Wondering how to calm a dog down? Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby shares nine tips to help calm a dog down. Plus, she addresses how to keep your dog calm in specific scenarios, such as when riding in the car, meeting new people or dogs, trimming nails, and more.
Just like humans, dogs can experience anxiety, fear, and uncertainty in new or unfamiliar situations, or around some objects. They can also get overstimulated or wildly excited at times. Dogs may have a few or many triggers that set them off. And their responses can be as varied as their triggers. Once a dog’s anxiety or fear is elevated, it can take some time for the dog to calm down.
To understand how to calm a dog down, first we have to understand why dogs become anxious, loud, or wild in the first place.
Why do dogs need to be calmed down?
Imagine your dog’s anxiety, fear, or excitement as a ladder. If your dog has specific things that trigger him or her, the ladder is always nearby. It’s waiting for your dog to see it and begin the climb up. The second your dog is exposed to one of these triggers, he or she begins to climb the ladder.
If your dog is on the bottom rung of our metaphorical ladder, it is much easier to help him or her down. It’s just one step. Your dog may be able to jump off the ladder all by himself or herself if the scary thing is removed. Or he or she might need a bit of reassurance and help, but still gets off that first step.
If the trigger doesn’t go away or your dog isn’t handling it well, he or she won’t get off the ladder. Instead, your dog just keeps climbing up and up. With each rung, it gets a little harder to bring your dog back down to the ground again.
Eventually, your dog may be so far up the ladder that his or her brain isn’t functioning well due to being so worked up. Plus, once your dog has learned to climb that ladder, he or she may do so even more quickly in the future if you don’t intervene.
The goal, then, is to stop your dog in his or her tracks when you see him or her approaching the ladder or standing on the first step. This is where having the following nine tools for calming your dog down can be so helpful.
9 ways to calm a dog down
Before we start discussing the different methods, it is essential for you to understand that there isn’t just one way to calm a dog down. Sometimes you need to use multiple strategies. Or one of the tips may work in one scenario but not another, or work for one dog but not a different one.
Your dog is an individual. This means you will need to figure out the best approach for his or her triggers, personality, and past experiences.
Tip #1: Manage any underlying conditions that could contribute to your dog being more worked up
If you have noticed that your dog is becoming increasingly difficult to calm down, or he or she needs help to settle down more frequently, it is a good idea to seek help from your veterinarian.
Sometimes anxiety and restlessness can be caused by triggers or environmental changes. But other times, there is a medical reason behind the behavior. Certain health conditions like pain, hormonal imbalances (e.g. hypothyroidism in dogs or Cushing’s disease in dogs), neurological issues in dogs, or discomfort can all make a dog seem anxious, clingy, or on edge.
For example, worsening osteoarthritis in dogs may cause a dog to pace or pant because he or she is in pain and can’t get comfortable. Plus, discomfort and decreased mobility can make dogs anxious. Relieving arthritis pain in dogs might help your dog relax and be calmer throughout the day.
Dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) may appear anxious or confused, too. Panting, pacing, disorientation, personality changes, and other signs of dementia in dogs all contribute to making it harder to calm and comfort your dog. While CCD isn’t curable, using supplements like Dr. Buzby’s Brain Boost™ organic MCT oil for dogs, medications like selegiline for dogs, and environmental modifications can help your dog with dementia remain calmer.
The takeaway? If medical conditions are involved, the behavioral and environmental techniques discussed below may not be enough by themselves to calm your dog down. Addressing the root cause can help your dog feel truly comfortable again, both physically and emotionally.
Tip #2: Stay calm
If you are in a situation where your dog could respond anxiously or energetically, it can help if you keep yourself calm.
Dogs have such a unique talent for connecting with humans and sensing our emotions. Most of the time, this is great. It is part of why humans love dogs so much. But it also means that when we are stressed, anxious, or excited, our dogs can detect how we are feeling and respond in the same manner.
The next time you are trying to calm down a hyper or stressed dog, begin by checking your own feelings. Take a deep breath and let it out. Make an effort to let the tension out of your body and steady yourself. Even if doesn’t seem like it, this can reduce anxiety in your dog because he or she is in tune with your emotions.
Staying calm likely won’t completely solve the problem. But it might help your dog take a paw off the next rung of the “stress ladder.”
Tip #3: Pay attention to how your dog is acting and feeling
The sooner you can detect signs of stress or excitement, the sooner you can take steps to help your dog calm down. Managing your dog’s extra energy or fear is much easier for both of you earlier on in the process. The higher up the fear and excitement ladder your dog is, the more work it takes to get him or her back down again.
