We all want our dogs to be happy and healthy so we've created a guide of some key signs of stress in dogs for you to look out for. It's important to identify what is causing the stress and anxiety in your dogs and eliminate that trigger as early as possible, especially ahead of loud events such as Bonfire Night and New Year's Eve which typically include bright fireworks. 

There are lots of simple things you can do to help your dog. Here are some of Poppy's top tips:

• Feed your dog's favourite Poppy's Picnic raw dog food dinner before the fireworks to avoid having to encourage them to eat if they become unsettled during the display
• Take them out for their walk during early daylight hours so they are not outdoors when the fireworks are likely to be set off
• Close all windows and curtains to drown out the fireworks sound
• Turn on some calming music or switch on the TV to mask the loud noises 
• Use natural remedies such as Bach Flowers that may soothe your dog's restlessness or anxieties
• Create a quiet space or comfortable hiding places with lots of cushion and soft padding for them around your home
• For pups or younger dogs especially who may not have experienced fireworks before, give them one of our tasty treats to enjoy and keep them distracted. Or, you can use Poppy's recipe and bake our Calming Chamomile Cookies at home!
• Keep your dog stimulated by playing their favourite toys with them

It’s natural for a dog to be wary of loud noises, especially when it isn't a common everyday noise. So it's really important for us pet parents to also behave as normally as possible around them 😊

Remember, if you are react to the fireworks, they will too!

Poppy is also back in the kitchen and has made some Calming Chamomile Cookies for her pals to enjoy. Using natural ingredients such as chamomile, sunflower seeds, goats yoghurt and blueberries, they can help towards lowering stress this bonfire night. 

Chamomile is known for its anti-inflammatory, sedative and antispasmodic properties, which can help towards calming our dog, pumpkin seeds are high in antioxidants which can increase the amount of serotonin in your dog's brain, and blueberries can help lower anxiety.

If you are making some, tag @poppyspicnic so we can share on our page 😊

FULL RECIPE:

Ingredients

50g of Coconut flour
40g of goats yoghurt 
Handful of dried Chamomile 
Handful of dried Blueberries
Handful of pumpkin seeds
Quarter of an apple 
1 tbsp of honey 
6 tbsp of water

METHOD:

1. Finely chop the apple, dried blueberries, apple and dried chamomile. 
2. Add the coconut flour, goats yoghurt, and chopped apple, blueberries, pumpkin seeds and chamomile to a mixing bowl. Add the honey and start to mix your ingredients together, adding in 6 tbsp of water if needed to help the mixture stick together. Once mixed your dough should have the consistency of cream cheese. 
3. Scoop your mixture into a mould to create individual treats and bake at 180° for 10 minutes. Once cooked, take out of the oven and allow the treats to cool before removing them out of the mould. 
4. Serve to your furry friend!