VSA Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Dorwest partner Amelia Steele gives her top tips on how to support your anxious dog...
“One thing we see a lot of in anxiety cases is that things can become very overwhelming very quickly for the dogs. I recommend Scullcap & Valerian Tablets after seeing great results, as sometimes you just need something that takes that edge off to help your dog focus during a behavioural training plan”.
Here are Amelia’s top tips to help your anxious dog…
Identify and remove as many stresses as possible
“For example if you have a dog that is reactive on walks, it may be worth thinking about how much the walk is benefiting your dog. Try swapping it out for another type of mental stimulation or enrichment to help them reduce that anxiety. If the walk itself is stressful, then it may not be giving them many benefits”.
Add in predictable & common routines throughout your day
“This can be something as simple as using a Lickimat or a Kong. I always like to follow up anything exciting with something calming to help dogs to relax and settle after something that might be more stimulating or anxiety inducing”.
Change your dog’s emotional response to anxious situations
“Try and address the root cause by seeking advice from a qualified trainer, building up to known triggers and rewarding good behaviour.”
Use calming supplements like Scullcap& Valerian Tablets
“These will help to set your dog up for success with their training plan, enabling them to stay calm and focussed.”
Be sure to keep an eye out on our Instagram & TikTok, for more advice from Dorwest!