What are the signs you can watch for? They might look different depending on your dog and how he or she is feeling. Over time, you will develop a feel for how your dog acts when stressed or overstimulated.
Signs of a stressed dog
In general, some common signs of stress in dogs include:
- Showing the whites of the eyes or having wide, enlarged eyes (whale eyes)
- Dog licking his or her lips
- Drooling or panting more than normal
- Pacing the floor
- Whining or whimpering
- Having an “unhappy” tail position or wag (holding the tail straight out and back, wagging it slowly, wagging it faster than normal, holding the tail down, or tucking the tail between the legs)
- Crouching or hunching when standing
- Raising the hair along the back or neck
- Standing taller or defensively
Signs of an excited but uncertain dog
Sometimes dogs may also be in a state of high arousal where they are both excited and uncertain. This may look like:
- Barking that is more constant or forceful (not just a happy woof or two)
- Spinning in circles or doing the zoomies
- Carrying the tail high or stiff tail wags
- Looking tense (furrowed brow, tight mouth, ears pulled back slightly)
- Standing or jumping up with a stiff, tense body or jerky movements
If you know what to watch for, you can start reassuring and encouraging your dog to act calmly at the first sign of stress or high arousal behaviors. This can potentially help your dog calm down sooner.
Tip #4: Use desensitization and counterconditioning training to lessen your dog’s anxiety about certain situations
After you identify your dog’s triggers, you can start working on training your dog to remain calm in those situations.
This type of training is often called counterconditioning and desensitization. As part of it, you expose your dog to the circumstances that make your dog feel anxious (desensitization). And you turn them into positive experiences for your dog (counterconditioning). This can help your dog learn how to respond calmly and confidently.
Counterconditioning and desensitization training can help dogs cope with situations like:
- Hearing loud noises such as the smoke detector, a baby crying, fireworks, or storms (noise anxiety)
- Riding in a car
- Grooming or nail clipping
- Being alone or away from preferred people (separation anxiety)
- Guests coming to the home
- Meeting other dogs or animals
- Being in a crate
- Many other anxiety-inducing scenarios
Just like any training exercise, the goal is to make counterconditioning and desensitization fun and positive for your dog. It may help to think of this as a play session or bonding exercise between you and your dog instead of training.
The goal is to go slow and build up tolerance for the trigger. As you expose your dog to the stressor, reward your dog every time he or she stays calm or exhibits the desired behavior.
At the end of this article, I briefly address counterconditioning and desensitization tips for some common scenarios including loud noises, car travel, and separation anxiety.
Tip #5: Create a safe space for your dog
Having a place to go to that they associate with being calm and protected can be comforting for dogs. For example, your dog may go to his or her safe space during storms or fireworks, to get away from visitors when feeling overwhelmed, or after moving to a new home. Plus, dogs may prefer to recover in their safe space after surgery.
When creating a safe space, pick a designated spot like a dog bed or the crate. (Even if you don’t use it frequently to contain your dog, the crate can be a comforting place for a crate-trained dog.)
It is essential to make the safe space a welcoming environment for your dog. What this means may depend on your dog’s preferences, how often the safe space is used, and what you are “protecting” your dog from.
If your dog is going to be in the safe space for prolonged periods of time, you may want to include a favorite safe chew toy for dogs or puzzle toy to help keep him or her entertained. (Note: Only do this if your dog is not a destructive chewer and you have supervised your dog using the toy in the past.)
You can also improve the safe space by incorporating comforting items for your dog. This could be an old shirt, sweater, or blanket that smells like you, so your dog doesn’t feel alone.
Keep in mind that you may have to train your dog to use his or her safe space. It can take some time to adjust to the safe space and learn to find it comforting.
Tip #6: Turn on some white noise for your dog
White noise can help calm a dog down and distract him or her from the uncertainty of a stressful situation. It is especially useful for dogs who are scared of visitors coming into the home or hearing thunder or fireworks.
The goal is for the noise to mask some of the surrounding sounds. But this doesn’t mean playing the white noise so loud that it completely covers the “stressful noise.” Turning up the white noise too high could become harmful or over-stimulating for your dog. Instead, it is best to play white noise at a low to moderate volume.
Before trying white noise during a stressful situation, introduce your dog to it when your dog is not anxious or energetic. That way you know if it seems like your dog enjoys or dislikes white noise.
Additionally, keep in mind that if you find white noise calms your dog down, you should play it periodically during happy or relaxed times, too. If you only play white noise when you suspect your dog is going to become anxious or energetic, it might alert your dog that something he or she finds uncomfortable is going to happen. This could send him or her up the metaphorical ladder.
