Disclaimer: This post
contains affiliate links. The devoted pet parents on the Wag! team
conduct independent research to curate products our own pets would pawsitively love!
Anxiety
isn’t just an issue for humans — it affects our dogs, too. And while
it’s a perfectly natural emotion, excessive levels of
anxiety can cause a wide range of behavioral problems for our fur-babies.
From
thunderstorm phobias to
separation anxiety,
it’s important to find ways to manage your dog’s anxiety to minimize
its impact on their health and wellbeing. The good news is that there
are plenty of products specifically designed to calm your anxious dog
when they’re faced with a variety of common anxiety triggers.
Let’s
take a closer look at 11 pawsome anti-anxiety products for dogs to help your stressed-out pup find their happy place.
The
ThunderShirt is one of the best-known doggy anti-anxiety products on the market. This
anxiety wrap
works in much the same way as swaddling a baby, applying gentle,
calming pressure to your pet’s torso — think of it like a warm hug for
your fur-baby.
As the name suggests, the ThunderShirt can help your
dog feel safe during a storm, but it’s also suitable for dogs coping with separation anxiety, a
fear of fireworks,
or a stressful vet visit. It’s breathable and machine-washable too, and
is available in a range of colors and styles to suit any fashionable
pup.
Adaptil Calm Home Diffuser
When mother dogs are nursing their puppies, they naturally release a
pheromone to help their puppies feel safe and calm. This is known as
dog-appeasing pheromone, or DAP for short, and its synthetic version is
used in the
Adaptil Calm Home Diffuser.
The
best feature of this diffuser is how simple it is to use. Simply plug
it into an outlet in the room where your dog spends most of their time
at home, then sit back and relax while it releases pheromones to comfort
and calm your pup. It can cover areas up to 700 square feet in size and
is a great tool for reducing dog anxiety due to loud noises, unexpected visitors, and other triggers.
We’re all far too familiar with harmful bacteria and the
health issues they cause. But did you know that beneficial bacteria could be
the key to calming an anxious dog?
Purina Pro Plan Calming Care is a probiotic supplement that eases your dog’s anxiety by improving their gut health.
It features a strain of beneficial bacteria (
Bifidobacterium longum
BL999 for those of you playing at home) proven to help dogs maintain
calm behavior. This helps manage anxiety-related behaviors like
pacing and
excessive vocalization. It also supports a positive mindset and boosts your pup’s immune system at the same time.
Don’t
expect it to happen overnight, as you may have to wait up to 6 weeks to
see any results. Speak to your vet before introducing any new
supplements to your dog’s diet.
Pet Acoustics Pet Tunes Canine
Hands up if you ever use music to help you calm down, relax, or just
distract yourself from the pressures of a stressful day? They say that
music soothes the savage beast, and as is often the case, what’s true
for humans also works for our dogs.
Pet Acoustics Pet Tunes Canine
is a portable Bluetooth speaker that plays music specifically designed
to create a calming environment for canine ears. If you’re helping an
adopted pet adapt to life in their new home, or maybe tackling your
dog’s noise phobia, these soothing songs might just put a smile on your
pup’s face.
In a perfect world, you’d be able to snuggle up to your anxious dog
all day (or night) long to keep their fears at bay. Unfortunately,
that’s not always possible — which is where the
Snuggle Puppy comes to the rescue.
This
cute plush toy is designed to remind your pup of the warmth, comfort,
and safety of snuggling up to their mom and littermates. The soft and
fluffy Snuggle Puppy features a single-use heat pack and a Real-Feel
Heartbeat, making it the ideal cuddle buddy when your pup needs a little
extra support.
This soothing item is particularly useful to help
calm a puppy that has recently been re-homed and isn't used to being
away from their mother and siblings. As far as your dog is concerned, it’s the next best thing to curling up in your lap for a snuggle!
NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Soft Chews
Next on our list of the best anti-anxiety products for dogs are these
soft chews from NaturVet.
These tasty treats are packed full of goodness to help your dog cope
with travel anxiety, thunderstorm phobias, and the stress of visiting
the vet or the groomer.
They include thiamine and L-tryptophan to ease stress,
ginger
to soothe a sensitive stomach, and melatonin to help your pet get a
good night’s sleep. And because they’re made in the USA, they provide
extra peace of mind for you, too.
If you were to take a straw poll of pups worldwide about the experiences they dread the most,
a trip to the groomer
would probably be right near the top of the list. But if the thought of
a salon visit sends your pup running for the hills, the
Happy Hoodie might just be the answer.
Designed
by 2 dog groomers who wanted to make blow-drying a less stressful
experience for pets, this distinctive accessory applies gentle
compression to protect your dog from loud noises and ease their anxiety.
It’s effective for reluctant grooming customers and can also keep your
dog calm around vacuum cleaners, fireworks, and even during vet visits.
And
while your dog might not win any style points in the Happy Hoodie, they
will hopefully cope better with stressful situations.
Want to relieve your dog’s stress and anxiety during the day when you’re not home? Let them take charge of the remote!
DogTV
is a streaming service for dogs, but it’s much more than just
wall-to-wall replays of Lassie and the
Crufts Dog Show. Instead, it uses
a science-based approach to schedule special programs that align with
your dog’s daily cycle.
DogTV has programs to provide mental
stimulation, prevent doggy boredom, desensitize your dog to unfamiliar sounds and
situations, and more. The aim is to help your dog be calm, confident, and content
when left home alone. And with several shows for pet parents too, DogTV offers something for the whole family to enjoy.
Best Friends by Sheri Original Dog Calming Bed
Good sleep is important for a dog’s emotional wellbeing, but as we
all know, drifting off is a whole lot harder when anxiety rears its ugly
head.
If you want to help your dog get a good night’s sleep,
the Original Dog Calming Bed
is specifically designed to do exactly that. This donut-shaped cuddler
provides a safe, warm space for your dog to retreat to when they’re
ready for some shut-eye, or when they just need some time alone to
decompress. It has a raised rim and is “pawfect” for
dogs that like to burrow, providing an extra sense of security for an anxious pup.
Looking for a gentle approach to stress relief for dogs? Check out
Bach Rescue Remedy Pet. This
blend of 5 natural flower essences eases tension for anxious dogs and
cats.
Just remember to speak to your vet before introducing any new supplement to your pet.
Licking releases endorphins and can be a self-soothing mechanism to help a dog calm down. Products like the
LickiMat Soother are designed to encourage licking, providing entertainment for bored dogs and helping them stay calm during times of stress.
All
you have to do is place some of your pet’s favorite treats or spread
some
pet-friendly peanut butter onto the LickiMat’s patterned, bristled
surface. Its slow-feeder design ensures plenty of mental stimulation for
your pup and provides a welcome relief from anxiety for stressed-out
pooches.
If anxiety is a problem for your pet, the 11 products featured here
might be exactly what they need to stay calm and in control. Just make
sure to check with your vet before making any changes to your dog’s
healthcare program, and consult an experienced trainer or
veterinary behaviorist if you need help solving any anxiety-related
behavior problems.