Can CBD Oil For Dogs Change Their Behavior?

If you are a dog owner, you may have noticed that there are websites that tout the benefits of CBD oil for dogs. One area where CBD oil can be useful is in treating dogs with behavioral problems. But does this really work?

You may read up on what behavioral problems some dogs have, and the ways these issues can be addressed with CBD oil. You can also check out the source website for more information about CBD oil for your dog.

Still, before you start using CBD oil to modify your dog’s behavior, it is worthwhile to consider the root cause of common behavioral issues such as aggression and persistent barking in dogs.

Dog Aggression

This type of behavioral problem in dogs can be broken down into multiple sub-categories of behavior such as:

• Fear Aggression – This kind of behavior is exhibited by a dog when there is something that elicits fear. Changes in the weather, such as the sound of thunder and the sight of lightning flashing, may be one trigger. Another trigger could be fireworks during holidays. There may even be some bad memories from your dog’s past that serve as triggers for fear aggression, such as seeing an umbrella or walking stick, if the dog was abused in the past. If your dog becomes anxious and upset due to these, it may show signs of fear aggression such as snapping at its owners.
• Competing For Food Aggression – If you have more than one dog, it is important to feed each dog in a separate area in your property to avoid displays of this kind of behavior. Aggression may be displayed if some dogs are competing to become the “alpha male” in the group. This means that each male dog is fighting with the others for dominance over the “pack”. As the owner, you are top dog so you probably won’t be targeted for dominance aggression. In fact, your dogs may be expecting you to assert yourself, considering you are the leader of the pack.
• Maternal Dog Aggression – This is a common type of aggression in female dogs who are either pregnant, preparing to give birth, or have already given birth. The female dog wants to protect its pups so it naturally becomes aggressive when other dogs get too close.

Some dog owners may be alarmed by these types of dog aggression so they may opt to give CBD oil to their dogs as a way of “calming” them. However, you should not make dosing with CBD oil an automatic reaction to the aggression. Rather, it makes more sense to check for the source of the aggression, and then remove that causative factor before the behavior escalates. Should the behavior escalate out of your control, it may be necessary to leave the dog alone until it learns to calm down by itself. You can then consult the vet about the correct time to give CBD oil to the dog for the right reasons. The CBD oil can reduce anxiety and help to soothe your dog before it starts to show aggression, especially if you think there are possible triggers approaching.

Barking Ceaselessly

Some dogs also have a habit of barking at practically anything. It wouldn’t be so bad if dogs bark at strangers entering your property, since that just means your dog is protecting its territory. But if your dog seems to bark non-stop, even at small noises that would otherwise go unnoticed, someone may start to complain, especially if the barking occurs late at night when everyone wants to get some rest.

Barking this way may seem like just another bad habit, but there may be a real cause that you are not yet aware of. One possible reason for barking is boredom. Another possible cause of excessive barking could be chronic pain. You may ask your vet if it is appropriate to dose your dog with CBD oil to help. You might also have to hire a dog obedience trainer to train your dog to bark only when there are strangers entering your property.

Final Takeaway

Your dog is a sensitive creature, regardless of whether it is still a puppy finding its way around, or an adult that knows its place in your family. CBD oil can help your pet relax, once you have identified the cause of the bad habits and negative behavior exhibited lately. But don’t make it a habit to give your pet dog a dose of CBD oil when these behaviors are exhibited. Rather, consult your vet as to when it is appropriate to give CBD oil. You should be cautious when giving CBD oil to your dog since it is not a cure-all product. Hopefully, you and your dog will be able to get along better once you learn how to rely on CBD oil to improve your own and your dog’s quality of life.