#7. Use pheromones to help your dog stay calm
Using pheromone sprays, diffusers, or other similar products can be a safe, natural (and easy) way to help dogs calm down. Pheromones are chemical signals that trigger calming reactions in dogs (or other animals).
Pheromone therapy can be especially helpful for dogs who experience:
- Noise sensitivity, such as to fireworks or thunderstorms
- Travel anxiety during car rides or vet visits
- Stress from changes in the home environment (new pets, guests, or moving)
- Mild separation anxiety or general unease when left alone
Pheromones aren’t a magic fix. But they can be an excellent part of your calming toolkit—especially when used alongside behavioral training, enrichment, and consistent routines. They’re safe, non-invasive, and can often make a noticeable difference within days. Plus, since pheromones can be distributed through diffusers, sprays, collars, and wipes, you can use them almost anywhere. And they are virtually odorless to humans since they are designed to be detected by dogs.
Tip #8: Provide plenty of physical and mental exercise for your dog
Exercising your dog could be one of the most effective (and overlooked) solutions for helping a dog calm down. Additional physical activity helps burn excess energy, reduces tension, and supports better mental health, just like it does for us.
Another walk, a longer fetch session, or even a game of hide-and-seek indoors can help release pent-up energy that might otherwise come out as barking, pacing, or restlessness. Regular exercise not only tires out the body but also helps the brain settle, making your dog more receptive to training, desensitization, and relaxation techniques.
Exercise can be especially helpful for dogs who become over-excited or anxious due to:
- Generalized anxiety—Daily activity provides a natural outlet for stress and helps regulate mood.
- Separation anxiety—A tired dog is often a calmer dog when left alone.
- Car rides—Pre-travel exercise can help reduce motion-related restlessness.
- Visitors or guests—Burning off energy before guests arrive helps dogs greet them calmly instead of jumping or barking.
- Meeting other dogs—Dogs who have already gotten some energy out may be better behaved when seeing other dogs.
- Everyday playfulness—Sometimes, your dog just needs an extra outlet to channel that joyful energy.
Remember that exercise doesn’t always have to be a long walk. Mental stimulation toys and games for dogs counts (especially for senior dogs or dogs who are recovering from an injury). Sniff walks, puzzle toys, and training games can all provide the same calming benefits by engaging your dog’s mind as well as his or her body.
Tip #9: Spend quality time with your dog
Dogs are deeply attuned to their humans’ emotions and routines. So spending intentional, calm time together can be one of the most powerful ways to ease general anxiety.
Quality time may be exercise or training, as we talked about previously. But your dog also might feel safest during quiet companionship with you. Sitting with your dog on the couch, petting your dog, brushing your dog, or even reading aloud in a calm voice can lower your dog’s heart rate and breathing.
For an especially anxious dog, keeping these moments low-key and predictable is important. Avoid high-energy play when your goal is calm moments. Over time, your dog will begin to associate your presence and your energy with safety and peace.
Regular one-on-one time also strengthens your bond and helps you notice subtle changes in your dog’s behavior or mood. That awareness means you’ll be quicker to spot the signs of stress, pain, or confusion in your dog. As a result, it will be easier to take steps before things escalate.
Plus, if your dog does start to feel stressed, he or she can learn to turn to you for guidance. Your calm becomes your dog’s calm.
Additional tips for calming a dog down in specific situations
As I mentioned in tip number four above, counterconditioning and desensitization training can help dogs manage certain situations. Here are additional tips for some common scenarios that may be stressful to our dear dogs.
How to help lessen your dog’s fear of loud noises
If your dog fears loud noises, you can help your dog become desensitized to them and associate them with good things.
- For noises that come from a specific item every time (like a smoke detector), begin by getting your dog comfortable with the item itself.
- Place the item on the floor or in an area of your home where your dog traverses. This will allow them to learn that it’s not scary or harmful.
- Every time your dog sniffs or touches it with his or her nose, reward your dog with a “high value” reward (such as a special treat or toy).
- Once your dog can bravely touch the item or be around it without becoming stressed or excited, it’s time to start incorporating the noise.
- Begin by turning on the noise at the lowest volume possible. If you can’t adjust the noise itself, muffle it by putting it in a container or in another room behind a closed door.
- Stay close to your dog. Every time you hear the noise, reassure your dog that it is okay. Pet your dog, distract your dog, or lay in a safe space with him or her. Do whatever you hope your dog will do in the future.
- As your dog stays calm, reward your dog with a high value treat and lots of praise.
