Just like humans, dogs get nervous, too. It’s extremely important for dog owners to know how to help nervous dog relax. Both owners and canines must develop a healthy way of dealing with the stress and nervous energy the dog emits during tense situations.
More often than not, the simplest way to relax a nervous dog is to let him slow down and take few breaths. A calming massage goes a long way, too. To further help dog owners dealing with a nervous dog, read on.
Keep Yourself Calm
Dogs mirror their owner’s reactions. If you’re feeling agitated yourself, most likely, your dog will be stressed out, too. So to help your nervous dog relax, you must emit a calm and soothing aura as well. Pay attention to the signals you’re sending out, not just with your words or tone of voice but also with your body language.
If you’re really in a tense situation and you can’t quite recover from it fast to calm your dog, walk away first. Have a glass of water to regulate your nerves or take a short, relaxing walk. And then go back to your dog to help him sort his stress out.
Work on Your Nervous Dog
Massaging or petting your nervous dog is one of the best ways to calm him down. Start by giving him slow, long stokes along his sides, chest and neck area and back.
Aside from the massage, you can try relaxing your nervous dog by giving him dog treats. The treat will redirect his attention from the source of his stress; thus, calming him down.
You may also instigate an impromptu game or run to help your dog release his pent up emotions.
When your nervous dog calms down, make sure that you reward him for a job well done. This will help him remember that he’ll get some treats when he’s able to control his anxiety the next time it arises.
