How to Calm a Nervous Dog

There are many situations where our dog can panic or become very nervous — a loud noise, seeing another dog it doesn't get along with, being under a lot of stress, or simply suffering from phobias.

Being nervous can affect its behavior and its health, so we should use every means available to help it relax. From Soyunperro.com we'll explain how to calm a nervous dog in a simple and effective way. Shall we begin?

Your Nerves Are Its Nerves, Relax

Our dog can sense our nervousness, so the first thing we should do is relax ourselves and try to convey calm and confidence to our dog. We'll do it calmly, without shouting at it and without getting angry — we'll simply talk to it a little to get its attention.

If our dog sees us calm, it will help it a lot to calm down too. If, on the other hand, it sees us nervous, agitated, or scared, if we scold it or talk very loudly, it will panic.

Get Its Attention

Many dogs get nervous when crossing paths with other dogs they don't get along with, or when walking down a very noisy street. These are just some examples, since there are thousands of causes that can make our dog nervous.

We need to keep our dog from fixating on whatever is causing it distress — that is, we need to get its attention and distract it. A bit of food in front of its nose can make its mind focus on the food instead of its fears. Playing fetch or running a little alongside it can also help distract it completely.

Avoid Its Phobias

Some people say fear of flying goes away by skydiving, or fear of water goes away by swimming. This doesn't work with dogs — if your dog is afraid of something, don't force it to experience it.

If it's scared of noises, don't take it down the noisiest streets — that will only scare it more and create a big trauma. First you need to work on its fears, and then, with the help of a professional trainer or animal behaviorist, help it face them.

Get Some Exercise

Okay, maybe you're not very athletic, but if your dog is young and healthy, it should get exercise (based on its weight, size, and breed). You can go for a walk with a scooter or bike and have it trot alongside you — that way it will get some exercise.

Or head to a dog park so it can enjoy playing and running with other dogs — this is the most fun way for them to exercise. What matters is that it releases energy and gets tired — this will make its mental health much stronger, and it will better overcome its fears while being less nervous.

Give It a Relaxing Massage

Just as humans relax when we get a good massage, dogs also relax a lot after a well-given massage. It might even fall asleep, that's how calm it gets.

Knowing how to give a dog a massage is very simple — use both hands, pressing gently on its skin, always in the same direction as the coat. Make long, gentle, and very slow movements. Our dog will have a great time relaxing together with us.

Improve Its Space

We should set up a bed for our dog in its favorite spot, where the family spends time throughout the day, since it likes being with the whole family. It should be a spot that's not very noisy, calm, and cool.

It should also always have fresh, clean water available. A dog that's well cared for at home will be much calmer.

Natural or Veterinary Relaxants

Some people say natural remedies such as Bach flower remedies help them relax and be less nervous. For more serious cases, our vet can prescribe an anti-anxiety medication so our dog can be a bit calmer.

Whether natural or prescribed, we recommend talking to the vet first to use an amount appropriate for the dog. This way you can do it safely and without any risks.