What to do with stressed, agitated dogs?
The good news is that in most cases you can get your dog to be more calm with a lot of love, patience and practice. Above all, he needs to learn one thing from you: calm behavior pays off. The less stress and stimuli your dog has, the happier you will make him.
The secret word here is: wait. Only give him food when he has laid down or sat down in front of the food bowl. Only when he waits outside the front door and doesn't run out in a hurry will the door open. Only when he sits on the dog run do you take him off the lead and send him off to play and sniff.
Comfort zones for your dog.
If your dog has problems calming down, create special comfort zones for him. First of all, you should get your four-legged friend used to a blanket. This can be taken everywhere with you. To visit friends, to the restaurant, etc. Once your dog has grown to love the blanket, you can also put it on the even more comfortable dog bed. Or put it in the transport box. Some dogs particularly like to be in a protected space where they can press their body against the wall of the crate.
Home office provides relaxation.
If you generally assume that your dog can sleep peacefully at home while you are traveling or working all day, this is usually wrong. As dogs are extremely social animals, they can often only really relax when all family members are there and the pack is complete. Working from home therefore suits dogs very well: Letting others work while you yourself chill out on the blanket or sofa and know that your favorite human is nearby - it makes for a relaxed day.
Reduce everyday stress together.
Have you had a stressful day? Then there are two options: Either take your four-legged friend out into nature and relieve stress by jogging and running around together - or end the day with an intensive cuddle session on the sofa. After all, close physical contact makes people and dogs more relaxed. This is mainly due to the "cuddle hormone" oxytocin. It strengthens the bond, relieves anxiety and reduces stress levels. It is important to slowly and gently massage or stroke the parts of the body that your dog particularly enjoys. You should avoid wild "fumbling around". Sometimes it's also enough for your dog to just lie with you and snuggle up to you during a cozy movie night.
Less action, more brainteasers.
Especially if you have a dog that is naturally full of energy (e.g. huskies or border collies), you shouldn't constantly jump from one agility training session to the next, but rather focus more on concentration and nose work. This challenges dogs mentally and makes them really tired. Extended sniffing walks or small sniffing games in the home are usually more fun for dogs than being constantly challenged.