5 Tips for Calmer Canines

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It is an unsettling time out there, folks. We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during this difficult period. We know a lot of you are experiencing the effects of this crisis in more ways than one and that current developments around COVID-19 are generating stress and anxiety for all. We wanted to find a way to provide what assistance we can, in the best way WE know how. A lot of you have been doing your part to socially distance yourself, such as working from home, closing your businesses, taking your kids out of daycare, etc. We also know that many others may not be in position to do just that, but are limiting their interactions in other ways. However, the majority of you, if not ALL, who follow us and read our blog, DO have pets. This means you most likely won’t be using your dog walker, your pet-sitter, your regular boarding or daycare facilities at this time because trips have been canceled, kids are home, one or both parents are at home, parks are closed and the list goes on. This also means your pets will be at home with you during your working hours, or spending more time home alone while you pull extra shifts. This may mean they’re a little more restless and excited because A. You’re HOME, and B. They aren’t keeping up with their regular routines/schedules, or interacting with other dogs and people on their walks, at dog parks, or in daycare, etc. Also, let’s face it, our pets can sense when we aren’t feeling our best or when we aren’t calm. So, we have put together a comprehensive list of the top 5 Tips for Calmer Canines to help our furry friends (and us!) keep calm during these trying times.

  1. Calm Yourself!

    Okay, this may have been an obvious one. But, as we mentioned briefly above, our pets are pretty in-tune with whatever we are feeling. They cannot be calm if we aren’t. So it is important that we check our energy as well, especially if we are trying to command them to check theirs. While our pets adjust to having us around more, you may notice them showing some signs of unwanted behavior (due to pent up energy, or behavior they reserve for play) that doesn’t work well in the house or during your conference calls. Remember that yelling “No” at them over and over will just add to their excitement. It is best to be calm and assertive, using a quiet word/command they know.

  2. Encourage/Reward Calm Behavior

    This will help when it comes to training for situations in the above tip. Just as we shouldn’t engage and yell at our dogs during times of “unwanted behavior”, it is important to provide affection, attention and/or rewards when your dog is IN a calm and submissive state so that we reinforce that state of behavior that we want. If your dog is treat motivated, then only reward their behavior when they are being calm. By using a combination of ignoring excited behavior and then rewarding calm behavior, you will help your dog to naturally move into the calmer state. You can also start to add word “ques” once they get that the “treat” or affection goes away when they get excited, by  'catching a behavior. ' When your dog is in a truly relaxed state (aka- lying on their side or back), gently say the cue as you pet them keeping the tone of your voice low and calm.

  3. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!

    Yes, we are social distancing and some of us are self-quarantined, but WALKS are not canceled. Wearing your dog out is an important factor in having a calm and happy pup. If they are too tired to be over-excited then you don’t have the unwanted behavior. Walks not only physically exert your dog, but provide much needed mental stimulation as well. Sometimes just letting them outside in the yard isn’t whats needed and often adds to their excitement due to “distractions” (aka- squirrels they can’t reach, your neighbors outside, passersby or the pesky cat down the road). A walk provides the perfect “change of scene” for them to channel their excess energy while at the same time draining it. In addition, returning home with your dog, once drained of pent up energy, they will associate the feeling of calm with the reward of home. Walks aren’t just a great thing of our dogs either, taking a 30 to 60 minute break (whatever you can allow) helps us get through the monotony of being self-quarantined, as well as staying active while working from home and taking a much needed mental break from all that is going on.

  4. Mental Games

    Yes, you read that right. As we touched on briefly above, if getting out of your house is absolutely out of the question, another way to exhaust some of your dog’s excess energy is to tire them out mentally. This is when playtime comes in! If you have a yard or a large enough indoor space, things like playing fetch, or having your dog search for a hidden treat are great for keeping them mentally stimulated. Taking this time to teach them new tricks or running them through an obstacle course (could be homemade, get creative!) are all good ways to stimulate and drain your dogs energy. It is important to remember that you stay in control of the games length and intensity. Setting “limitations” are important. If your dog becomes too excited, then the game ends. This is a gentle “negative” reinforcement. While rewarding calm behavior tells your dog, “When I calm down I get a treat, or I play a game.” Looking for some great mentally stimulating toys? Can we say KONG?! The tried-and-true toy that is recommended by trainers and veterinarians around the world. You just stuff it with food or low-cal treats for a complex puzzle feeding experience that puts your dog to work. Or, throw it around and its unpredictable bounce makes for a fun (and tiring) game of fetch. You could also try a more strategic game like the Outward Hound Treat Dispensing Game for Dogs. This is a great option for a game of “hide-and-seek” with treats. We love this option because it eliminates boredom, which reduces stress and destructive behaviors and rewards them for exercising their brain! Another suggestion is the Busy Buddy Calming Toy. Similar to the Kong in that you can stuff them with food /treats to give your dog a problem-solving challenge, and they too have unpredictable bouncing abilities due to their shape which creates fun playtime. However, these are also lightly scented with chamomile that is aroma-therapeutic to your pup. This leads us to our next point!

  5. Utilize Their Nose

    Your dogs primary sense organ is their nose, so engaging their sense of smell can have a calming effect. Scents like lavender and vanilla can help calm your dog down, especially if you associate them with times when the dog is calm. Using a gentle diffuser int he room or near where they sleep. However, it is important to be sure that your dog doesn’t have any allergies to particular scents and ask your veterinarian for recommendations on the scents that work best at calming dogs down and how to use them.

If your dog is a naturally high-energy and excitable breed or dog, it may take a while to see results with these techniques. The most important part is that you stay consistent and don’t give up! The best part is that all of these means more quality time with your favorite furry friend. What other techniques do you use at home? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!


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