7 Sure-Fire Ways to Calm Your Corgi’s Anxiety

How To Conquer Your Corgi’s Separation Anxiety, Sound Anxiety or Travel Anxiety

If your corgi is experiencing anxiety, life can be miserable both for you and your pup. I myself spent 2 years battling extreme separation anxiety with my dog, and we successfully came out on the other side. In this article I’ll share some of the resources and strategies that worked for us.

There are many forms of anxiety that your corgi may be suffering from. Typical causes of anxiety in corgi’s might be:

• Separation anxiety – Fear of being separated from their owner. This often manifests itself by your corgi pacing, drooling, biting, or being destructive while you’re away.
• Sound anxiety – Fear of loud noises like thunder, fireworks, or a vacuum cleaner
• Travel anxiety – Fear of traveling in a moving vehicle, or fear of intimidating places like your vet’s office or a boarding kennel

 

1. Experiment with Hemp Oil for Your Corgi’s Anxiety

One of the tools I successfully used in treating my dog’s anxiety was Hemp. While your results may vary, approximately 67% of the dog owners polled here claimed that Hemp was ‘extremely effective’ or ‘somewhat effective’ in helping their dog’s anxiety.

In my experience, Hemp helped my dog calm down enough to respond positively to the other training methods I was using to treat her anxiety. When choosing a Hemp oil, always look for a certificate of analysis showing a pure and safe product. I’d also recommend a product with 0% THC.

If you’d rather not give an hemp oil tincture to your dog, there are also great full spectrum hemp treat options available for dogs on Amazon. 

 

2. Desensitize Your Corgi to The Cause of Their Anxiety

A key strategy for treating your corgi’s anxiety is desensitizing them to the trigger of their fear. For example, my dog’s anxiety was triggered anytime I walked out the door to leave the house. For other dogs, the trigger might be you grabbing your keys or putting on your coat.

Begin by doing the trigger activity, but then immediately reversing it. For example, I would grab my keys and walk out the door. Then I’d come back 5 seconds later. I did this literally hundreds of times over a period of a week. Eventually, my dog was desensitized and bored by the behavior.

3. For Sound Anxiety, Trying Isolating Your Corgi and Playing Loud Music

Many corgi’s that suffer from thunderstorm or fireworks anxiety experience relief in a smaller, more isolated room of the house where music can be played at a loud volume.

A word of caution though, if your dog is also experiences separation anxiety leaving them alone in a room during may be counterproductive.

 

4. Try Using a Compression Wrap (Available in Many Sizes and Will Fit Your Corgi)

Many dogs are comforted by the feeling of compression across their body. One popular product many have found success with is the Thundershirt (available on Amazon). The product applies gentle, calming pressure that is very reassuring to many pups. The company claims the product to be helpful for about 80% of the dogs who tried it. It can be used to help calm your australian shepherd during fireworks, thunder, separation, travel, or vet visits, with no training and no medication required.

 

4. Try an Herbal Supplement for Your Corgi with Calming Herbs Like Chamomile, Passion Flower, Ginger Root or Valerian Root

Many calming supplements exist for dogs that are palatable for dogs, easy-to-feed, and can help quickly relieve your australian shepherd’s stress and give a sense of safety and calm. Some supplements contain calming herbs like chamomile, passion flower, ginger root, and valerian root are a great option. Some products, such as this bacon flavored soft chew for dogs, contain all of the calming herbs in one. This calming chew is also available on Amazon.  

 

5. Experiment with a Pheromone Diffuser for Your Corgi

Canine pheromone diffusers mimic the calming pheromone that a mother dog emits while nursing her puppies. The diffuser can help many dogs feel calmer and more comfortable in stressful situations.

The same company that makes the Thundershirt above also makes a product called ThunderEase diffuser, which is also available on Amazon.

