Dogs can get overly stressed out and suffer from anxiety, just like people. Although every dog handles anxiety differently, it can negatively affect their daily lives. For example, some dogs get stressed out and anxious from loud noises, traveling, being around other dogs or people, or other factors.
So, how can you prevent your dog from getting stressed out or anxious? First, we'll dig into the most common reasons dogs get stressed and effective ways to keep them calm.
Common Signs of Stress in Dogs
For the most part, when dogs are stressed out or anxious, you'll see it through their behavior. If your dog is growling, whining, prolonged vocalization, or barking intensely, these are vocal signs of too much stress.
Physical signs include:
- Tense body movements.
- Walking with their tail tucked between their legs.
- Pacing around your living space.
- Perking up or pulling back their ears.
- Excessively licking their lips.
- Cowering posture.
- Destructively chewing items.
- Yawning
Other signs of stress include your dog having difficulty sleeping, sudden changes in appetite, hiding, or freezing in place. On the flip side, they may even be extra clingy to you and try to seek your attention more than usual.
Soothing Dogs During Loud Noises
We all know the moment when a thunderstorm rolls in and our dogs jump at every noise. Or when July Fourth comes around, and our dogs whine and hide from the explosive sound of fireworks going off. Unfortunately, we can only do so much to help console our furbabies in these times of stress and fright, but knowing a few tricks can help calm them.
During a thunderstorm, what usually scares dogs much more than the loud noise is the static electricity. It's common knowledge among dog owners that our human senses aren't as tuned in as canines, so when your dog is whining, pacing, or hiding, it's because they can feel the static electricity tingling in their fur.
Products like thunder jackets can help anxious dogs who become frightened and stressed out during storms because they wrap snuggly around their body. These jackets make dogs feel more secure and as if you're hugging them.
Traveling with an Anxious Dog
Overstimulation is another possibility for dogs getting stressed out in the car. Some dogs love sticking their head out of the window and feeling the wind in their ears, but other dogs don't enjoy the feeling of movement. If car rides aren't a part of their routine, some dogs might find the activity too exciting and get anxious by the sudden change.
If dogs get frightened by noises, this is another reason why getting in the car may scare them. The sound of the ignition starting when you turn the key, the blaring of car horns, and other sounds that come with driving a car can easily spook your dog. We know where the noises are coming from, but our dogs have no idea why there are so many sounds around them.
How to Help An Anxious Dog
How can you help your dog adjust to feeling stressed out or anxious? Whether you're at home or traveling, there are several ways to help your dog calm down and feel better.
The next time you're at home and your dog expresses some of the signs mentioned above, try using comfort items to make them feel safe and loved. Bring their favorite toys to them or see if they'll eat a few treats. Commonly used for dogs who get scared during thunderstorms, try wrapping them up in a special harness to make them feel more secure.
While traveling by car, bring your dog's comfort items with you. These could include their bed (if it can comfortably fit in the back seat), their toys, favorite treats, and even their favorite blanket. Anything that makes your dog feel comfortable at home can help make them feel safe in the car, so try to bring several items to help your dog feel at ease.
If you have someone else in the car, see if they can drive so you can sit with your dog in the backseat. Having you sitting by them could help calm their nerves, along with plenty of comforting pats on the head.
Another way to calm your dog is to give them supplements to promote relaxation. These won't wipe out your dog, as supplements shouldn't: they help calm their mind and body when their anxiety takes over. It's like people taking medication before a flight to calm their nerves caused by getting on an airplane: they're only using the supplement to ease their anxiety.
For dogs, stress support can be tricky. But with new dog supplements arriving on the market, calming your dog has become more manageable. BlueKube's Stress Support supplements have effective ingredients that improve your dog's calm state of mind. With its stress-supporting ingredients like Thiamine (Vitamin B1), lemon balm, and green tea extract, our Stress Support dog supplements help promote calmness for anxious and stressed dogs.
Whether your dog is stressed, nervous, anxious, or scared, our supplements can help promote calmness and peace of mind. In times of extreme stress, it's completely safe and recommended to double your dog's dose. So, if your dog's weight matches a dose of one supplement daily, you can give them two if they are more anxious or stressed than usual.
Stress Support supplements are perfect for the situations throughout this post, so keep them on hand to help your dog get through the day.
For a good tip, give your dog the supplement consistently for at least a few weeks to monitor how your dog responds. It's more effective for the supplement time to work its way into your dog's system.
When caring for your dog's mental health, dog supplements can go a long way in improving how their mind handles stressful situations.