Discover Zach's Pet Shop's Range of Pet & Dog Anxiety Toys
Explore Our Range of Anxiety Toys
At Zach’s Pet Shop, we understand how stressful anxiety can be for dogs and pets. Whether they’re adjusting to a new home, struggling with separation anxiety, or simply feeling uneasy at night. That’s why we offer a variety of anxiety toys specially designed to comfort your anxious dog and promote relaxation.
From heartbeat anxiety toys to soft plush companions, our carefully selected range helps ease stress by creating a calming environment - perfect for night time crate training, vet visits, or long periods alone!
Heartbeat Anxiety Toys
Our heartbeat anxiety toys are designed to comfort pets by mimicking a mother’s heartbeat, providing a sense of security and companionship. These plush toys feature a built-in heartbeat device that emits a gentle, rhythmic beat, helping to soothe dogs experiencing separation anxiety.
These plush toys are perfect for:
- Puppies adjusting to a new home
- Dogs experiencing separation anxiety
- Night time crate training or solo sleep time
- Traveling to visit the vet
Our most popular heartbeat plush toy is the Little Buddy Heartbeat Sheep. Get yours today and help your furry friend feel safe and secure!
Warm Anxiety Toys
For dogs that crave warmth and physical comfort, our warm anxiety toys provide a cosy, soothing solution, helping to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
When a dog feels the gentle warmth, it helps to lower their stress levels by promoting the release of endorphins, the body's natural "feel-good" hormones. This heat also helps to reduce muscle tension, creating a more relaxed and comfortable state. Additionally, warmth can help stabilize a dog's body temperature, especially during stressful moments, providing a sense of security and comfort that helps alleviate anxiety.
The All For Paws Little Buddy Warm Bear can be heated to mimic the warmth of a mother, helping to reduce stress and provide a sense of companionship.
Snoring Anxiety Toys
Our snoring anxiety toys are designed to provide comfort and reassurance for pets, especially at night when anxiety is at its peak. The Lambswool Snoring Cuddler emits a gentle snoring sound that mimics natural breathing rhythms, helping to soothe anxious pets and promote a restful night's sleep.
Made from a soft, plush material, this cuddly companion is perfect for puppies struggling with separation anxiety or adjusting to a new home. Whether your pet is nervous about sleeping alone or needs extra comfort, this toy provides a sense of security, reducing stress and promoting better sleep.
Lick Mat Anxiety Toys
Our lick mat are a great way to help calm stressed pets by providing a soothing and engaging activity. Available in a variety of colours, sizes and shapes, these mats encourage slow licking, which releases endorphins and promotes relaxation. Perfect for distracting anxious dogs during grooming, vet visits, or crate time, lick mats can be used with treats like peanut butter or yogurt to keep your pet focused and stress-free.
The Bone Appetit's Tasty Bone Lick Mats are highly recommended as they come in sizes small and large to accommodate dogs of different breeds and sizes.
Lavender Scented Anxiety Toys
Our lavender-scented anxiety toys offer the calming benefits of aromatherapy to help ease stress and promote relaxation in pets.
In dogs, lavender scent has been found to help reduce anxiety by affecting the same areas of the brain as it does in humans. The scent interacts with the limbic system, which regulates emotions and stress responses. Research shows that lavender can help lower heart rate and cortisol levels in dogs, leading to a calmer state.
The Calming Pals Lavender Scented Sheep is a plush product infused with soothing lavender, perfect for giving comfort to anxious dogs during bedtime or travel.
For an extra layer of relaxation, the Natural Dog Company Calming Lavender Spritz can be used on bedding, toys, or directly on your pet to create a peaceful environment. These products can work together to naturally reduce anxiety and support a sense of calm in your dog.
How to Choose the Right Pet Anxiety Toy
Consider Your Dog’s Size, Breed and Age
When choosing the right pet anxiety toy, it's important to consider your dog's size, breed, and age in order to ensure the best fit for their needs.
Smaller breeds and puppies may benefit from soft plush toys or heartbeat comforters, like the All For Paws Little Heartbeat Warm Bunny, which provides warmth and security.
Larger dogs or strong chewers, on the other hand, would require more durable options, such as tough rubber chew toys or lick mats, to keep them engaged without the risk of easily tearing apart their toys.
Activity level is also a key factor—energetic dogs may find relief through interactive toys that encourage play, like treat-dispensing balls or snuffle mats, which provide mental stimulation and reduce stress. Meanwhile, more relaxed or senior dogs might prefer lavender-scented plush toys that promote calmness. By matching the toy to your dog's chewing habits, energy levels, and comfort needs, you can help create a stress-free and comforting experience tailored just for them.
Identify Your Pet’s Anxiety Triggers
Understanding your pet’s anxiety starts with identifying their anxiety triggers. Some pets struggle with separation anxiety, feeling stressed when left alone, while others become anxious during travel, loud noises like thunderstorms, or changes in their environment. Recognising the root cause of their distress is the first step toward finding the right anxiety toy to help them feel safe and secure. Learn more about common anxiety in cats or dogs, in our latest blogs.
Look for Features That Promote Calming
Once you've identified your pet's anxiety trigger, the next step is to look for features that promote calming and directly address their stressors. Different anxiety toys offer unique benefits, so choosing the right one depends on what soothes your pet best.
For pets with separation anxiety, toys with a heartbeat device or warmth—like the All For Paws Little Buddy Heart Beat Warm Unicorn —can mimic the comfort of a companion.
If your dog gets anxious due to loud noises, a snoring plush toy such as the Lambswool Snoring Cuddler, can provide a gentle rhythmic sound that helps mask external disturbances. .
For pets who need a calming distraction during travel or grooming, a lick mat encourages slow licking, which releases endorphins and promotes relaxation.
Meanwhile, lavender-scented toys offer the added benefit of aromatherapy, helping pets feel calm in stressful environments.
By choosing a toy with features that address your pet's specific anxiety trigger, you can provide the most effective and comforting solution to help them feel secure and relaxed.
The Science Behind Pet Anxiety Toys
Pet anxiety toys are designed using psychological and behavioural principles to soothe stress and create a sense of security. Much like humans, dogs and cats, can also release endorphins through activities such as licking, chewing, playing and snuggling, which naturally help reduce anxiety. For this reason toys that encourage these behaviours—like lick mats, chew toys, and heartbeat plush toys—trigger a calming response, making pets feel more at ease.
For example, heartbeat toys mimic the comforting presence of a mother by replicating a rhythmic pulse, activating an animal’s natural relaxation instincts. Similarly, lick mats encourage repetitive licking, which has been scientifically proven to increase dopamine and serotonin levels, promoting relaxation. Additionally, scented anxiety toys, like lavender-infused plush toys, leverage aromatherapy to help calm the nervous system and reduce stress.
By understanding the science behind these toys, pet owners can confidently choose to buy the right products to soothe their furry friends, providing effective relief from anxiety triggers like separation, loud noises, and unfamiliar environments.
