According to a report by the PDSA*, 76% of dog owners and 77% of cat owners reported that they would like to change at least one behaviour shown by their pet.

The Ultimate Pet Calming Checklist

If your pet is displaying unwanted behaviours, have you considered that stress may be a cause? Changes in the way your pet behaves can be a sign that they are feeling uneasy or worried.

Here are some tips and suggestions to help you and your pet feel calmer together.

Recommendations for dogs

START:

• It is ok to show your pet affection if they do show signs of stress, however do not actively seek them out and give more fuss than usual as the change in your behaviour may reinforce their concerns.
• Using more hand signals and fewer words to improve communication cues.
• Creating a safe resting place, somewhere where they will not be disturbed by incoming and outgoing visitors into your home.
• Licking can release endorphins so providing food filled toys or licking mats can help encourage calming.
• Try giving them a calming supplement such as Zylkene that contains a natural ingredient.
• Teaching appropriate behavioural responses such as toileting in appropriate places.
  • ENCOURAGE and praise behaviour when the dog/puppy toilets in the desired area.
  • IGNORE the behaviour when your pet toilets in an inappropriate place.

STOP:

• Any kind of punishment.
• Reinforcing your dog’s behaviour e.g. initiating cuddling or stroking the dog when it is shaking and nervous, although if they come to you for comfort first you should give them gentle attention.
• Signals that trigger responses to difficult situations such as tugging the lead when meeting other dogs – this could alert your dog that there may be a problem.
• Reacting yourself – stay calm however stressed you may feel. Your behavioural response may transfer to your dog as they are easily influenced by your emotions.

Recommendations for cats

START:

• Environmental enrichments. Indoor cats in particular will benefit from challenges and activities that add interest to their everyday lives such as:
  • Encouraging play and interaction with toys. Engage cats with ‘chase–and–pounce’ type games. Always allow them to capture the toy at the end of the game to fulfil hunting instincts.
  • Different ways of feeding which replicate their natural instinctive behaviour. For instance:
    • Providing multiple feeding places.
    • Using feeding regimes that replicate hunting such as hiding small amounts of food.
    • Small frequent meals are better than one or two, unless your cat has been advised not to for medical reasons.
  • Try giving them a calming supplement such as Zylkene that contains a natural ingredient.

STOP

• Punishment of any kind.
• Forced contact; this also applies to humans and other animals, cats notably prefer contact to be little and often and on their terms.
• Reacting yourself – stay calm, your behavioural response may transfer to your cat as they are easily influenced by your emotions.

If your pet is experiencing sudden changes in behaviour, we recommend speaking to your vet for advice.

*PDSA Report 2019

This blog post is sponsored by Zylkene