About this question, how do you calm a Rat terrier down? In this article, I’m going to be sharing ten simple and effective ways to help your Rat Terrier stay calm and relaxed. Let’s keep reading!
When your Rat Terrier is an extremely high energy, maybe they’re pulling you down the sidewalk while you are trying to walk them, or barking at other dogs, or maybe jumping up on you, or your guests.
This could be a sign that your Rat Terrier is either stressed, bored, or anxious, or they’re lagging a daily structured routine to mentally calm them down.
So…
Simple Ways To Calm A Rat Terrier Down
We can assist our Rat Terrier calm down by providing them with simple instructions training ideas and exercises, such as employing basic commands that are combined with obedience to help calm them down when they are scared.
Basic commands like lie down, remain, sit, and heel should all be used to calm your Rat Terrier down.
Here are five simple and effective ways that can help your Rat Terrier stay calm and relaxed;
1. Practice education and obedience with your Rat Terrier
If you can, simply practice the use of education and obedience in calming and disciplining your Rat Terrier will be good.
Because there are basic commands that comprise with this obedience that will help calm your Rat Terrier when they are in nervous.
Commandments such as, lie down, stay, sit, and heel, are all examples of basic commands you should use while calming your Rat Terrier down.
You can use these basic commands training tips to calm them down when you noticed that they are nervous or in restless condition.
This can be observed when you are in a place your Rat Terrier might not have the knowledge of. They might get confused and start unnecessary barking or jumping on guests.
So with the help of obedience and educational training you gave your Rat Terrier, you can command them to sit or stay in this scenario to calm them down.
This is wonderful, you see, it is a technique and basic educational and positive training one can use to calm their Rat Terrier in a situation.
Here, instead of punishing your Rat Terrier, reward them with treats and praise when they are in a calm mood. This will encourage good behavior in them.
2. Provide daily exercise with your Rat Terrier
If you will be able to schedule a daily exercise with your Rat Terrier it will help in calming them down, along the line with the socialization of other dogs, and they will explore their environment.
With this daily exercise you can engage a road walk with them like three times a day due to their energetic nature you can schedule 20 minutes per walk to help in mental stimulation.
While in the exercise, for health issues, don’t allow any unforeseen circumstances whereby your Rat Terrier will have contact with unknown dogs secretions until they’re vaccinated.
As an escape artist, your Rat Terrier is, if you don’t engage them with a regular exercise where by exploring their environment they will become bored and restless causing them to damage and attempt to escape.
However, if you can maintain a routine, provide daily exercise with your Rat Terrier it will help relax their mind and they will be more calm at home.
3. Allow your Rat Terrier time to play
If you can allow your Rat Terrier time to play and engage in so many games it will be a good gesture for them and they will stay calm and relaxed.
Therefore, creating a lot of activities for your Rat Terrier to get involved with helps them stay calm after being said and done.
You can use this opportunity on them, there are a lot of favorite games out there you can introduce them to, games like fetch, jumping, and running around in a circle, etc.
A game plan like this will help in burning up enough energy calories in your Rat Terrier’s body, keep them in shape and as well calm down.
Don’t engage them in any game they will become overwhelmed, or anxious and overexcited.
Hence, your Rat Terrier is vaccinated you can allow them time to play with other dogs this is will also encourage socialization among them.
4. Use Positive reinforcement toys for your Rat Terrier
To maintain calm behavior in your Rat Terrier there are accessories and positive reinforcement toys you can get for them.
These toys are applicable and important for both adult dogs and puppies. It will help keep them busy at the end of the day.
It will also keep them excited in the long run, this positive reinforcement toys can be a classic Kong provided it’s flexible.
When you want to go for positive reinforcement toys for your Rat Terrier, consider getting the quality ones that are long-lasting and good resistivity with approval, and reliable for your Rat Terrier’s age.
5. Strengthen your bond with your Rat Terrier
As a pet parent, it’s your job here to cuddle up with your Rat Terrier, build up your relationship, and strengthen your bond with them.
This good relationship with your Rat Terrier will pave a way that they will be comfortable while sitting on you and stay calm whenever by your side.
Strengthening a bond with your Rat Terrier is when you’re trying to cuddle up and giving them a relaxing massage all over.
And getting them involved in almost everything you do, such as taking them for a walk with you, and playing games with them.
Shouting or yelling at your Rat Terrier will never solve the problem and might bring them sudden stress.
If you can scold and command in a cool voice, definitely your Rat Terrier will understand and reflect your calm behavior.
6. Learn to read your Rat Terrier’s body language.
If you could understand your Rat Terrier’s body language, you will be able to calm them down. They tend to pace back and forth when they’re nervous.
If you can read their body language you will also notice these signs on them; drooling, panting is very intense, and whining, all these signify anxiousness.
Most of the time, you see them shivering, their tails tucked between their legs and their ears pinned down.
As a good pet parents I will advise us to be always around your Rat Terrier to notice their body language whenever they’re nervous and help them to stay calm and relaxed.
7. Provide a calm, safe place for your Rat Terrier
Make sure that you provide a calm safe place for your Rat Terrier whenever they are frightened because of thunderstorms, or when they hear loud noises, like fireworks.
In this case, try by all means to create a safe place in the house where your Rat Terrier cannot sense any disturbing sounds and keep their stimuli lower.
Due to they’re very sensitive to hearing, you can consider getting a machine that will help this time around to drown out the harsh noises that seem to come in.
Create a peaceful, secure environment for your Rat Terrier.
8. Provide proper socialization for your Rat Terrier.
Make sure your Rat Terrier is well socialized. In this case remove the concept of skipping the dog park.
Early socialization with your Rat Terrier can help limit anxiety in them right from a young age.
This socialization should be in a good environment where your Rat Terrier will feel free and not be scared.
But in the case of age barriers, the older dogs might be experiencing pre-existing traumas or phobias, therefore they need a well-trained behaviorist who will assist.
9. Do massage your Rat Terrier
Give your Rat Terrier a massage; it will help him remain calm when he is anxious.
Massage treatment may be used to alleviate tension in any way because tension is one of the main causes of anxiety and muscular trembling.
When massaging your Rat Terrier’s body, start at the neck and work your way down with one hand while massaging with the other.
With practice, you’ll be able to pinpoint exactly where your Rat Terrier is in pain or stressed, and focus the massage on that area.
10. Remove Anxiety-inducing triggers for your Rat Terrier
Remove your Rat Terrier’s causes of anxiety. As straightforward as visiting your veterinarian to rule out other illnesses in your Rat Terrier and succeeding.
Your Rat Terrier’s anxiousness should be treated the same way.
You can also stop taking your Rat Terrier to the dog park if you see that they are terrified of humans or their accompanying pets.
When there aren’t many pedestrians, you may alternate between going to the park and taking your Rat Terrier on a road walk. You may play in a fenced yard as well.
AKC says, Talk to Your Vet If your pet’s anxiety is severe, consider booking an appointment with your vet well in advance of July 4, so you can discuss a medication that could help soothe your dog’s anxiety.
Final Thoughts
Since then, you’ve learned why your Rat Terrier can be anxious and how to calm them down.
If you play games with your Rat Terrier on a regular basis and walk it every day with care, your Rat Terrier will never be anxious.
You will see improvements in your Rat Terrier if you apply these easy, practical methods to help them stay calm at the end of everything.
