Anxiety is probably the biggest emotional issue in pet dogs today. They are anxious for so many reasons: they are not performing job/tasks for what they were bred for, we shower them with unearned affection, we allow too much freedom and not enough structure, we are completely confusing to dogs with our constant talking/fawning over them. Pet dogs live in a world-wind of confusion.
Hampton a current board and train student, has lashed out aggressively in many ways. But his barking/biting/lunging is not his “problem” his problem is his anxiety. His anxiety is what’s making him lash out. You can treat the symptom for example: I can correct him for lunging at other dogs, but I’m not treating the root of his problem. When he doesn’t feel anxious and his world is more structured, he’s not going to have to display that aggressive behavior to alleviate his anxiety. If you change how a dog FEELS, you automatically change how they ACT.
Dogs can calm down so much more easily than people think that they can. It’s actually pretty cool to teach a dog to relax on cue. Most dogs within a couple of weeks can self-soothe and shut off. Hampton is a dog that just will not stop whining, no matter what. He is the exact type of dog where I like to use CBD as a tool to help teach relaxation.
CBD is the non-psycho active ingredient in cannabis that acts as Mother Nature’s muscle relaxer and anti-anxiety pill. There are no harmful side effects and it is 100% natural. What is most amazing about CBD is the dog needs less of it overtime, not more like a pharmaceutical. It just helps them “get there”. Hampton’s real issues are outside of the home, and CBD will definitely help him on walks too. It helps a dog self regulate and not be so hyper-reactive to the environment. It keeps them focused and poised and they can go about their daily routine with no problem. Dogs do not act “drugged” on CBD. They may get a little sleepy, but they can function completely normally. It also increases appetite for fearful dogs or dogs that will not take food in the presence of triggers. I can’t say enough good things about CBD. It is my go-to training aid for anxious dogs in conjunction with duration exercises like “place”. His family will be able to dose him as needed when they take him out on adventures. It will just take the edge off, making him more manageable and mentally collected.