It is important to go slow and give your dog breaks between playing the noise. Only train for 10-20 minutes each day. But be consistent so your dog becomes desensitized to the sound. Over time, you can increase the volume until your dog can respond calmly to the full-volume sound.
How to help your dog manage separation anxiety
To address separation anxiety in older dogs, begin by teaching your dog to stay calm during the steps you take before leaving (putting on a coat and shoes, picking up your keys or purse, etc.). Do those things without leaving and give your dog treats and snuggles along the way. Then start briefly stepping away from your dog, perhaps into another room. Reward your dog for staying calm when you leave. When he or she tolerates that, slowly increase the distance and time that you are away from your dog.
You may need another person to help you with this training. Sometimes it is beneficial to have someone stay with your dog at first when you walk away. Eventually, though, you should be able to work up to your dog staying calm when you and your helper are gone.
How to teach a dog to stay calm when guests arrive
To help your dog learn how to be calm, not hyper, when guests arrive at your home, the approach is similar to that for separation anxiety. However, instead of leaving the house for increasing periods of time, have a person come into your home for longer and longer. Give your dog a high value treat when he or she stays calm, and have the visitor give your dog treats, too.
During the early stages of training, try to have the guest be the same person each training session. This will help your dog be more confident and adjust quickly to remaining calm when someone enters the home. Then, once your dog learns to be calm with that one person, start to vary who your guest is. That way, your dog learns to be calm with any new person entering the home.
How to help your dog ride in the car calmly
If you are trying to teach your dog to be calm in the car, start by simply walking your dog outside to the car or around the car, and maybe letting your dog look inside the car. Even if your dog has been inside your car before, starting easy like this and rewarding your dog just for being near the car will help him or her learn that the car does not have to be a scary experience.
Additionally, since car sickness in dogs can contribute to car anxiety (and vice versa), it is also a good idea to talk to your vet about dog car sickness remedies.
How to help your dog stay calm during grooming or nail clipping
Teaching your dog to stay calm so you can have successful dog nail trims isn’t as hard as it may sound!
- Begin by showing your dog the nail clippers, but don’t use them on him or her. Depending on how fearful your dog is, start by having the tool in the same room as you but not near the dog. The goal is to desensitize your dog to the presence of the nail trimmers.
- Next, begin desensitizing your dog to having his or her feet touched without any kind of tool in your hand. First, just put your hand on one foot for a couple of seconds. You should pull your hand back before your dog pulls his or her paw away. This will help your dog learn to hold still and that the high value reward comes when you take your hand away (not because your dog pulls away).
- Over the course of several training sessions, increase the time gradually until you are touching the foot for one minute.
- Next, put the two parts together. Start holding the trimmers closer to your dog’s foot. Progress from moving the nail clippers around the dog’s foot, to touching them to the nails, then tapping the nails with them. Reward your dog for holding still and not pulling away.
Once your dog is comfortable with these steps, you can begin cutting your dog’s nails. Don’t try to cut all the nails at once. Instead, increase how many nails you trim each day until you work up to being able to do the whole foot and then eventually all four feet.
(The approach for helping your dog stay calm for grooming is similar. Additionally, you may have to acclimate your dog to the sound of the clippers. (See the “noises” section above.)
How to help your dog stay calm in a crate
Just like other situations, the most important thing to remember when crate training an older dog or any dog is to go slow and make it a positive experience.
- Begin by having the crate in the same room as you and your dog. Don’t put your dog in the crate yet. Reward him or her for simply going near the crate or touching it with a nose or paw.
- A few days later, try encouraging your dog to stick his or her head or one foot into the crate. You can do this by putting a special toy or treat just inside the opening of the crate. Reward your dog for any movement toward or into the crate.
- Eventually, work up to having your dog go further inside the crate until he or she enters it completely. Then practice shutting the door. At this stage of training, do these exercises while you stay in the room. You want to be able to reassure your dog and not make him or her worry that you are leaving.
- Once your dog is comfortable spending prolonged periods of time in the crate while you are in the room, begin leaving the room and then eventually the house. Over time, your dog will learn to be calm in the crate for hours.
You can help your dog calm down
Helping your dog calm down isn’t about eliminating every moment of excitement or anxiety—it’s about recognizing when your dog needs help to feel safe and calm. From noticing the signs of stress and excitement to desensitization training to veterinary care, you can work with your dog to achieve more “Ahhh” moments and less “Eeeekk” moments.
Remember, when you stay patient, consistent, and compassionate, your dog learns that calm is possible. Plus, as you work toward this goal with your dog, you can enjoy quality time together and strengthen the bond that you share.