 

6. Try an Anti-Anxiety Supplement Containing L-Tryptophan, L-Theanine or Melatonin

Other popular ingredients in anti-anxiety supplements include the amino acids L-Tryptophan and L-Theanine, both of which offer calming properties and increase the release of “feel good” serotonin in your dog’s body. In addition, some calming products for dogs contain a small amount of melatonin, which can help regulate and improve their sleep. All these of these ingredients are available in some chews such as this. This calming chew is also available on Amazon.  

 

 

7. Experiment with Using Your Own Scent & Sound to Calm Your Corgi

In my experience, using your own scent and sound to help calm your dog is a powerful strategy in beating anxiety. I stumbled upon this one day with my own dog by accident.

Typically, if I left the home my dog would instantly enter a panic. But one day I needed to take a long phone call, and left my dog outside my bedroom door where I took the call. During the call, she calmly lied next to the door, where she could obviously smell and hear me. It occurred to me that I could possibly mimic this tactic while I wasn’t at home.

I recorded my voice on a CD player and then put it on loop. Then I placed a used t-shirt on the inside of the door where she could easily smell it underneath. To my surprise, I was able to leave the house for a short time. (I monitored her on a video camera). I slowly increased the length of time I left, and always found her calm and sincerely believing that I was just behind the door!

If you’d like to read the full story of how I cured my dog’s extreme separation anxiety, go here.

Another great product to help calm your dog is the Comfort Cuddler Buddy. You can stuff the cozy fleece man with your clothing or pillow case with your scent, and leave with your dog.

Lastly, another popular calming product is the heartbeat puppy toy. Traditionally, these have been used to help calm puppies who recently left their litter. The plush toys come with a warming features as well as a simulated heartbeat. While originally intended for puppies, many dog owners have found they can effectively calm dogs of all ages. This popular model is available on Amazon. 

 

Summary

Defeating your corgi’s anxiety is possible, but every dog’s journey will look different. I hope the tools and strategies above will be helpful to your journey.

If you’d like to learn more about the Hemp oil and calming chews we use here at iHeartDogs, learn more below.

For best results, you can pair the above Hemp oil with the calming chews below. Between the 2 supplements, they offer 10 active and natural ingredients to help calm your dog without the use of medication.

 

Frequently Ask Questions

Corgi Puppies make excellent pets as they are intelligent, devoted, and full of life; they also have an undying love for their human companions. Because of their origins as herding dogs, they are typically sociable and attentive family pets. However, this adorable breed deals with some anxiety, especially separation anxiety, which can lead to various issues. Learn more right here. 

Do Corgis Have High Anxiety?

Any dog can have high anxiety, including corgis. However, it’s more common in an animal with an innate desire to care for others, such as a guard dog, herder, or pact animal. Corgis are herders, and they enjoy their management position, which makes it hard for them to relax and enjoy alone time. They are happiest when watching over others. 

As babies, Corgi pups are susceptible to stress, fear, and anxiety, often from new circumstances such as a new home or leaving their parents. However, these are normal stressors. Like with all breeds or even animals, some personalities times are more inclined to an anxious nature. There is evidence to suggest that, compared to other dog breeds, Corgis are more likely to experience anxiety.

Corgi pups enter a new world and find something scary around every corner at first. As herding dogs, they are drawn to looking for dangers for their herd. What may be your Corgi on guard seems like anxiety to humans. For example, this breed has a reputation for reacting angrily to any noise it hears in the house, which annoys humans but prevents intruders from the dog. If your dog is easily startled by unusual sights and sounds, he may develop anxiety related to his fear of these stimuli.

Additionally, Corgi may find having strangers come and go from the house can be very upsetting. Mind you, not all Corgis respond this way, but you may need to find alternative options if your pet does not like having guests in their space. 

If your dog gets overly excited, it can cause emotional confusion, and even excitement can turn to panic if not managed.

How Do You Treat Anxiety In Corgis?

Anxiety in dogs can be treated in various ways, often with simple tricks such as praising good behavior. Rewards or treats also make a fantastic option, as dogs will definitely want to train if it means they can fill their tummy! Do remember that treats should be added to their daily caloric needs. 

