How to calm an anxious new dog pacing and crying in his new home?

Question

I brought home a new dog, he is a medium sized (30 lbs) and my chihuahua does not like him in his space. The new dog is filled with anxiety (pacing, crying and circles to chase his tail) What can I do to calm this new dog? Ps new dog seems to be about 6-8 months old also I walked him for an hour yesterday and he was still nervous when we got home. New dog has been here about 24 hours. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | unneutered | 35 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Poor Jasper! It sounds like he's quite stressed and anxious at the moment. Without more information, it's hard to say if this is simply due to all of the changes he's experienced recently (new home, new owner, etc.) or if he has some generalized anxiety issues. I would recommend giving him some time to settle in - this behavior may resolve over the next several days once he has a chance to adjust to his new living situation. You can help by giving him some tasty things to chew on (large rawhide chews, bully sticks, etc.) as chewing is a relaxing activity for dogs - just make sure to give him his own space while he chews, and don't allow your other dog to bother him. You may also want to try a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure. If there is no improvement in his anxiety within the next week or so, it would be best to consult with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate him in person and help you put together a detailed plan to work on his issues. He may also need prescription medication to help reduce his anxiety, at least for a while. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

How to calm an anxious new dog pacing and crying in his new home?

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