How to Calm an Anxious Dog: A Helpful Guide

Dogs are the best. They are always there when you need them most, and you can count on them to help you feel better, even in the toughest of times. However, just like us, dogs get stressed out and anxious too. Nobody likes to see their loved ones suffering, and unfortunately, calming an anxious dog isn’t necessarily easy. Unlike helping out the two-legged members of our family, trying to figure out how to calm an anxious dog can be difficult. Mainly because they can’t tell you precisely what is going on. Luckily for us, there is plenty of research about the triggers for pet anxiety, how to calm an anxious dog, and even how to help train them to be less anxious.

What Triggers Anxiety in Dogs?

We call them man’s best friend for a reason, and it isn’t just loyalty. Dogs are a lot like us, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that some of the things that stress us out stress them out too. Every dog mom and dog dad has seen at least one of the following set their beloved children off:

• Loud Noises
• Separation Anxiety
• Traveling/Environment Changes
• Strangers & Other Dogs

Loud noises, separation anxiety, travel stress, trouble adapting to change, and social anxiety are all triggers that affect people too. Pet stress usually manifests itself in ways that we see as misbehavior. Studies show that dogs that jump and bark at other dogs actually aren’t displaying aggression or attempts to be the “alpha” the way we once thought. This is typically a reaction born out of fear and not knowing who the other animal is. Fearful, odd, or “naughty” behavior is most often rooted in stress. If we can discover what triggers our dogs, we can begin the process of healing and take the necessary steps to help keep our loved ones feeling happy and stress-free. 

How to Calm an Anxious Dog

Now that we understand the primary triggers of anxiety in dogs, we can take the correct steps to help as best we can. They’d do the same for us after all.

• Go for a Walk
• Set up a Safe Space (Turn Their Bed into a Comfy Den)
• Cuddle Up
• Find a Positive Reinforcement Trainer
• Learn Your Dogs Triggers/Grounding Needs
• Play Calming Music
• Weighted Blankets/Anti-Stress Clothing
• Be Supportive
• CBD for Dogs

We’ve said it before, and we’ll repeat it a few more times – our dogs are just like us. Our canine friends have some of the same stress triggers and stress-relief solutions as we do.  Calming an anxious dog can be something as simple as a nice walk around the block, but other times that isn’t enough.

Suppose you feel like you’ve done everything you can about calming an anxious dog and still aren’t seeing a difference. In that case, you might consider seeking out a positive reinforcement trainer or talking to your vet about CBD for dogs. Few things in life are created equal, and while you’ve likely heard the phrase “not all CBD is created equal,” neither are all dog trainers. While some training methods involve punishment, positive reinforcement trainers help dogs become better acclimated to social situations and respond positively, even when things get stressful.

If you’ve ever had to figure out how to calm an anxious dog, you’ve probably tried the whole list, but for those looking for a solution that is proven effective and is vet-recommended, trying CBD oil for dogs can make a world of difference. 

CBD for Dogs

Your first reaction to hearing about CBD for dogs is likely one of mild surprise, if not doubt. But again, our dogs are just like us, and another trait we share is having an endocannabinoid system. Every human has an endocannabinoid system (ECS), and as it turns out, so do most mammals, including dogs! CBD’s role in the endocannabinoid system makes it effective in both humans and animals. If you’ve ever tried CBD for stress, you know firsthand just how effective it can be.  

How CBD for Dogs Works

CBD works for dogs the same way that it works for humans! When CBD is ingested, it interacts with CB2 receptors found throughout the endocannabinoid system, which helps triggers various biological responses that help the body maintain homeostasis.

For example, stress can be the result of an overactive cortisol release. Cortisol is a stress hormone that is critical to helping us stay alive and is most known for its cause of the “fight or flight” response and overt alertness. However, too much cortisol can be a bad thing, and this is where CBD comes in. CBD helps the endocannabinoid system better regulate the stress response, which can reduce cortisol and even the production of “bliss compounds” like anandamide.

This same destressing process that CBD triggers in humans is also triggered in our furry friends. Thanks to the endocannabinoid system, CBD helps cultivate calm even in the most stressful of situations.

Is CBD for Dogs Safe?  

So, CBD works for dogs, but is CBD safe for our furry friends? The short answer is yes, but there is definitely more to it than meets the eye.

CBD made for people isn’t necessarily suitable for dogs. The two primary reasons for this are the strength of the dose and the use of coconut oil as a carrier oil. While coconut oil isn’t bad for dogs, it isn’t good for them the same way it is good for us.

Most “CBD for dogs” is simply a lower strength variation of the same product being sold on the people side of things. That’s why it is always important to do your research, talk to your vet, and make sure that you find CBD made specifically for pets.

Vet-Formulated Wellness for Pets

Anyone who is looking at how to calm an anxious dog should consider Poppy Willow CBD for Pets. Why is Poppy Willow the best solution for calming an anxious dog? The answer is simple: Poppy Willow is vet-formulated with ingredients for pets, not people so that the ones we love the most get more out of every day.

It all begins with wild-caught Alaskan salmon oil. Wild-caught Alaskan salmon oil is the “organic of the ocean” and has various benefits of its own. Unlike coconut oil, it is beneficial for dogs. Combined with THC-Free broad-spectrum hemp oil, your dog enjoys more of what’s good for them without the THC concerns.

Best of all, these tinctures are vet-formulated and include weight-specific dosage charts. No need to play guessing games trying to figure out how much CBD your dog needs. Our experts have you covered. This ensures that Poppy Willow hemp oil works for dogs of all sizes. If your dog struggles with stress, you can try Poppy Willow hemp oil risk-free for 30-days. If you don’t see a noticeable difference in your dog, we’ll refund your order.