July 3, 2026, 3:16 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
A nervous dog often finds it hard to relax. Everyday noises or new situations can easily unsettle them. PETBOOK presents seven unusual methods that can help stressed dogs relax in daily life.
Searching for the Off Switch
Do you know those people who are always tapping their feet, clicking a pen, and quickly get agitated? If my dog Pippa were a human, she would do all of that at once.
Even as a dog, my little Bodeguero Terrier is constantly under a certain tension. Pippa is actually a happy, confident, and endlessly trusting creature, but her threshold for stimuli is much lower than that of my other dog, Rudi, who is only briefly startled by a very loud rustling plastic tarp.
When we vacuum, Pippa turns into a circus dog: First, she jumps across the living room, hides in the next room, and sometimes even climbs onto the table in her distress. Apparently, this is her way of coping with stress, and of course, I would like to help her with this. Not just when vacuuming, but in general: How can I help her find her inner “off switch”?
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7 Tips for More Calmness in Dogs
Many dog owners know that not every dog is naturally calm. It’s no wonder, then, that the internet is full of suggestions that are sometimes more, sometimes less conventional. Sound bowl therapy, scents–the range is broad. Dog trainer Conny Sporrer shared with me what really helps. The (online) dog trainer encouraged me to think outside the box. Here are my seven tips that have truly helped us in everyday life.
1. Artificial Pheromones: The Invisible Calm
Pheromones are chemical messengers that dogs use for communication. There are so-called “appeasing pheromones” (DAP) that match the scent signature a mother dog gives off to her puppies after birth. They convey safety and security. Pheromones can be used in the form of a plug-in or spray. Since these messengers don’t sedate but only lower stress levels, they are a great, gentle introduction.
“You can’t expect miracles, but there are some studies that prove the calming effect,” says Conny Sporrer. For example, in 2010, the effect of a pheromone was tested on dogs treated in veterinary clinics who suffered from separation anxiety. Significant reductions in symptoms like elimination behavior, excessive licking, and restless pacing were observed.1
2. The Kennel as the Safest Retreat
For a long time, I viewed the dog crate critically. Until my dog trainer explained that it’s not about “confinement” but rather feels like a safe “den” for the dog. A foldable crate (kennel) is a defined area for a nervous dog where they don’t have to be on guard. The key is: The kennel must be positively associated. I gradually got Pippa used to it. She received her treats and chew bones there until she saw the crate as her personal place of calm and climbed in on her own. When things get too hectic at home, she retreats there.
3. When the World Gets Too Loud: The Ear Method
During thunderstorms or New Year’s Eve, a calm word often isn’t enough. Conny Sporrer has an unusual tip: cotton pads (of course, used carefully and not too deep) in the ears and a tube scarf (buff) over them. This massively dampens the noise. The combination of sound dampening and the feeling of gentle pressure around the head has an almost meditative effect. “Dogs need to be gradually accustomed to this method as well,” says Conny Sporrer. The dog trainer has another tip from the acoustics corner: “There are also special hearing protection headphones for dogs. And recently, there are even soundproof indoor dog huts that have a similar noise-reducing effect as noise-canceling headphones for us humans.”
4. Technology That Relaxes: The Bluetooth Headband
A brilliant tip from Conny Sporrer is using Bluetooth headbands. You put the band over the dog’s ears and play calming music or specific frequencies. The advantage: The music is right at the ear, ambient noises are isolated, and the dog can relax better with the constant soundscape.
5. Sound Bath & the Power of Conditioning
Some dog owners swear by sound bowl music or special “Calming Soundwaves” from YouTube. Conny Sporrer’s approach to this is very practical: “I wouldn’t rely on it exclusively, but if the music is positively conditioned, it almost always has a positive effect.” The goal here is for the dog to associate the specific sound with relaxation.
6. Visual Shielding
We often forget that nervous dogs can also be visually overstimulated. If the dog barks at every mail carrier at the window or gets tense with every movement outside, a visual barrier helps. A simple, semi-transparent adhesive film on the lower part of the window can noticeably calm the dog.
“That’s why choosing a quiet resting place in an ‘unstrategic’ location for the dog is important,” says dog trainer Conny Sporrer. Regularly practicing that the dog comes to rest there is also an important part of dog training.
7. Nose Work Before Sleeping
A dog that uses its nose has to concentrate. And concentration makes you tired–in a very healthy, satisfying way. If Pippa is still “wired” in the evening, I do a short session of search games with her and hide food pieces or her dummy. Ten minutes of targeted nose work tires her out mentally so much that “winding down” almost happens on its own afterward. For me, this is a far better alternative to wild romping, which often only agitates her further.
Is It Also a Matter of Temperament?
A nervous dog often perceives the world very intensely. Pippa will probably never have the calmness of my male dog, and that’s okay. I can see when her tension becomes too much and she needs my help to make the world a bit “quieter” and more manageable for her.