Next, treat anxiety with purposeful decisions when you leave home. Make your Corgi believe that your departure is for the best if he or she has difficulty adjusting to your absence. When leaving with a new puppy, take it easy and give it time to settle down if it is getting antsy. Then, praise them for doing so. 

Leaving sessions early is another effective technique. Get out of the house and go far enough away so they cannot smell you anymore. Your puppy will likely start to panic and scratch at the door, but this behavior should cease after a short while. Once you re-enter, give them praise and treats, so they create good associations. 

How Do I Know If My Corgi Is Stressed?

Corgis can show stress in multiple ways, including experiencing mental or emotional strain or pressure is often referred to as stress. There is a wide range of potential triggers for stress, including pacing, shaking, whining, barking, yawning, drooling, licking, altering eye and ear position, altering body posture, shedding, panting, and shedding are all signs of anxiety.

What Are The Signs That Your Dog Has Anxiety?

Anxiety has far too many factors to list when it comes to dogs (or humans) in dogs can be caused by a wide variety of factors. However, the signs and symptoms are generally the same for most dogs, making them easier to spot and treat. Once problems are identified, it is critical to promptly identify and address their origins. 

Aggression often stems from anxiety along with a wide variety of behavioral issues. The best indicator of this is your Corgi’s apparent disinterest in both other dogs and humans. Even though it is fine for your dog to not always be friendly, it is cause for concern if this tendency becomes persistent, especially if they become threatening.

Your Corgi may exhibit anxiety if they pace, whine, or bark inconsolably when you leave. They may damage your furniture or other belongings as well. Alternatively, they may show signs of depression, such as a lack of appetite, sleep problems, and withdrawal from previously enjoyable activities. 

At What Age Do Corgis Calm Down?

Some Corgis mature at a younger age, and others will not start to calm down in adulthood around the age of one to two years. However, temperament has more to do with other factors besides age. For example, it also relies on the amount of stimulus they receive, levels of exercise, and instruction they have received. 

How Do You Keep A Corgi Mentally Stimulated?

Your Corgi will benefit greatly from the mental stimulation provided by activities such as seeing other animals and people, smelling new scents, and seeing other people with their dogs. Be careful to switch up the path you take your dog on periodically so that she can continue to experience new and stimulating sights and smells.

Are Corgis Emotional Dogs?

An energetic and loving companion, the Corgi is a popular dog breed but is not without fault. When you go home, your Corgi seems to be in a bad mood. When you have to go for a short time, your dog tends to bark and whine, along with other annoying antics. To us, this seems like an emotional and needy puppy, but it’s not. These dogs are meant to take care of something, often sheep or other herds, and instead, they have a couple of humans who do not need guarding. 

Do Corgis Have Separation Anxiety?

The time that your puppy spends in your home during her first few months are crucial. Puppies have a hard time adjusting to new environments, so it is important to be kind and patient with them throughout this period. It is important to keep in mind that your puppy may experience separation anxiety if you leave them alone for long amounts of time during the day. 

Puppies of the Corgi breed are more likely to develop separation anxiety if they are adopted from a shelter or rescue group. Corgi puppies often develop social bonds with their owners and become more anxious when away from them between the ages of six months and three years. However, separation anxiety can manifest at any age. 

Corgis do best in a home with tons of socializing with humans or other pets. They need a herd to watch over and protect. Socializing your Corgi puppy as soon as possible is crucial for the development of his or her sense of security. Start training your pup from an early age to help them learn to cope when you are not home. Have a safe space to serve as a retreat and comfort for your pup to help them learn to be alone. 

Last but not least, ensure your puppy has something to do while you are gone so it does not have time to worry. Corgis need to be actively engaged in games, walks, and other physical activities to prevent them from being bored. Take them to their vet if they do not learn to cope and cannot handle spending time alone. You may need to consider a doggy day care too so they get to socialize or at least not be alone.

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