The character of our furry can be altered by different factors, such as the breed of the animal itself or the presence of a dog that has not been properly socialized as a puppy and therefore does not know how to behave, among others.
Know what to do if my dog is very nervous is very important, as this way we can avoid unpleasant surprises.
Why can my dog get nervous?
Bending radius on the inner side
There are certain breeds that are more nervous than others, such as the Mallorcan Shoplifter or the Jack Russell. This does not mean that they are aggressive, but that they just tend to have a medium-high energy level and that, therefore, they will need to do more exercise than a Yorkshire Terrier for example to be calm.
Age
Puppies tend to be more nervous than adults. Everything is new to them. Until they explore the world around them, always with the help of a calm human, they will not calm down. For this, it is highly recommended to bring us treats for dogs and toys with which we can earn their trust. Once this is done, the furry ones will be able to feel safe by our side, which will help to relax them.
Stimuli
Regardless of age and breed, there are a number of stimuli that can make even the calmest dog nervous: fireworks, other dogs, sound toys, noise from cars, storms, people, cats,… To help them calm down, we have to know what is making them so nervous and take the necessary measures.
What are the signs of nervousness in the dog?
To know if our friend is nervous, we will have to look at the following:
- The hair on his back stands on end.
- It moves from one side to the other.
- The ears are held upright.
- Barks incessantly at stimulus.
- Sometimes it can show its teeth and even attack.
How to relax a nervous dog?
The dog must be able to trust his human, who must be calm at all times.
If we live with a dog that is nervous by nature or that gets nervous in certain situations, we have to do the following:
Show ourselves calm and confident
It is perhaps the most important thing. The dog you have to be able to trust someone who feels calm and safe of himself. This human does not have to act as a boss, but as a guide and companion, just as our parents did when we were children. With patience, delicacy and perseverance.
We will take him away from the stimulus
If, for example, we are in a dog park where there is one that is making our friend very nervous, that is, that is making him bark, growl and / or make the hair on his back stand up, we must get far enough away so that he can calm down. At a safe distance, where you can no longer have visual contact with that dog, it will be highly recommended to throw treats on the ground to look for them. This will help you relax.
We should not caress him while he is nervous, since doing so what we will achieve is to reward this behavior, and that is something we do not want because the animal will understand that it is okay to be upset.
Daily walks
A dog can only be calm if it is taken out for a walk every day, several times, from the first moment in which they put the first vacuna. If we want him to be happy we have to take responsibility for him and make sure he gets the right amount of exercise depending on your age and health.
Furthermore, at home we should play with him, also daily. In pet stores we will find a great variety of toys, such as balls or teethers. We will buy those that we like the most, keeping in mind the size and age of our friend, and we will dedicate several sessions to have fun with our dog.
With these tips and tricks, our dog can be and feel much better by our side.