How to calm an anxious dog

Updated 19/05/2023

It’s an unfortunate fact that most dogs will experience anxiety at some point in their lives. Like humans, dogs have emotions, and not all of them are fun. Hopefully this unpleasant feeling will be an infrequent occurrence for your dog, but others may show signs that their anxiety needs human intervention. So if your vet has ruled out all possible medical conditions, explore this blog to learn how to calm an anxious dog.

Some signs of anxiety in dogs:

• Aggression
• Bathroom accidents in the house
• Restlessness
• Excessive barking or whining
• Destructive behavior
• Panting when it isn’t warm
• Drooling excessively

None of these behaviors on their own necessarily indicate anxiety, but if you’re seeing a combination of these in your dog, or it’s happening frequently, it’s time to dig a little deeper. How often are they displaying these symptoms? Does there seem to be a specific trigger that precipitates these behaviors? For example, if you notice excessive barking or whining when you leave for work in the morning, and come home to see scratch marks on your door, that’s a strong indication that your pup is dealing with some separation anxiety, a common problem for dogs. If your pooch is panting or barking at the vets, maybe it's due to situational anxiety (explore our blog answering why do dogs hate the vet for more info!). So, it's important that you, as a pet parent, understand the ways you can combat these feelings, as well as how to comfort an anxious dog.

If you’re seeing unusual changes in your dog’s behavior, it’s always a good idea to see your veterinarian to check for any potential medical causes. If your vet rules out any potential medical problems, here's how to calm an anxious dog:

1. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy has a history of human use that dates back to 3500 BC. Our canine companions have 40 times more scent receptors than humans do - so it’s no surprise that aromatherapy can be a useful treatment for calming an anxious dog. However, because dogs’ noses are so sensitive, you must be very mindful about the particular products you use. Lavender oil is a well-known essential oil frequently used to promote feelings of calm and relaxation, and when properly prepared, diluted lavender oil formulas are generally considered safe for topical use on dogs.  

The flip side is, if they are used incorrectly, oils can be dangerous, so you must proceed with caution when looking for how to calm your dog's anxiety. This is not the time to try to DIY - lavender oil needs to be diluted with a carrier oil in order to be used safely, and human-safe rations are not necessarily dog-safe. For this reason, we recommend that you buy only formulas made for dogs, from a reputable brand. Lavender is often used, diluted, as a spray, which is safe if used correctly and in small amounts. If you apply oils directly to your dog’s skin, always use correct dilution and apply in an area where they cannot be licked off.

Exercise caution if you have cats, birds or other pets who may have sensitive respiratory systems. Some oils are toxic to dogs, such as tea tree, citrus, cinnamon and pine. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian.

2. Pheromones

Another form of aromatherapy would be to use pheromones. If you’ve ever seen a dog sniff another dog’s rear (and who hasn’t?) then you’ve seen pheromones at work. With a few quick sniffs, a dog’s scent receptors can pick up the chemical messages being sent with these pheromones - they can determine the age and sex of another pup, whether a female is in heat, and more. 

Shortly after birth, mothers release a different type of pheromone that soothes her new pups, and a synthetic version of this can be a great way to soothe your pooch if you're wondering how to calm an anxious dog. Scientists have been able to isolate and synthesize this pheromone, and you can now find it sold as Dog Appeasing Pheromones, or DAP. DAP can be dispensed by a spray, diffused, or released by a pheromone collar, sending comforting chemical messages to your dog. Some products may add a bit of fragrance to make the smell more appealing to humans, but the pheromones themselves are only detected by dogs.

3. Compression

The canine equivalent to swaddling a fussy newborn baby, compression gear for dogs can be pretty successful in calming an anxious dog. ThunderShirt is the best-known brand in this category, but you can get similar results with a regular quilted vest that has a velcro closure - but keep in mind that the snug fit is essential to achieve the gentle hug you’re going for. Just putting clothes on a dog is not enough, and if they are already feeling anxious, poorly fitting clothes will just add to their stress level. Compression is an easy way to soothe an anxious dog with no risk of side effects, and can also help with over-excitement that can lead to unwanted behaviors like leash-pulling and excessive barking. Not all dogs respond well to compression, so try this at home when your dog is calm a few times to get them accustomed to it, rather than trying it for the first time when they are in an anxious state.

4. Lick mats

Dogs have a natural ability to self-soothe, and licking and chewing are ways they are known to calm themselves. Lick mats are like a shallow dish about the size of a pie pan, typically made of silicone or rubber. The mat has small nubs that poke out from the surface, allowing you to spread a soft spreadable treat like peanut butter or a meat paste between the nubs, and inviting your dog to lick to get down to the good stuff. You can also pop the lick mat in the freezer for a couple of minutes, which will give your dog a little more soothing lick time. Many of these mats have suction cups on the bottom, so if you need your pup to stay still in a spot they wouldn’t ordinarily want to be (the bathtub comes to mind) you can affix the mat to the shower wall to offer a pleasant distraction, calming your anxious dog and helping to avoid anxiety altogether. Safe chews are also an enriching and calming experience for dogs.

4. A safe space

How to calm an anxious dog in those unavoidable, yet stressful situations for our canine pals? This tip is especially helpful for situational anxiety, like thunderstorms or fireworks. Create a safe space for the dog, ideally in a room of the house where the outside sights and sounds are minimized as much as possible. Make the den as comfortable and inviting as possible, with your dog’s favorite treats and toys. You can even play calming music (check out our blog settling the question do dogs like music before playing tunes to your pooch), or if the crate is in view of your TV, stream DOGTV. Spend some time with your dog in this area, providing praise and reassurance, so that they view it as a positive and secure area.

 If your dog doesn’t mind being crated, you can use the crate as their safe space, and drape the crate with a blanket to block out some of the outside visual stimulation, and this will dampen the sounds too. Never crate an anxious dog who isn’t accustomed to a crate environment. 

Related article: How to crate train an older dog

5. DOGTV

Did you know that there is a TV channel created specifically for calming anxious dogs? The founder of DOGTV spent years finding out how to calm dogs' anxiety and pouring over scientific research studies to figure out what kinds of music dogs find most calming, and even dialed in to find the specific sound frequencies that work the best. They looked at studies tracking dogs’ eye movements, to see which images they found most interesting on screen, and adjusted the colors to make the channel easier for dogs to see. (It’s a persistent myth that dogs are colorblind, but they can detect a limited range of color.) 

In addition to the relaxation videos, DOGTV also has stimulation content (designed for dogs who may be more bored than anxious) as well as educational and training videos on myDOGTV. You can try DOGTV for yourself and get your first month free with code TRUST1. 

It’s never fun to think that your dog might be stressed or unhappy. Now, the next time your dog shows signs of anxiety, you’ll hopefully be equipped on how to calm an anxious dog with your 6 new tools to help your pup feel better. 

Meet our veterinary expert, Lizzie

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lizzie Youens BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lizzie graduated from the University of Bristol in 2011, and has been working in first opinion companion animal practice. She has worked in a variety of clinics across the UK, from large hospitals to small branch practices. She enjoys doing a mixture of medicine, surgery and emergency work. Lizzie currently works in a small rural practice where she enjoys working in a close-knit community.