Understanding anxiety in dogs

• Anxiety can show up as pacing, panting, whining, hiding, destructive chewing, or even aggression, especially during triggers like fireworks, thunderstorms, being left alone or car rides.
• Many anxious dogs are not “badly behaved” but overwhelmed; seeing their reactions as a stress response rather than disobedience changes how we respond as loving dog owners.

Everyday coping strategies

• Create predictable routines: Regular feeding, walks, and sleep times help anxious dogs feel safer because they know what to expect.
• Use calm, consistent responses: Avoid yelling or harsh corrections; instead, redirect, reward calm behaviour, and give clear, simple cues. This goes for every dog; we shouldn't be yelling or being harsh with any of our pets.
• Offer safe choices: Allow your dog to choose where to rest, whether to interact with visitors, and when to retreat to a quiet space. Giving them choices with other things like toys, treats, and so on offers them independence, too. 
• Set up a “safe room or space” with a comfy bed, dim lighting, and familiar scents, where your dog can retreat when overwhelmed.
• Use white noise, fans, or calming music to muffle outside sounds that may trigger anxiety. We love calming music; something like coffee jazz, spa music, or forest piano music can help your dog feel calmer. 
• Avoid overcrowding your dog: limit handling, petting, or social pressure when they are already showing stress signals.
• Anxiety vest or blanket: When your dog feels anxious about certain things, trying an anxiety vest or blanket can offer gentle, comforting pressure that helps them feel more secure. These tools can make it easier for some dogs to settle during triggers like fireworks, storms, or car rides by mimicking the sensation of a steady, reassuring hug. They work best when introduced slowly and paired with positive experiences, such as treats or calm cuddle time, so your dog learns to associate them with safety and relaxation.

Noise anxiety

• For loud sounds such as fireworks or thunderstorms, using sound-dampening strategies with tools like Petsear can be very helpful.
• During noisy events, bring your dog to their safe space, close windows and curtains, put on their Petsear earmuffs and offer long-lasting chews or food puzzles to keep their focus away from the noise.

Training, enrichment, and professional help

• Practice gradual desensitization and counterconditioning: start with very low-intensity versions of triggers (like quiet recordings of fireworks) paired with treats, increasing intensity only as your dog stays relaxed.
• Provide daily mental enrichment: snuffle mats, puzzle feeders, nose work games—to help burn “brain energy” and build confidence. These can also be a good distraction depending on what is making your dog anxious. 
• If your dog’s anxiety is severe, you could opt to work with a force-free trainer or veterinary behaviourist.
  
  

For the pawrent

• Accept that progress is often slow and nonlinear, with good days and setbacks; this does not mean you are failing.
• Build a support system—family, friends, trainers, vets, or online communities—so you have people to lean on when things feel overwhelming.
• Celebrate small wins: a quieter response to fireworks, settling faster after a scare, or accepting Petsear or other coping tools are all meaningful steps forward.