How to Reduce Stress & Anxiety in Pets

An anxious dog will find ways to calm themselves and by this, we mean the possibility of chewing up our shoes, furniture, and basically anything they can sink their teeth into. Many of us have been fortunate to have extra bonding time with our furry bestie whilst working from home during the pandemic, however, this may have inevitably created separation anxiety when we finally have to return to life as normal.

So how do we prepare our pets for when we do return to the office and prevent them from destroying the house?

TRAINER KIRSTEN'S TIPS

"To help relax your dog and set them up for success, start building independence and setting boundaries early.

 Enrichment tools such as snuffle mats, lick mats, and go slow bowls can help be a boredom buster and a way to help our dogs to relax while working for their meals and snacks.

It is important to enroll in a reputable puppy preschool course for your pup before their critical window finishes at 16 weeks. If your dog is a teenager or adult, it’s a great idea to reach out to a reputable trainer to get professional advice to set some boundaries and structure."

Enrichment tools are also great for hounds who like to gobble their grub up in seconds and will absorb their nutrients better. Timid cuties who don't necessarily love their grooming routines (think bathing, nail clipping, brushing) will be calmed. Furthermore, the act of licking releases endorphins in your dog’s brain which makes them feel happy yet calm at the same time. A win-win situation for all! All pups will benefit from a little mental stimulation. It is also quick and easy to clean in warm dishwater.

If you are worried about your dog's anxiety levels or they may be developing anxiety, reach out to a professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviourist for advice.

CALM YOUR ANXIOUS DOG

Eileen

Great Lick Bowl Slow Feeder

The 2-in-1 lick bowl slow feeder is a great size for our 7 month old pup now that her raw patty quantity for each meal is becoming substantial. She’s having almost a full 227g patty each meal plus kibble and there’s capacity for more. The suction cup on the bottom is great for keeping the bowl down. Highly recommend!

Kirsten Williamson

My golden retriever loved the snuffle pad!!

My 5 month old golden retriever absolutely loves the snuffle pad! It keeps him entertained for ages and he snuffles around in the segments again and again just to make sure he’s found all of the treats. It’s so pretty too and I have bought the enrichment bundle in matching colours.

Patricia Panos

NEW TO SNUFFLE MATTS & LOVE OURS!

What a winner! I purchased a super stylish-looking snuffle matt for our pup & not only does it look good BUT he loves it!

It's a fun way to keep him busy over a mealtime, and it's also a fun watch him forage for it:)

Thanks team, your quick responses to my queries were also so fantastic & much appreciated!

Here's Teddy after a busy foraging session!:)

Beth

Great enrichment!

Bought this to keep our RR puppy a bit more stimulated during the mornings while we get ready for work. It works a charm - she loves it, it keeps her busy for a few more minutes and it fits all of her food in the bowl.

Abby BEESON

Doggo Approves

We feed little David his dinner on the snuffle mat a few times per week. It slows him right down and gets him really using his nose.

Super easy to set up too. I just sprinkle his kibble on top, then loosely lift the folds and shuffle it in as needed.

It's been through the wash once and came out perfect.

Great product

Peanut

Hercules is a winner

Hercules sure has an appropriate name - its staffy tough. Peanut absolutely adores this toy, its got just the right amount of give to really give his jaw a work out and still bounces back into shape. We thought we would use it for food enrichment, and it would work fabulously for that, but he loves it as it is and carries it around with him. Its never far from the action.