shaking, or screeching, ignore the behavior.
Instruct the dog not to overdo it in a firm but calm tone. Dogs will recognize disapproval in your tone of voice. The dog will feel less worried because it understands that you are not worried
Step 3. Show the dog that you still have control
Dogs may feel restless and scared. Focus his attention on you and provide simple training, even when the dog is in the vet's waiting room. Perform simple command training such as "Sit", "Down", or "Shut up". This tells the dog that you are in control and are not worried, and that all is well.
- By focusing his attention on something else, the hormones that make him restless can help the dog relax.
- Practicing these commands when your dog is nervous can also help you deal with any anxiety your dog may have about separation.
Step 4. Offer a safe shelter or cage
Create a place where your dog can relate to a sense of security and become a place of refuge. Plan ahead and train your dog to accept a crate as a safe haven. When your dog is feeling restless, cover certain areas of the crate with a blanket to make it more like a nest. A calm environment will stabilize his restlessness.
Place the toy in the dog's kennel, but continue to act normally and avoid eye contact. That way, you don't push him into a fright
Step 5. Understand the dog's anxiety
Dogs are nervous because their bodies produce hormones like cortisol and adrenaline in scary or stressful situations. This condition prepares his body for fight or flight and makes physical changes to his heart (making him pump blood harder), muscles (having more blood), and lungs (getting more oxygen). This change means that dogs can become restless out of habit. So whenever there is a situation that makes a dog nervous, his body will produce hormones that cause him to become restless.
For example, if your dog sees you reacting to his fear, his body will produce chemicals and hormones to respond to his anxiety. Therefore, you should pay attention to how you react to your dog's anxiety
Part 2 of 3: Desensitizing
Step 1. Introduce the dog to a small stressful situation
Desensitization, or the dog's introduction to frightening situations at a very low level. Perform desensitization to show that nothing bad has happened. For example, if your dog is afraid of the vet, take your dog for a walk through the vet clinic and get him used to sitting at the entrance. If the dog is well behaved, give it a treat and lots of attention before continuing on its walk. That way, the dog will associate the place with positive things.
You have to do it slowly. Introduce the dog gradually over weeks or months and increase the threat level
Step 2. Introduce the dog to a more frightening situation
Once you're comfortable with low-level scary situations, introduce your dog to more stressful situations. For example, take the dog to the vet's waiting room. If the dog enters comfortably, give a treat. Do this a few times before adding a new step. You can bring your dog in and sit for a while in the waiting area. If the dog is calm, give the treat again. You can start increasing the time period spent there to make the dog feel more comfortable.
These visits will introduce the dog to his fears. In the end, the dog will associate the visit to the vet with something positive
Step 3. Get your dog to face his fear head-on
Some dogs may be more afraid of sounds or surprises. In this case, get the dog to face his fear. For example, if your dog is afraid of fireworks, play the recorded sound of fireworks very slowly and reward the dog for good behavior. Increase the volume gradually over a period of time. If the dog seems distressed, step back a few levels and start the desensitization process again.
The same principle applies to almost anything. If your dog is afraid of other dogs, place the plastic dog some distance away and reward the dog for good behavior. Or, if your dog is afraid of driving in a car, start feeding him in a stationary car. Make positive associations
Part 3 of 3: Using Therapy to Cope With Anxiety
Step 1. Try using pheromones
You can buy dog appeasing pheromones (DAP, also known as Adaptil), a synthetic version of the pheromones that mother dogs produce when they nurse their puppies. DAP can be sprayed at home, car, or outdoors. DAP is thought to make dogs feel more secure, calm, relaxed, and happy thereby reducing anxiety levels.
Keep in mind that your dog will have to be introduced to the pheromone for about 2 weeks before feeling the effects. Therefore, you can use a DAP or Adaptil collar to keep your dog exposed to DAP
Step 2. Put the blindfold on the dog
Use a blindfold cap (which is similar to a horse's eye patch) to cover her eyes. Blindfolds can relieve anxiety by reducing visual stimulation and only allowing the dog to see the shapes of objects (not the details). This blindfold is best suited for dogs who are afraid of lightning and bright lights such as lightning or fireworks. Test the blindfold cap before exposing your dog to stressful situations. This is to ensure that the dog accepts it and is comfortable before facing the stressful situation.
If the dog is scratching the hat excessively, standing with its head down and looking glum, or wagging it, it's best to take the hat off. In some dogs, a cap can actually increase anxiety because the dog feels trapped
Step 3. Try giving your dog soothing clothes
You can buy or make a t-shirt that can be wrapped in a little pressure on your dog to calm him down. A t-shirt like this can help a dog who is restless at separation, is afraid of loud noises, and barks due to fear, is restless while traveling, is exercising in the crate, is hyperactive, and is pulling on a leash.
Step 4. Give the puzzle toys
Toys like this can distract the dog from his anxiety. Some of these toys have a hole in the top for placing treats. However, be sure to give this toy before the dog gets agitated so it doesn't count as a reward for his restless behavior.
You can put peanut butter in a toy and freeze it overnight
Step 5. Try alternative therapies
You can use several over-the-counter medications that can be purchased at pharmacies or veterinary clinics. Some of these drugs are:
- Bach flower remedy: Apply a few drops of herbs containing Bach flowers (chicory, heather, chestnut, and camphor) to the dog's tongue when the dog is very agitated. This remedy is thought to have a calming effect, but the results have not been proven. Some people find it effective, but others report that this remedy does not produce any change.
- Skullcap and Valerian: This herbal remedy is thought to have a calming effect and can reduce anxiety and excitement. Follow the instructions on the product packaging for dosage information, but be sure to give it before the dog gets nervous. Once the dog begins to fidget, the potential benefits of this remedy will wear off.
- Zylkene: Scientific research believes that this dietary supplement can help deal with stress experienced by animals. The active ingredient is a pure protein found in milk that acts as a receptor in the brain. Give the dog before a stressful situation or in the long run (because there are no negative side effects). Zylkene is ideal for situations such as when the dog is stressed to enter the crate which can last for a long time.
Step 6. Avoid using sedatives
While it may seem like a great solution to use when a dog is very agitated or sensitive, sedatives are associated with some harmful effects. Remember that:
- Sedatives are often addictive and dogs may suffer from addiction to the drug.
- The effect tends to lessen over time. So you have to increase the dose of drugs that may be addictive.
- In the short term, sedatives will make the dog too sleepy to show signs of restlessness. However, the heart may still be pounding and the dog may have internal physiological signs of restlessness. Dogs just can't show it.
- Dog brains have a limited ability to learn new behaviors. Any progress made through retraining is often time consuming and is forgotten when the drug is discontinued.
- Some sedatives cause disorientation and can actually increase a dog's anxiety.
