CHOU2 How-To: How to Calm Dog Anxiety Naturally

Dog anxiety can be one of the toughest things to deal with as a dog owner – from destructive behavior to travel anxiety to noise phobias and separation anxiety, different types of anxiety can result in a variety of undesired repercussions. Gut health and mental health along with general happiness, energy, behavior, socialization, overall wellness, and more can be impacted by anxiety. Not to mention, it’s incredibly stressful to a pet parent to see their dog in such an upset state.

While anxiety medications and antidepressants can provide relief specific to your dog’s serotonin levels, pet parents are often seeking natural remedies. Regardless of approach, it’s clear that providing stress relief is a top concern for pet owners. Your dog’s veterinarian should always be the first step, as they know your pet’s routine and wellness better than anyone. Keep reading for information that can support an informed discussion with a veterinary professional.

Training and Stimulating an Anxious Dog

Whether you’re looking to minimize barking, quell negative responses to thunderstorms and loud noises, support a fear of car rides, or calm overall reactiveness, training can be an excellent first step. Unwanted behavior not only affects you as a pet parent, but it impacts your dog’s ability to maintain a normal and happy life as well. Whether it’s socialization with humans or other dogs, their ability to walk and roam freely, or destructive habits inside the home, your dog is inhibited by their reactiveness. Supporting your dog’s anxiety directly improves their quality of life and their ability to grow and develop mentally, emotionally, and even physically. And in turn, it makes a happier pet parent who can rest assured knowing that their dog is happy, healthy, and safe.

Mental stimulation is a big part of managing dog anxiety. If they are bored, have excess energy, or experience lack of mental stimulation (lack of socialization with other dogs or humans, exercise, or physical space), that energy is ultimately going to build up. If they don’t have a good outlet, they may act out instead. Just like humans, dogs need to be engaged. Nourishing your dog does not just stop with a healthy diet, and that’s why mental stimulation is so important.

Puzzle toys are an excellent route for mental stimulation, and often satisfies pet parents seeking a natural way to nurture their pup. Noise machines, calming TV shows or movies, and music therapy have also become popular in the last several years. Finally, essential oils and aromatherapy have anecdotally been seen to be effective when signs of anxiety begin to show in dogs. It’s important to know, not all of these remedies are scientifically backed – but as long as they are safe for your pet (no choking hazards and no toxic ingredients), we encourage you to explore your options. As we’ve always said, there is not often a singular solution for a pet’s needs. Finding the right tools is key to a balanced lifestyle for you and your pup.

Understand How to Address Separation Anxiety

A lot has changed since 2020. Our lives have gone through rollercoaster levels of change, from being inside all day, to returning to the office, to traveling again. It’s no surprise that these changes deeply impact our pets. Separation anxiety, in particular, has been on the rise and has been shown to escalate stressful situations for your furry friend when you’re not close by to provide comfort. A dog’s body can exhibit signs of separation anxiety through barking, excessive drooling, heavy panting, whining, hiding, chewing or eating non-edible items, excessive grooming, and more. The problem is, by nature, you aren’t home to see and remedy these signals.

Our tips for generally anxious dogs still apply and remain key to solving the separation anxiety puzzle: training and mental stimulation. Here are a few other things you may consider:

• consult your veterinarian to ensure you understand the main causes of your dog’s anxiety
• buy an anxiety vest or thundershirt
• put your dog in a safe space like their kennel when you are gone (most dogs find immense comfort being in a dedicated and contained space such as their kennel, as long as it’s the proper size)
• establish a good, stimulating routine for other parts of the day, like an extra long walk in the mornings or a cuddle session as soon as you come back from work – giving them something to look forward to and rely on. This is especially important if you have a working breed, who rely on extreme mental stimulation and physical exercise
• have a dog sitter or walker stop by for exercise and enrichment when you’re away
• install a doggy cam so you can talk to them during the day (some even dispense treats!)
• purchase an automatic food dispenser to give them a midday snack
• ask if you can bring your dog in to work or take a WFH day every so often to break up the extended periods of absence
• gett your dog a friend, like another dog or a cat (we’re kidding … or are we?!)

Staying home all day with your dog would be a dream, but it’s not realistic as our world continues to develop. Finding the right fit for your dog is an ongoing journey that may change over time. Consider a multi-faceted approach, because there is rarely a singular solution for a complex problem like anxiety. 

Consider Natural & Clean Supplements

Natural solutions and calming supplements like CBD oil offer clean and organic support with minimal side effects to your pooch and continue to increase in popularity over time. (There’s a reason 70% of pet parents are seeking natural and organic products for their loved ones.) There are a number of calming ingredients that are born from organic and natural elements, such as CBD, tryptophan, chamomile, and l-theanine. When picking a supplement, it’s important to find a good team, an NASC Quality Seal, and available COAs. Here is a good resource in picking a CBD product for pets.

CHOU2 PHARMA / CHOU2 PET WELLNESS proudly crafts THC-free, powerful, and natural CBD products for pets – with the NASC Quality Seal and an endorsement from Fear Free Pets. Chou2’s Chill fast-acting CBD oil can provide calming effects for your pup, and promote overall health and well-being.