Is Your Dog Stressed, And What Can You Do About It?

Whether you’re dealing with a dog that has separation anxiety, you have moved them into a new environment, or you have simply started to notice undesirable behavior traits due to them being riled up, stress is a real problem for dogs. Thankfully, there are solutions. Here, we’re going to look at a few worth keeping in mind, and how they can help your dog.

Stressed Dog? Signs & Solutions to Calm Your Canine Companion

Know the signs of stress

First of all, you should be able to identify when stress is, indeed, the issue, and not something else. There are several signs of a stressed dog, such as pacing, shaking, barking, or whining with seemingly no cause, and changes in their body posture, such as cowering or becoming stiff. Other changes, like shedding a lot of hair, or changes in their bodily functions, like going to the bathroom suddenly, might necessitate a visit to the vet.

Giving them some exercise

All dogs need exercise. How much they need may depend on factors like their breed, age, and size. However, if they don’t get enough exercise through walking, as well as mental stimulation through play and toys, then they can have a lot more pent-up energy than they should. This can result in them being a lot more reactive, volatile, and hyper. Puppies, in particular, can get very hyper no matter how much exercise they get. For older dogs, however, if they’re acting hyper, then the first step should be to consider how often you take them out.

Give them some calming supplements

If your dog is acting stressed out and you’re worried their behavior may escalate, then you might want to look into the different kinds of calming supplements that you can get for them. One that is becoming much more popular is dog CBD chews. Not only can they help mellow your dog out, but chewy supplements, in particular, can feel like the dog is getting a treat, which can be something of an immediate mood boost for them, offering them some reassurance. Just make sure that you check with your vet that any supplements don’t interact with medication they might already be on.

Identify their stressors

Aside from offering some relief from their stress, you should be sure to identify what is causing them stress, when you can. For instance, you might notice they get stressed around children as kids can often not be aware of a dog’s boundaries and when they are crossing them. Teaching your kids how to handle dogs can help with that. The home being too quiet or noises from outdoors can also be a trigger, and playing relaxing music for your dog has been shown to help a lot of owners. There are other triggers you should take the time to get to know.

A stressed dog can be one that can act up, cause damage to your property, and even be more reactive to the environment and stimuli around them, which can result in aggression. Do what you can to quell the problem and get back to living a happy, relaxed life with your buddy.