The holiday season is upon us – a whirlwind of shopping, holiday parties and activities. While this season is meant to bring joy and love, it’s also a time of holiday stress. If you’re experiencing stress and anxiety, your dog is likely to mirror your stress.
Just like people, dogs experience anxiety. While unpleasant, it’s a normal and healthy emotion. Dog anxiety can affect all breeds but may affect each individual dog differently. Although it is something all dogs experience from time-to-time, if disproportionate levels of anxiety are left unchecked, a dog can develop an anxiety disorder.
Toys are great tools to help ease your pup’s anxiety and promote mental stimulation, as well as minimize separation anxiety. The best toys for anxiety are those that keep your dog’s senses engaged and don’t depend on you for interaction.
The Best Project Toys for Separation Anxiety
Project toys, also known as puzzle toys, are great for dog anxiety. Like people, the busier a dog stays, the less he or she will dwell on the stressor. When a dog with anxiety doesn’t have anything to do, he or she is more likely to fret about it. Project toys make excellent distractions for worried doggy minds.
You can’t go wrong with a Classic Kong Toy. Durable for hours of licking and chewing, stuff it with treats or even freeze it with yogurt or peanut butter in it for a delicious challenge. This toy will keep your dog busy for hours and will last for a long time. You can put it in the dishwasher and it bounces and floats. Dogs absolutely love this toy!
This durable interactive chew toy will occupy your dog for hours. You can hide treats or kibble he or she has to discover during play. Great for freezing chicken broth inside. Non-toxic, recyclable, dishwasher safe and made in the USA.
This toy is all about concentration and mental stimulation. The flappable treat canisters come with two sets of lids with different-sized holes so you can vary the degree of difficulty. Balance and precision are key, so this is a good fit for dogs who have experience with puzzles.
Available in four different sizes, this plush hide-and-seek toy is full of fun. Your dog can retrieve each of the squeaky squirrels nestled inside the soft tree trunk, one at a time. There’s even enough space in the trunk to hide some treats for longer play. Note that this toy is not advisable for destructive chewers.
This toy has multiple rotating layers to explore with treats concealed in the slots. Does your dog need a mental stimulation challenge? Place the bone-shaped covers over the slots so your dog has to dig out those hidden treats, along with spinning the layers. Easy to clean with warm water and soap between uses.
The Best Mat Dog Toys for Anxiety
Dog mat toys help refocus your dog’s attention, ease anxiety and curb destructive behavior.
This toy puts your dog’s brain to work by mimicking the hunt for food in nature. Encourages natural foraging skills. Machine washable. Learn more about snuffle mats here.
Research shows repetitive licking increases endorphins, which in turn calms your pet helping dog anxiety. Spread peanut butter, pumpkin or yogurt over the mat and watch your dog interact with the mat. The raised patterns provide different texture options sure to keep your dog engaged. Easy to clean and top rack dishwasher safe.
Sprinkle some kibble in the grooves and your dog will happily snuffle around for those crunchies. This mat sticks to the ground to prevent slippage and the extra challenge helps dogs slow down and concentrate on their feeding time. Easy to use and clean.
This activity mat can be laid out flat or shaped into a bowl for deeper digging. Your dog will enjoy the mental stimulation of sniffing through strips of grassy green fabric to find the treats and kibble that you’ve hidden for them inside. A non-slip bottom helps keep this mat from sliding on hard surfaces – throw it in the machine to wash before the next round of foraging.
Finally, a positive outlet for your dog’s natural digging behavior. Load the pockets of the iDig flaps with your pup’s favorite toys and treats and encourage them to “get it”. Washing machine friendly.
The Best Technology Dog Toys for Anxiety
Pet tech is especially useful for simplifying pet care routines and helping you relax knowing your dog is entertained and cared for. High tech toys are especially helpful for giving your dog mental and physical stimulation, which relieves anxiety and improving their quality of life.
This toy was created with puppies in mind and is a great toy to help relieve anxiety. The stuffed puppy provides company and even comes with a heat pack to help with calming. An inserted, battery-operated heart creates a pulsing heartbeat to calm your pup. Batteries included.
The Babble Ball is a toy made specifically for dogs. This interactive toy engages them by making noises and blinking. Each ball has more than 20 different phrases or sounds. The slightest movement will turn the ball on; it will turn itself off until the next movement. Replaceable batteries.
Hyper Pet Doggie Tail dog toy is the wiggling, barking tail of fun! This interactive dog toy jumps, barks and makes fun noises to stimulate your dog’s interest. Replaceable batteries and tail cover.
The Wickedbone Smart Bone Toy is a bone-shaped interactive robotic gaming gadget to keep your dog engaged and entertained. Once it’s charged, the Wickedbone device connects to your phone via Bluetooth. In the app, you have two modes: Autoplay and Drive. In Autoplay mode, the bone will move around on its own accord. The toy is programmed to detect the “emotional category” of your dog’s behavior and react to it. This is a great mode when you’re busy and need your dog to be entertained. The Drive mode is designed for you and your dog to interact. You use the controls within the app to move the bone around. This toy is a lot of fun for both you and your dog!
Final Thoughts
Integrating different types of interactive toys into your daily routine can help ease your dog’s anxiety. These toys make excellent soothing tools to comfort your dog but remember they are not a quick fix for a dog who is experiencing chronic anxiety. If you are concerned about your dog’s anxiety, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss your dog’s behavior. With the right toys and mindset, your dog will be able to calm down. Once you find the perfect toys for your four-legged friend, you can continue to use them in efficient ways to excite him or her and redirect his or her nervous energy in a healthy, positive way.
Does your dog have a favorite anxiety-reducing toy? What toy should be added to this list? Please share your experience with the Canine Campus community by leaving a comment below.
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