How To Recognise Whether Your Dog is Anxious- Tips To Help Them Naturally

Conscientious pet parents are always aware of all the nuances of their dog’s behavior; and so, if there is any change in the way their pet behaves, they are able to quickly pick up on it. While it is easy to pick up things such as food habit changes or appearance changes, there are times when you may not be able to pick up signs of anxiousness in your pet.  

The fact is that just as humans can suffer from various behavioral problems, so can pets. There may be times when a pet dog starts acting very erratically, they may just start running around in circles in the yard or may continuously lick its legs or some other part of its body which could develop into an infection. Some pets become very aggressive or destructive and will tear apart everything in sight, the minute their owners leave them alone in the house and go out. 

Many pet owners are puzzled when they hear about pet anxiety as it can come on at any stage of their dog’s lives. Owners think that the dogs should be stress free because they have a comfortable and loving home but this is not necessarily the case. 

Causes of Stress and Anxiety in Dogs

Causes of Stress and Anxiety in Dogs can be due to:

• Moving to a new house
• Change of diet
• Loss of a loved owner or house mate
• Age
• Illness or injury
• Divorce or disruption in the household
• Fear from a traumatic experience
• Previous neglect or abandonment 
• Lack of exercise or mental stimulation
• Environment

When a dog is anxious his body produces hormones which will prepare his body for flight or fight. The adrenaline will elevate his heart beat, increase his respiration and pump blood into the muscle groups. Anxiety can be out of habit from a trigger or a cue. It is important for the owner not to react or reinforce the dog’s anxiety by cuddling, patting or giving him treats in this state as the dog then feels that he is being rewarded for anxious behavior so learns to keep repeating it. Try and act as normal as possible in these stressful times as your dog feels your anxiety too and reacts to it. Create a safe place for your dog like a crate or an area of the house where they feel secure and safe. Training a dog to go to these safe spots will help bring down the anxiety levels. 

Signs of anxiousness in dogs 

Here are some signs that your dog is anxious; it is an indication that something has upset them and they require additional support from you: 

• Your dog starts urinating or defecating in the house
• They start trembling and/or rapid panting
• The tail is tucked tightly between legs 
• When you try to pat them, they retreat and begin barking. 
• They constantly roll over their back in a submissive manner. 
• Hiding behind either a person or an object
• Turn their head away from you. 
• Your dog may try to escape
• Diarrhea may develop

Displacement behaviors in dogs 

• Your pet starts giving his “wet dog shake” even though he isn’t wet or dirty.
• The dog starts sniffing the ground or some object for no apparent reason. 
• He suddenly starts biting or scratching some part  of his body and doesn’t stop 
• You find the dog yawning even when it isn’t tired
• It keeps licking even when there is no food around its mouth. 

Natural ways to reduce anxiety in pets

• Create a calm environment by playing dog calming music 
• Try dog-appeasing pheromones – these are available in collars, electric diffusers and sprays. 
• Try administering some valerian- the roots of this plant are proven to be very effective in treating dog anxiety, stress and insomnia. 
• Use essential oils such lavender and chamomile to calm your dog down. 

Reduce Your Dogs Anxiety for a Happier and Healthier Dog

A visit to your vet is advised initially as you need to rule out if this anxiety is caused by an illness or a toxicity. A simple blood test can determine this. 
If it is a fear or phobia then find yourself a good behaviourist that can help with some techniques to lessen the anxiety and help put your dog in a better frame of mind. They will be able to detect the triggers and work with you in alleviating the stress.
If your dog needs to burn off energy which will assist in calming him down then good exercise and mental stimulation is important. Find a sport that your dog will love or swim a couple of times a week. This will make a happier and healthier dog and will reduce the anxiety levels. 

 K9 Swim stocks Pet tunes which is a portable Bluetooth speaker with 90 minutes of acoustic music specifically designed to calm your dog. We also offer herbal remedies to calm, massage and an indoor heated pool or an underwater treadmill to burn off excess energy.