Zen Dog Basics: Practical Tips For Calming Your Hyped-Up Pooch
An overactive dog is okay at the park. But when you get home, all you want them to do is cuddle you on the sofa or march in a well-behaved manner straight to the dog bed for some shut-eye.
However, what you want and what ultimately winds up happening can be two very different things. Dogs don’t always want to do what you tell them to do.
So, is there anything you can do to turn the situation around? Glad you asked. It turns out that there are all sorts of weird and wacky interventions with proven effects. Let’s take a look.
Create A Calm Environment
The first thing you’ll want to do is create a calm environment. Dogs are a bit like kids in the sense that colors and noises really amp up their activity levels.
You don’t have to go for full-blown redecoration. But clearing away the mess from time to time can help significantly. You might also see progress by dimming the lights a little and avoiding anything that’s going to send your dog wild, like loud noises.
Add Calming Scents
Aromatherapy works on people, and, apparently, on dogs, too. Allowing beautiful scents to waft into the air like lavender can have a profoundly positive effect on your pooch’s psychology.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a diffuser. You can simply drop some essential oils containing relaxing scents onto your pooch’s bedding. You can also burn scented candles (but make sure they are made of soy wax. Other types of wax can emit harmful compounds).
Give Them A Special Herb Mix
You can also calm dogs down with a sleepy chew containing the right sort of herbs, like lavender and ashwagandha. These compounds have proven calming effects in people, with some evidence for dogs, too. Of course, you can also sprinkle small quantities of these items into their meal, like people do with CBD oil for dogs with arthritis in their joints.
Give Your Dog A Massage
Another tactic is to give your dog a massage. Relaxing their muscles can change their hormonal chemistry, encouraging them to calm down (just like you feel calmer when you go to the spa).
Most owners start with the back and sides. After a while, you can go onto the paws, providing your pooch with even more calming energy.
Be Patient
Young dogs are notoriously boisterous, so be patient when trying to calm them down. Ask whether you’ve done everything you can to ensure they can let off steam. Did you take them to the park? Have they had any exercise today? These are all important questions to answer.
Wear Them Out
Finally, ensure you take time out every day to wear out your dog. Young animals have extremely high energy levels and often need huge amounts of physical activity to let off steam. Make sure you give your pooch at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily. Many larger breeds need over an hour to feel satisfied, so bear that in mind.
I don’t have a dog but my brother has a dog just turned a year old………………. AND SHE IS NOT TRAINED. Going to share this with my brother and sister in law. Dog needs to learn some manners