Many of us find that the summertime brings out our best mood, thanks to lots of time spent outdoors, more social engagements and the beautiful sunshine. But, for our dogs, summertime can come with a unique set of anxiety triggers that we need to be mindful of to keep our precious canine feeling as safe and secure as possible. If your dog is particularly prone to anxiety, you might appreciate these tips for keeping them calm amidst the unpredictability of the summer season.
Every dog has their own unique anxiety triggers, and some of them are more common than others. So, what are the summertime triggers that seem to set dogs off the most?
Trigger #1: Fireworks
Fireworks are an expected part of the summer season, especially on the 4th of July when every town holds their own fireworks display for residents. While they can be beautiful to us, they can also be terrifying to a dog who can’t distinguish between their harmless nature and a serious sign of danger.
Trigger #2: Thunderstorms
Like fireworks, thunderstorms come with loud, unpredictable noises that can send a dog into a complete state of anxiety. And, as dog owners, there’s nothing that we can do to stop them, as we watch our beloved companions showing clear signs of distress.
Trigger #3: Parties
A lot of us enjoy hosting parties in the summer, to make the most of the warm weather and long days of sunshine. But, not all dogs love the idea of a bunch of people suddenly showing up in their homes, creating noise and crowding their spaces.
Trigger #4: Neighborhood Animals
During the summer season, animals that have come out of hibernation are more likely to wander around your property, including bears, raccoons, foxes, coyotes and feral cats. Dogs who are particularly territorial may get very stressed out at the sight of other animals in their territory.
Trigger #5: Family Vacations
It’s important to remember that many dogs experience separation anxiety when their families go on vacation, leaving them behind. Dogs are extremely attached to their owners, and also may become anxious or depressed when they don’t know where their owners are.
Ways to Keep Your Dog Calm All Summer Long
Fortunately, there are ways to ease your dog’s anxiety throughout the summer season. While we can’t ask our town to hold off on fireworks, or even stay home all summer just to keep our dog from experiencing separation anxiety, we can approach their mental state from a more holistic perspective to make their nervous system more resilient to common triggers.
Tip #1: Stick to Their Routine
Dogs are creatures of habit, and even the most subtle changes to their routine can give them anxiety. That’s why it’s important that even during the busier months of summer, you aim to feed them at the same time daily, and also take them on their daily walk as expected.
Tip #2: Keep Parties Outdoors as Much as Possible
If you’re going to be hosting summer parties, aim to keep the festivities outdoors as much as possible. This way, if the socializing becomes too much for your furry friend, they can retreat inside to escape the noise and crowd.
Tip #3: Give Them Lots of Love and Playtime
A dog is more likely to handle stressors if their daily needs are being met. That’s why it’s crucial to incorporate scheduled playtime into their daily routine, and give them lots of love and affection when you are at home. This makes a dog feel more secure, and improves their mood overall so that they’re less likely to show symptoms of anxiety.
Tip #4: Incorporate CBD into Their Routine
CBD, or cannabidiol, can have a profound effect on your dog’s nervous system, by working with cannabinoid receptors in the brain that regulate the stress response and overall mood indicators. In fact, studies have found that administering CBD dog treats to canines greatly reduced their stress response when exposed to loud noises. If you want to give your dog CBD for their emotional wellbeing, consider giving them a dosage every day to maximize the compound’s potential, while choosing a CBD formula made exclusively for canines to ensure that it contains ingredients that are safe for their bodies.
Note: Before administering your pet cannabidiol in order to calm them down, best to speak with your veterinarian first.
Follow These Tips to Keep Your Dog at Ease This Summer
Few dogs love thunderstorms, fireworks and loud parties, and as pet owners, there’s only so much we can do to avoid these aspects of the summer season. But, what we can do is make a point to ease their anxiety overall, to help them be more tolerant to noises, sensations and sights that typically send them into a state of distress. At Chill Paws, many dog owners come to us for help with their canine’s anxiety, thanks to our cleanly formulated, lab-tested CBD-infused dog treats, dog oils, and more.
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