Anxious Borzoi in Busy Salon

A Borzoi in a working salon — that's quite the environment for a breed that's essentially wired for silence and open space. Borzois are sensitive sighthounds, and salons throw a lot at them: strangers coming and going, loud dryers, strong chemical smells, unpredictable movement. How is she showing the anxiety — is it pacing, hiding, barking, or something else?

That restless, unable-to-settle behaviour is classic low-grade chronic stress — she's not in a panic, but she's never fully switching off either. Does she have any part of the day where she's better — first thing in the morning before clients arrive, say, or during quieter spells?

That tells us the trigger is the social and sensory load of clients, not the space itself. She's comfortable with the environment — it's the people, noise, and smell that tips her over. A crate or pen won't fix this on its own because the stressors are still present. What I'd focus on is a consistent calming signal she can associate with her corner — something that makes the bed feel like a genuine retreat rather than just a spot on the floor. Have you tried anything so far, a DAP diffuser, calming chews, a ThunderShirt?

Borzois are stoic — they often don't make a fuss, but chronic low-level stress still wears on them over time and can compound. Given she spends five days a week in this environment, I'd go with an Adaptil Calm On-the-Go Collar. It releases a synthetic version of the canine appeasing pheromone continuously, directly from her neck, so it travels with her even when she's pacing rather than sitting next to a plug-in diffuser. It lasts around four weeks, you just put it on and leave it. For a dog in a daily high-stimulation setting, the collar format genuinely outperforms the diffuser because the calming signal stays with her wherever she moves in the salon. Pair it with making her corner more den-like — a covered crate or a high-sided orthopaedic bed with a blanket over the top — and you should see a meaningful difference in how often she chooses to settle within two to three weeks.

Yes, pheromone collars are non-sedating and non-systemic — nothing is absorbed into the bloodstream. It's a behavioural signal, not a drug. You can use them back-to-back without any washout period. The only thing to check is that the fit stays correct as the collar softens with wear — you want two fingers' width of room. Given how tall and narrow a Borzoi's neck is, just double-check the sizing on the Adaptil site before ordering; they do a large that should fit her well.