April 11th is National Pet Day and as animal lovers we love to look for fun, relaxing ways to celebrate with our furry family members. They bring us joy everyday, so why not do something special for them?

Here are a few fun ideas for how you can give your pup a special treat in honor of the annual celebration and we think you might enjoy them too!

Give Him A Massage

Dogs, like humans, are highly responsive to touch. But rather than a quick stroke or a pat on the head, why not give your pup a relaxing massage. Not only will this relax your dog, it is an amazing way to increase the bond between you. Plus, dogs respond well to aromatherapy oils, several of which can be used to ease any anxieties your dog might suffer with. Try lavender or Neroli.

Take your dog on a special walk

If you usually take the same dog walking route each day why not head out and explore somewhere that you don’t usually go. A new hiking trail, the dog beach or a new park. Your dog will love all the new sounds and smells, making new friends and getting to experience a new space.

Throw a Puppy Party

Invite a couple of canine friends over to your house or arrange a meet up at the park so your dogs can play together. Set up some fun games for them and maybe even arrange a special meal or treat.

Try a new activity

Like humans, dogs can get bored. And boredom can lead to destructive behaviors. So why not try a new activity with your pup? Doggy yoga, a swimming lesson, kayaking or paddle-boarding or even just time spent learning a new command or trick. Your dog will love the variety of doing something completely new and you are likely to enjoy the process too.  

How will you celebrate National Pet Day? Tell us in the comments and share your pics with us on Instagram and Facebook!

With over 20% of dogs thought to suffer from separation anxiety, millions of households throughout the United States are living with a fearful or anxious pet.

Anxiety can lead to destructive and nervous behaviors such as howling, chewing, scratching, digging, even urinating and defecating.

Our goal at ZenCrate has always been to end pet anxiety, which is why we created the first ever smart, anti-anxiety dog crate. And we found that one of the simplest, most soothing tools you can use to ease your dog’s anxiety when left alone, is music.

When played in your pet’s surroundings, or directly into his ZenCrate, the right music has the ability to alter your dog’s mood, relaxing him enough to rest, sleep and hopefully avoid any destruction to your furniture and home.

So, what is the ‘right’ music?

Dogs hear music very differently to the way humans do. So while you might be tempted to leave them listening to your favorite upbeat pop playlist, this might not be the best for your fearful friend. A dog hears at a much higher frequency to us meaning that any anxiety reducing playlist would be to contain songs with simple melodies, peaceful tones and fewer instruments.

There are some excellent playlists online that have been designed specifically to calm your canine, stop unwanted barking or howling and reduce hyperactivity. Search for dog anti-anxiety playlists on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube. Or purchase a CD such as Canine Lullabies.

Classical music has also been proven to comfort and reduce anxiety in dogs. A recent study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior showed that dogs who listened to classical music, barked and howled less when left alone, and spent more time resting.

As humans shy away from conventional medicine to treat their own ailments, pet owners also seek out alternative or complementary therapies to treat certain physical and emotional problems with their furry friends.

Here are some amazing holistic therapies for your dog that can help with everything from anxiety and hyperactivity to pain and post surgery rehabilitation.

Aromatherapy

As with humans, aromatherapy and the use of high-quality essential oils, can be a highly effective therapy to help relieve stress and reduce your dog’s anxiety. They can be used to soothe them when traveling or during a thunderstorm, lift their spirit if they are suffering from separation anxiety and even focus your dog during training. Lavender and Cedar Oils are a good place to start.

Hydrotherapy

For a dog in need of low impact exercise, due to weight gain, joint issues or post surgery recovery, a hydrotherapy session might be the answer. Your dog will swim or walk on a submerged treadmill in a heated pool for 15-30 minutes to improve mobility, increase circulation and decrease stress, with almost zero impact on the body.

Massage

Just like with humans, canine massage can help to destress and encourage healing by increasing blood flow, relaxing muscles and stimulating nerve endings. Plus is feels really good to your dog and can improve the bond between pet and owner. You can pay someone to massage your dog for you, which will set you back around $50-$100 an hour, or you can learn some techniques yourself and incorporate them into your weekly routine.

Acupuncture

The practice of using needles to stimulate pressure points around the body is an ancient treatment that humans have used for thousands of years. But in 1988 it was approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association for use on animals as an ‘alternative therapy’. Acupuncture can help in the reduction of joint and muscle pain, encourage post-surgical healing and even treat some symptoms of cancer and diabetes.