Many dogs can find being alone, fireworks, or even a storm quite stressful. There are many tools available to help combat this. The following is an overview of a selection of these, along with brief explanations and how-tos.
Adaptil
Adaptil is modelled after a pheromone emitted by mother dogs that acts as a signal to puppies, relaxing them and giving them feelings security and protection.It’s available as a vaporiser, collar, spray, and even tablets. A vaporiser is especially suited to training at home, as it covers up to 70sqm.Don’t just plug it in as soon as your dog becomes stressed, though. It’s better to have the vaporiser on when your dog is already in a relaxed state, as this helps it doubly associate the pheromone with a sense of relaxation. Therefore, a good two days before holidays like New Year’s Eve or the Fourth of July is a good time to plug it in.
RelaxoPet Pro for Dogs
RelaxoPet plays sounds at particular frequencies that have been proven to relax dogs.When you first get your hands on a RelaxoPet, make sure to use it in the beginning when your dog is sleeping or heads to its bed to rest.Continue this for about a week before using it during training. After this first week, you should use RelaxoPet just before stressful situations might start, like the aforementioned storms, periods of being alone, or fireworks.
Essential Oils
A variety of essential oils are relaxing for dogs, such as lavender, camomile, sandalwood, or jasmine. When shopping for essential oils, always make sure they are of good quality and are 100% unadulterated. You can use the oils in a diffuser or apply them to your dogs fur, heavily diluted in a carrier oil (such as fractionated coconut oil). At first, use the oils when your dog begins to settle down, e.g. before going to sleep. Once you’ve allowed your dog to get used to the oils for a week you can begin using them to combat stress. Make sure to use them roughly 15 minutes before your dog is presented with a stressful situation, e.g. a visit to the vet.
