How to Create a Calming Routine for Dogs: Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Whether your furry friend gets a bit jittery during fireworks, stormy nights, or just everyday changes, creating a calming routine for your dog can work wonders. Here in New Zealand, many pet parents are seeking gentle and effective ways to help their pups feel more secure and relaxed. This guide will walk you through how to build a soothing, structured routine that eases stress and supports your dog’s overall wellbeing.

Why Dogs Benefit From a Calming Routine

Just like us humans, dogs thrive on predictability. Knowing what to expect throughout the day helps reduce stress, anxiety, and even unwanted behaviours. A dedicated calming routine can help manage separation anxiety, hyperactivity, or reactivity to noises or new surroundings. Not only does it benefit your dog’s mental health, but it helps your household feel more peaceful too.

At Petdirect, we believe that every pup deserves to feel safe and happy. That’s why we offer a range of calming essentials tailored to support your dog’s emotional and physical wellbeing—because We Get Pet.

Set Predictable Daily Routines

Structure is soothing. Keep feeding times, walks, play sessions, and bedtime as consistent as possible. You might start the morning with a short walk followed by breakfast using a calming slow-feeder bowl. Keeping a similar schedule each day reassures your dog that life is stable, even when surprises pop up.

Consider using a smart pet feeder to ensure meals are delivered at the same time each day. This eliminates rushing home to feed your pooch—and gives them one less thing to stress about.

Create a Safe and Calm Space

Every dog needs a “zen den”—that one spot where they can retreat to relax, nap, or decompress. This could be a comfy crate, a dog bed in a quiet room, or even a cosy corner with their favourite toys and scents. Try to keep this area off-limits to noisy visitors or children during your dog’s downtime.

Explore our soft, snug dog bedding range to help create the ultimate chill-out zone.

Use Calming Aids and Supplements

For dogs who need a little extra support, natural supplements and calming aids can make a big difference. These can be especially helpful around high-stress times, such as vet visits, travel, fireworks or holidays. Look for products with ingredients like chamomile, L-tryptophan, or hemp to promote relaxation.

Explore our range of dog anxiety and calming care supplements, including chews, sprays, diffusers and more that fit seamlessly into your routine.

Some pet parents also find success with ThunderShirts, which apply gentle, constant pressure—kind of like a hug—to help reduce anxiety.

Incorporate Gentle, Calm Play

Physical activity is essential, but overexcitement can contribute to stress. Mix high-energy play with calming alternatives like slow scent work, puzzle toys, or light training. Snuffle mats and lickimats are excellent choices to mentally stimulate and soothe your pup simultaneously.

Check out our range of dog toys, especially interactive options designed to release feel-good endorphins without ramping your dog up.

Teach Relaxation Through Training

Teaching your dog to settle or lie down on cue is a calming skill they can use anywhere—home, the park, or visiting family. Use treats and a soothing voice to reward relaxed behaviours. Over time, they’ll learn that calm equals rewards.

Training tools and enrichment toys, like those in our dog training and behaviour collection, can support this kind of gentle learning in positive and fun ways.

Stay Calm Yourself

Dogs are little emotional sponges. If you're feeling tense, there's a good chance your dog will too. Take a breath, slow your own movements, and use a soft tone of voice. Your calmness is a key part of their calm routine.

And remember—consistency and patience are everything. Every dog is unique, so it may take time to find what works best for yours. But with gentleness, intention, and a dash of love, you’ll help them find their calm rhythm.

Relax, Reset, and Routine On

You don't need a magic wand to help your pup feel more at ease—just a little structure, love, and support. With the right plan and thoughtful essentials from Petdirect, you can make every day feel a bit more zen for your four-legged friend.

Explore our hand-picked calming essentials to get started, and don’t forget to join our Pet Perks loyalty programme for exclusive discounts, rewards, and tailored pet care tips. Yep—we're with you every calming step of the way because We Get Pet.