You adore your dog and will do everything it takes to make sure they feel at home in your house. As a result, you might be wondering what to do if they start acting restless right before night or if they suddenly acquire a burst of energy right before bed.
When anxiety makes your dog pant, be restless, or simply want to play before bed, it might be difficult to put them to sleep at night. Thus, the thing comes about how to calm a dog down. Of course, you can sense when something is bothering your dog.
You are the expert on your pet, after all. However, every dog responds to calming techniques differently, just as every dog has a unique manner of displaying stress. Here are a few common causes of canine restlessness:
Causes of Dog Restlessness
Dogs can become restless for a variety of reasons, and it ultimately depends on your dog’s personality and life experiences. Here are a few typical causes of canines’ restless and anxious behavior:
Age
As they get older, your dog goes through significant changes in their general health and, like many senior people in your life, their vision and hearing get worse. As a result, their typical sleeping patterns might differ from yours.
Insufficient Physical Activity
This is a huge one: there’s a significant probability that your dog’s restlessness is being caused by built-up energy if you aren’t giving them at least 30 minutes of daily exercise. Thus, taking your dog for daily walks around the block or fitting in some form of physical activity is a proficient solution for how to calm a dog down.
Diet
Your dog’s food quality and feeding time of the day might both contribute to their unease. However, you shouldn’t feed your dog a ton of sugary treats right before bed. Thus, feeding your dog at least three hours before bedtime is recommended, and taking them outside right before bed so they might relieve themselves. As opposed to sugar-filled kibble, which can include between 28 and 45 percent soluble carbs and cause blood sugar spikes and other negative effects, make sure you are feeding your pet high-quality, all-natural food.
Animal phobia
Anyone might have trouble falling asleep due to anxiety or stress. However, your dog may be experiencing anxiety, pacing, panting, or moving in circles. Thus, a significant transfer to a new house or changes in your pet’s health can all cause anxiety in your pet.
How to Calm a Nervous Dog Down?
Try some of these techniques the next time your dog needs some comfort, whether they are experiencing anxiety or a stressful event like thunderstorms or fireworks. Here are a few tried-and-true suggestions for how to calm a dog down:
1. Take a workout
Take your dog for a run or play some fetch when they’re agitated or overly animated. Thus, this will assist release surplus energy and calm any tension from being cooped up for an extended period of time or under stress.
Some fresh air and a frisbee can do wonders. If your dog’s hyperactivity persists, take pauses when playing fetch. However, have your dog sit and look you in the eye each time they bring the ball back to you before you throw it again. This might make them feel better.
Till your dog is calm, try to keep away from dog parks and other dogs. Otherwise, excessive social stimulation could make them feel even more anxious. It’s critical to relax or soothe an anxious person.
2. Be Mindful of Reinforcement
Encourage good behavior and put off bad behavior. For example, don’t instantly reach out to pets or calm your dog if they are jumping, barking, or becoming overly excited. However, this may educate your pet that these techniques are effective for gaining your quick attention.
Instead, avoid making eye contact with your dog or touching them when they exhibit these behaviors. Your dog may quit acting out and settle down if ignored. Thus, this might be the best technique for how to calm a dog down.
Don’t forget to give your dog a treat when they respond well to stress.
3. Play a song
When you’re stressed, you definitely have a go-to tune you listen to, but did you know that dogs can also relax to music? Playing music helps soothe stressed-out or anxious dogs. However, this is the best suggestion for a question about how to calm a dog down.
According to studies, playing soft rock and reggae music can lower dogs’ heart rates, cortisol levels, and other signs of stress. Even specifically relaxing music for dogs is available. When you’re away from home, it can aid in easing separation anxiety and make you less anxious during storms or fireworks. The next time your pet starts to become anxious, try turning on some music or turning on the radio.
4. Calm your Animal
Try these how to calm a dog down methods if music, aromatherapy, and exercise don’t work:
- Put your dog somewhere quiet and in a dark place with no outside stimulus. Thus, this would not be considered a timeout, thus a way to reset and relax. However, putting some of your clothes there might be helpful.
- Never undervalue the impact of physical contact. For pets that move slowly and steadily and belly rubs can be very beneficial.
- Analyze your personal levels of stress. Dogs are able to detect your anxiety and thrive on it. Make sure you’re speaking in a calm voice while taking deep breaths.
5. Consider Aromatherapy
Yes, aromatherapy is available for pets. An anxious dog may hugely benefit from aromatherapy when there is a condition on how to calm a dog down. Essential oils can calm your pet, but with extreme care. However, don’t use any essential oils you have on hand. Rather, choose a pet-specific oil that a veterinarian has recommended. These will be suitably diluted and contain the ideal ratio of oils.
Therefore, rub the oil along your dog’s back when applying, and stay away from applying where they might lick it off. Thus, never forget to investigate which essential oils dogs prefer and which you should avoid. However, avoid essential oils that are toxic to dogs, such as wormwood, tea tree, citrus, anise, and clove. Instead, look for formulations that contain the relaxing and grounding oils chamomile, lavender, cedar, and bergamot.
Summing Up
The best advice we can give dog owners is to give their pets regular exercise, physical contact when they’re feeling anxious, a space all their own, a healthy diet, and of course, some love and care. If you want to get some more behavioral changes guidance on your dog and its body, visit the website of Helping Fido. We are perfect for providing tips on “how to calm a dog down.” We assist dog owners in creating enduring ties with their canines.
