Is your dog too wound up to focus on training?
We all want our pets to have a little bit of life and energy in them, but sometimes, it can all seem a little too much. If your dog has too much energy, then they can be a disrupting force in your day to day life. At other times, you might need to calm your dog down for their own sake. A lot of energy can quickly turn into anxiety, which would compromise your dog’s enjoyment of life. As responsible dog owners, we all want our pets to have the best life possible, after all.
Below we’re going to take a look at some of the best methods for calming your dog down.
Run Run Run
If your dog has a lot of energy, then why not look at expelling some of that energy? Taking your dog somewhere to run and play with other dogs, or just some good ole one on one fetch is a great way to run out all of that anxious energy. Going on a long walk or run on a nearby trail can tire your pooch out, not just by the physical exercise, but also all of the mental stimulation they get from smells and new sights and sounds. Plus, dogs love adventures, and it’ll be good for you too. You are probably already taking them for a walk or two a day (or paying someone while your busy at work). Why not try to fit in a longer walk somewhere scenic while the weather is nice?
Human Touch
Physical touch is underrated. Did you know that it can help to calm humans down? There’s (nothing better than a good hug). And your dog feels the same way! Well, maybe not the hugging part. Our pup hates hugs, but he will sit right in front of you if you scratch his chest. It completely relaxes him, even if he has been going crazy about something. Dogs belong in a pack, and touch is really important to them. If you notice that your pet is feeling a little anxious, then a reassuring hand can sometimes be all it takes to get them back to feeling calm and secure. Don’t just wait until they’re anxious to give them a hand, however. It should just be a regular part of your interactions with your pet.
Set the Tone
Your dog is going to reflect the environment in which it’s in. Have you noticed how excited your pet becomes when you are enthusiastic? It doesn’t matter what’s going on -- if you’re full of life and energy, then your dog is going to feel the same way. As such, one of the simplest ways to calm your dog down is to calm yourself down, and your home, too. If your property is a sea of tranquility, then you’ll find that your dog naturally falls into that way of being too, over time.
Additional Help
There are a range of products and therapies you can use to calm your dog down. As always, with any medications, please consult your vet. There are treats from (Pet-Ness) that’ll help to reduce anxiety and all-around help your dog to feel more calm. Additionally, you can look at getting a (diffuser) that releases pheromones that dogs find to be relaxing. We had a vet recommend trying (Zylkene) for helping calm our previous lab.
Give a Dog a Job
Need to get your dog to calm down quickly? Give them a job to do. Even just giving them empty water bottle to crunch on can focus them on an approved activity. Another quick fix is putting treats or their kibble in a (Kong Wobbler). If they get the food out of the wobbler too quickly, add something like a tennis ball to make it harder to get the food out.
Please contact us if you have any questions on these tips, [email protected] or by visiting www.newmansdogtraining.com.
Also, follow us on Instagram @newmansdogtraining. You can also follow us and our dog Barry on our training and outdoor adventures on Instagram @adventuredogbarry.
Happy Training!
