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If Your Dog Is Under Stress, Consider Adding A Probiotic To Their Diet

iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. With a dog bed in every room and no job or obligations to worry over, it’s hard not to be jealous of your dog’s carefree lifestyle. Their lack of responsibility seems blissful, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to stress. Dogs get stressed out just like humans do, and like us, high stress levels can seriously affect … Read more

How To Help Your Dog Cope With Sudden Changes To Their Routine

Dogs thrive on structure and predictability, so when their routine is suddenly disrupted, it can cause stress, anxiety, and behavioral changes. Whether it’s a new work schedule, a baby joining the family, or a move to a new home, these shifts can leave your pup feeling confused and unsettled. Since dogs rely on a routine for security and stability, sudden changes can lead to symptoms like whining, pacing, loss of appetite, or destructive behavior. Understanding that these reactions stem from … Read more

11 Things Humans Do That Stress Our Dogs Out

Humans stressing dogs out

When we love our dogs like family, we sometimes forget that they don’t understand us quite like our human relatives. Sometimes we try to have full-on conversations with them or unknowingly send them body language signals that are interpreted differently in the animal kingdom. For these reasons, we’ve compiled a list of 11 common things that humans do that stress dogs out. If you’ve done any of these things, don’t worry–we all have! But by being more aware, we can … Read more

Traveling With Or Boarding Your Dog? This Cheap Supplement May Prevent Yucky Poops

If you frequently board or travel with your dog, you may have noticed that he’s prone to diarrhea during or immediately after these experiences. These stressful situations can easily upset your dog’s digestive system. Sure, you can add pumpkin to your dog’s diet for a few days to help get things back to normal, but wouldn’t you prefer to try to avoid your poor pup suffering from diarrhea in the first place? Luckily, there is a supplement you can give … Read more

Is Your Dog’s Anxiety Causing His Health Problems?

You’ve probably felt some negative physical effects from stress or anxiety in your life. You start to have stomach problems or headaches; maybe you start chewing on your nails. Could your dog’s anxiety be causing some of his chronic health problems the same way stress and anxiety cause you to suffer from health problems? Dogs aren’t all that different from humans in the way that they process stress. And just like us, many of their health problems can be tied … Read more

Dog Behaviorist Says Dogs Need Vacations Just As Much As People

There are a lot of things humans and dogs have in common—a need for love, an appreciation for comfy beds, a love of food—and new information shows a need for vacation time is also on that list. Canine behaviorist and host of the British TV show “Dogs Behaving Badly” Graeme Hall suggests dogs get stressed the same way humans do. And like their two-legged owners, dogs need vacations to get back on track. According to Hall’s research, vacations help dogs … Read more

Study Finds That Looking At Photos Of Cute Animals May Improve Your Marriage

What do puppies, pizza and babies have in common? Besides being some of life’s greatest joys, they may all improve your marriage according to James McNulty, a psychology professor at Florida State University and lead author of an interesting new study. His research found that couples who looked at alternating photos of their spouses and the pleasurable stimuli above for six minutes every three days reported being more happily married after six weeks. The study may seem a bit silly and … Read more

Your Great Dane’s Chronic Skin Condition Could Indicate A Mental Health Issue

  As big and menacing as they may look, Great Danes tend to be Nervous Nellies on the inside. These gentle giants are prone to separation anxiety and obsessive behaviors like licking and chewing at their skin. For this reason, Danes are one of the most common breeds that can have acral lick granulomas – chronic, self-inflicted areas of hair loss and reddened skin. Lick granulomas are different from hot spots in that they persist even after treatment for the original … Read more

7 Natural Ingredients Known To Help Calm Anxious Dogs

We all deal with stress from time to time, and our pets are no different. While some dogs are more anxious than others, most dogs will have at least one thing that causes them stress, whether it’s a trip to the vet, fireworks, or moving to a new house. There are medications that can help, but you might want to start with something a little milder first. Here are 6 natural ingredients known to help calm anxious dogs. (As always, consult … Read more

5 Signs Your Schnauzer Is Stressed

Your Schnauzer is an intelligent dog that is capable of doing almost anything. They are tenacious with a personality bigger than their body size, especially so in the  case of the Standard and Miniature. But all of them, even the Giant Schnauzer, get anxious, stressed or fearful about something at some point – no matter how tough they may act. As an owner, it’s your job to know when all that bravado is really hiding insecurity. Here are five signs … Read more

5 Signs Your Poodle Is Stressed

Poodles are a wonderful breed because they are usually good with whatever comes along – it’s one of the reasons they are used frequently for therapy, service and performance work. This does not mean that they never get stressed, anxious or afraid of anything. And no matter how intelligent they are, they still can’t speak our language. This is why it’s so important to learn your dog’s body language so you can “hear” her when something is bothering her. The … Read more

How To Get Anxious, Scared, Or Motion Sick Dogs Used To Riding In The Car

For some dogs, riding in the car is the highlight of their day. They love it! For others, the car is a dreaded source of fear, anxiety or sickness. Since almost every dog will need to ride in a car (for vet appointments, at the very least) it’s nice if they can at least learn to handle the ride without stress or getting sick. I currently own two dogs that used to get car sick, so I understand the nuisance it … Read more

Top 10 Dogs That Help Fight Depression

While we’d argue that any sweet and lovable dog will undoubtedly make you happier and less stressed, some breeds tend to be especially cheerful, affectionate, and optimistic. If you’ve got a case of the blues, a canine companion may be just what the doctor ordered. Think about it: dog owners spend more time outside, have increased LPD’s (laughs per day) due to their dog’s silly antics, and provide the most loyal friendship in existance. Here are 10 particularly dopamine-inducing dog breeds who will bring sunshine to all your cloudy days. (Note: This … Read more