5 Great Ideas To Calm A Nervous Dog

Dogs, whether big, medium or small-sized, can become anxious and jumpy (yup even calm, placid ones) when there is a thunderstorm or when they are left alone or when they are in an unfamiliar environment.

Here are some great ways to calm a nervous dog down:

1. Play relaxing classical music at a soft volume. Soft classical music has been proven to have a calming effect on humans and now research has shown that this kind of music has the same effect on dogs too. As quoted in this post on Cesar Milan's blog

   When researchers polled rescues and shelters, they found that classical music calmed the dogs far more than pop or rock and roll. Dog owners who play classical instruments claim that when they practice, their dogs will fall into a relaxed state.

   So keep some relaxing classical music at home, and try to play it whenever your dog feels tense or starts to get nervous.

2. Give your dog a good doggy massage. A gentle massage can be as relaxing for your dog as for us humans. To learn more about home massage for dogs, check out this site . There are also some great videos on YouTube that teach us all about dog massage here.

3. If your dog is nervous because of thunderstorms, close the windows and curtains to lessen the effects of the noise and flashes of lighting, keep your dog close to you and keep calm. Your dog will sense that you are relaxed and this will lessen his aggravation. You can also give the Storm Defender cape a try. From the Storm Defender website:

   The cape has a special metallic lining that discharges a dog's fur and shields him from the static charge buildup reducing his sensitivity to the charge. The dog gets relief, and after a few storms begins to learn that the secondary triggers like rain, wind, thunder, barometric pressure and smells are no longer to be feared. With the cape on, the dog feels as though he has found a safe place.

However, it may not work on all dogs as every dog is unique... But the Storm Defender website states that the product has a 100% satisfaction guarantee so you can return the cape for a full refund if it does not work for your dog.



4. Try using aromatherapy products that are specially catered for dogs. Some scents like lavender not only relax us, they also have a relaxing effect on dogs. To find out more about aromatherapy for dogs, check out this site or better yet check with a professional aromatherapist on what essential oils are the most effective in relaxing a nervous dog.

5. Last but not least, take your dog out for regular exercise so that he can burn off all that nervous pent up energy. And exercise also produces feel good vibes that will make your dog happier, more confident and ultimately more relaxed.

Tags: dog massage, anxious dog, nervous dog, calm dog