3 tips to help reduce your dog’s anxiety

Pictured is Duchess next to Petals & Tails CBD balm and hemp oil

Did you know dogs experience anxiety just like humans? The most common forms of anxiety in dogs are separation anxiety, generalized anxiety and fear related anxiety that is caused by specific stimuli such as fireworks, thunderstorms or car rides. In this blog post we will cover our top 3 tools to help your dog with anxiety.

1. Anxiety Vests      

An anxiety vest for dogs is a type of lightweight shirt that wraps around their body to provide the feeling of being swaddled. The intention behind using them is to help reduce anxiety.

The theory is that anxiety vests apply pressure to a dog’s torso, which can feel soothing just like swaddling a baby or an adult using a weighted blanket. It can be very nourishing for the nervous system and help regulate it. The anxiety vest is meant to mimic touch since it has been shown to have neurological benefits such as regulating neurotransmitters, heart rate and blood pressure, and lowering cortisol levels.

  Do anxiety vests actually work? According to one study cited by VCA hospitals, dogs wearing anxiety vests showed a decrease in escalated heart rate by 8%, and the overall mean anxiety score was lower by 34% compared to dogs without anxiety vests. Although there are more studies on anxiety vests, some showing positive outcomes while using the vest, much of the research remains inconclusive. On the bright side, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence as much as 80% of pet owners finding the vest beneficial in reducing their dog’s anxiety.

  What we gather from research and articles written by veterinarians is that in order for our dogs to benefit from the vest, how we introduce and use the vest is essential. Read on for all the steps on how to appropriately use the vest here.

Because we care about dogs and their mental health we launched an anxiety vest that comes in navy and fuchsia with our logo printed on the side. Our vest is a light, soft, and an airy material that is a mixture of spandex and polyester. The collar of the vest sits under the neck and Velcro strips are used to close the vest, which is a good material to ensure consistent pressure. Shop here to purchase our vest.

2. CBD supplement

CBD is a chemical compound derived from the marijuana plant. CBD is not psychoactive, as it doesn't contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) the ingredient found in marijuana that produces a high. CBD is usually sold as an oil, but it is also on the market as an extract infused in many different products ranging from shampoos to perfumes to balms.

CBD helps regulate your dog’s endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for sleep, appetite, pain, the immune system and more. CBD impacts the activity of the messengers in this system and stimulates the nervous, digestive and immune systems, as well as the brain. CBD can reduce your dog’s anxiety by binding the nervous system receptors changing the response of our body to serotonin and inducing a more relaxed state in your dog's body (it has the same effect on humans).

Does CBD work or could it be harmful? The scientific community is still in the beginnings of researching the effectiveness of CBD in pets, but what has been found so far is very promising especially research done on lab animals. We are finding that CBD can have a healing effect on many types of problems including anxiety relief, managing pain, reducing seizures, and boosting energy. The best part of CBD is that it has no known side effects and can be used simultaneously with other supplements and medications. The key in long-term effectiveness of CBD on your dog’s anxiety is to purchase high quality CBD, administer appropriate dosage, and use consistently.

     We have been using CBD with Duchess since early 2022 and we have seen tremendous improvement in her anxiety. Events that use to trigger Duchess don’t trigger her or trigger her less. She can get out of her reactive states more quickly and seems overall calmer. Since Duchess is our family member and her health is of utmost importance to us, it was essential to find the highest quality CBD oil for her. Petals & Tails have provided us with that. The standards for their CBD products is above and beyond—It  is derived from an FDA approved hemp farm in Oregon, USA. It is 100% human-grade ingredients. Hemp seed oil is used and contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to prevent heart disease and bad cholesterol for a healthier body. It is Lab-tested for safety, purity, and potency, non-GMO, and full spectrum (various cannabinoids are present) for a well-rounded effect. They have a variety of products from spritzes, to balms, to peanut butter, to chews and might I add their products smell fantastic. If you want to try their products— please use our discount code DUCHESS15 for 15% off you purchase. Shop Petals & Tails here.

3. Co-regulation Therapy 

            Co-regulation therapy is an approach to cultivating your relationship with your dog through awareness building, skills, and every day practices. The intention is to boost overall human and canine wellness through mutual collaboration and communication.

Anxiety occurs throughout the entire nervous system not just brain. It can disrupt sleeping and eating rhythms among other physiological systems. It can give physical pain such as “knots” in our stomach. Send us into a state of hyper mobilization, which is difficult to shift out of and regain homeostasis. Anxiety works on dogs similarly and they need help our help regulating their nervous systems. Through co-regulation skills, you can find your baseline rhythm with your dog again. Nervous systems communicate with each other including on a subconscious awareness so co-regulation skills help bring awareness of what is happening in your own body and help you become more aware of what your dog is telling you through their behavior. This practice is foundation for overall wellbeing in both you and your canine.

What kind of results can you expect? Co-regulation therapy includes several skill sets including somatic consent and communication skills, nervous system regulation skills (which is about self-awareness, self-care, and setting boundaries), and dog training skills (which can include skills for the dog - like learning words/cues, impulse control, paying attention around distractions, etc - and skills for the human, like how to get the dog's attention, which treats to use, when to use treats or when to use other rewards, how to practice around distractions, etc).  All of these skills are derived from evidence-based practices that show positive outcomes for dog and human alike. One research article that focuses on scent and self-directed nose activities provides evidence that having more control over themselves results in better welfare for dogs. Other research touches on the importance of positive reinforcement versus punishment equating to better learning and happier dog overall. Lastly, research has shown evidence that behavior problems in dogs disrupts human mental health and the human-canine bond, thus bringing in a third party professional is extremely beneficial in resolving these problems. Sharon Vincuilla provides just that through the human canine collaborative. To learn more about how to work with Sharon check out her website.

Cloud Doodles & Human Canine Collaborative have a close working partnership. We are collaborating in a variety of different ways including through IGTV and other projects coming soon. Check out our IGTV saved recordings here. We want to work closely together to bring you the most accurate thoughts and skills on how to have you and your pup maximize your relationship for the benefits of both your mental health.

 Final Thoughts

  We always recommend checking in with your vet before doing any sort of behavior modification or supplements, as we want to rule out pain or any other treatment before moving forward. Looping in your vet on all things related to your dog is best in supporting them.