How to calm your dog down not only on New Year's Eve? Try CBD!

Author: Lucie Garabášová

The last day of the year means something different to everyone. For you, it might mean a party and champagne. But for your dog? A nightmare of noise, flash, and panic. If you’re a dog owner who cowers under the bed every New Year’s Eve (or every thunderstorm, firecracker, or other loud noise), know that you’re not alone. Up to 70% of dogs suffer from some form of noise anxiety. And the good news is that there are natural ways to help your pooch—including CBD.

In this article you will learn:

• Why are dogs afraid of New Year's Eve?
• How do I know if my dog ​​is afraid of New Year's Eve?
• Calming pills for dogs
• Herbs to calm your dog
• How does CBD oil for dogs help calm you down?
• How to dose CBD oil for dogs before New Year's Eve?
• A few more tips on how to make New Year's Eve as pleasant as possible for your dog:

Why are dogs afraid of New Year's Eve?

Imagine that you hear 35 times better than you do now. Every sound. Every noise. And now imagine that suddenly explosions start rattling, and you don't know where they come from, what they mean and when they will end.

A dog has much more sensitive hearing than we humans (a dog hears 4 times better than a human). They can even hear sounds that the average human ear cannot hear. If a dog is unable to explain a sound that it hears and doesn't recognize, it causes a feeling of anxiety in it, which can develop into fear or even a phobia.

Another cause of fear can of course be various bad situations that the dog has experienced in the past (we often encounter this in dogs from shelters).

Dogs can have innate fear, but they can also acquire it at any time during their life.

How do I know if my dog ​​is afraid of New Year's Eve?

Very simply, it will seem to you that the dog is not in its own skin. Dogs tend to breathe faster, walk nervously, are unable to rest in peace, and often drool a lot. They may also crawl into various places where they feel safe. They may abnormally seek out your company.

Calming pills for dogs

One of the options you have to calm your dog is to administer conventional medications that your veterinarian will sell you, or you can buy them at a pharmacy or pet supply store. However, conventional medications can often be "unnecessary chemicals" that may fulfill their purpose, but also burden the animal's body. So why not try natural products that can have the same effects?

Herbs to calm your dog

There are also herbs that help your dog calm down.

These include:

• Lavender - Can be used as herbs in food, or in the form of essential oil.
• Chamomile - You can add either dried flowers or chamomile tea - a cooled decoction of chamomile to the food.
• Mint - You can use dried flowers or a cooled decoction of mint in the food.
• St. John's wort - Has the ability to calm the nerves.
• Hemp - We recommend using CBD veterinary products for dogs. CBD drops for dogs, treats or tablets.

Herbs alone are often not enough. But in combination with CBD they have a much better effect!

How does CBD oil for dogs help calm you down?

CBD oil for dogs works through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is present in both humans and animals. This system helps maintain balance in the body and influences key processes such as stress response, mood, pain, sleep and inflammation.
CBD does not activate receptors directly, but gently modulates their activity and supports the body's own substances (endocannabinoids) that induce natural calming.

Thanks to this effect, CBD oil in dogs can help with stress, anxiety, hypersensitivity to stimuli, and at the same time supports pain relief, inflammation reduction, nervous system protection and can also be useful for epilepsy or skin allergies.

CBD oil for animals is a natural veterinary product without THC, i.e. without psychoactive effects. We always recommend choosing only approved veterinary products that meet safety and quality standards.

How to dose CBD oil for dogs before New Year's Eve?

The biggest mistake that owners make? They start the day before New Year's Eve. CBD is not a sleeping pill. It needs time to get going in the body and the endocannabinoid system to harmonize. We recommend starting with the dosage ideally 2-3 weeks after New Year's Eve, ramping up to the recommended dose, and then increasing the dosage a few days before the event.

Important factors in choosing the right concentration are always: the weight and severity of the problem (in this case, the depth of the fear). If you are unsure about choosing the right product and dosage, we will be happy to advise you!

We have also recorded a short video for you to help you choose the product and the appropriate dosage:

If you are interested in how CBD works in practice, be sure to check out: Real Testimonials in Dogs: Sleep Support and Separation Anxiety.

Try to tire your dog out, then create a safe place for him

Your dog will feel best with you. A few hours before the "cannonball" madness breaks out, take your dog outside and try to really tire him out. When you come home from a walk, create a safe place (a bed) for him that will be close to you and he will feel good.

Try music

Music also calms dogs. We said above that dogs can hear 35 times better than humans. Which means that we definitely don't recommend playing music "at full blast", but you certainly won't ruin anything with pleasant meditation music.

A few more tips on how to make New Year's Eve as pleasant as possible for your dog:

• Frightened dogs will definitely appreciate it if you place them in a quiet room without windows during the fireworks, ideally in the middle of the apartment, where they will feel safe and protected from possible flashes and loud bangs.
• Stay home with your dog.
• Be calm, an agitated owner would make the dog even more nervous.
• You can try wrapping your dog in a blanket in the bed if it feels comfortable.
• Suppress the perception of scary sounds with music, the TV on or white noise.
• Allow your dog to be with a canine friend during the fireworks display who doesn't mind the noise.

FAQ – Frequently asked questions