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A dog laying its head on a deck
Tune into your highly strung pet with these strategies for reassuring anxious dogs or cats.

Cool cats and calm dogs

Does your dog have trouble settling, bark excessively or constantly dig escape tunnels? Perhaps your cat appears timid, hisses regularly or overdoes the grooming? These are all signs they might be anxious. Veterinarian Charlene Carig at Animal Welfare League NSW says while anxiety shows differently in every animal, it generally includes behaviours that seem normal at first but then happen out of context or repetitively. “Dogs may pant or pace excessively, have trouble concentrating and toilet at odd times or in inappropriate places,” she says. “Cats might not want much to do with you, be finicky eaters or spray and vocalise more than usual.”

Spot the trigger

Identify what might be causing the anxious behaviour, and then remove it or learn how to manage your pet when it happens. “If storms frighten your dog, physical contact (massage or cuddles) or a calming weighted vest might help,” suggests Charlene. If it’s separation anxiety, keep arrivals and departures low-key – no dramatic exits!

Tools for calm

Unwelcome or destructive behaviour may be your pet’s attempt to self-soothe when they’re feeling anxious. “Providing an appropriate outlet can help, like a sandpit to dig in to stop a dog destroying the garden,” she says. “Giving cats access to different types of scratching posts and climbing towers may stop them damaging the furniture.” Enrichment toys, like lick mats and snuffle mats, can distract a pup from stress triggers and provide an alternative to destructive behaviour. It’s important to provide a quiet and safe place where a pet can retreat to and find comfort and security. Put a dog crate in a peaceful corner, cover to make it dim and leave some of your unwashed clothes inside for snuggling into. A doughnut bed with raised sides or a cat cave in a low-traffic room can help anxious cats decompress.

Training tips

Speak to your vet or a pet behaviour specialist about training techniques you can use to help teach your pet that being calm is good. The key is to always provide a safe space, and turn situations that make your pet feel scared or uncomfortable into something positive, by rewarding them with something they see as high value. Trying to ignore the behaviour, or desensitise an anxious pet by exposing them to high levels of the trigger, is not recommended. “Rewarding positive behaviour can help bridge the gap between something that’s confronting to your pet but manageable for you,” says Charlene. “Your pet can then learn to predict that a good outcome will come from that trigger or situation.”

Fireworks fear

The sound, sight and smell of fireworks can be a source of terrible stress for animals and may cause panic attacks, accidental escape and injury from fleeing them. Exercise pets a few hours before fireworks are due to start, feed them and arrange for someone to be home that evening. Close doors, windows and curtains to reduce the impact of fireworks, turn a radio or television on to soften sudden loud noises from outside and make an indoor hiding place for dogs, such as a cardboard box covered with blankets. Keep cats inside.

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Photo credit: Getty Images

Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.