Anxious animals aren’t being difficult — they’re overwhelmed. The antidote is rarely correction; it’s safety.

What steadies them

Predictable routines. Calm, unhurried handling. Safe spaces they can retreat to. And a human whose own nervous system stays settled.

Presence again

The single most helpful thing is often just a steady, familiar presence — someone who doesn’t rush, doesn’t loom, and lets them come to it.