Consider Changing Your Vet
While some vets are great with nervous and aggressive dogs, others are still very old school they donât listen to owners and use invasive and rough handling. There are, however, new techniques out there for vets dealing with anxious dogs. Dr. Sophia Yin developed a program for vets that focuses on low-stress handling, which can make a huge difference in your dogâs anxiety levels. And Dogs in Need of Space has a list of vets who go the extra mile for anxious dogs if you do want to change your vet, itâs a good place to start.
Respect Your Dogs Emotional State
Just as with people, a dogs fear can interfere with learning. When a dog is anxious, they arent focused on you, but rather the scary distraction. It can be a struggle to get them to listen. And never mind feeding treats or playing games. An anxious dog wont be interested. Fear makes dogs shut down, and training cant happen when cognitive connections cant form.
Rather than trying to train your dog when they are fearful, you need to respect how your dog is feeling and either remove them from the situation or modify it so your dog can cope. Be your dogs advocate. Even if it seems impolite to walk away, put your dogs emotional needs first. Training can wait until your dog is in a calmer emotional state.
Ask Your Veterinarian About Anti
If your dog is truly struggling with anxiety, you can talk to your veterinarian about whether anti-anxiety medications would be beneficial.
Some pet owners worry about using these medications:
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Will it make their dog sleepy all the time?
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Will it change their personality?
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Will these types of medications shorten their dogs lifespan?
When treated with the proper medications, your pet should exhibit less anxiety, seem happier, and still have the same personality. If your veterinarian isnt sure what to prescribe, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist can help you find the best medication for your dog to help them thrive.
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What Is The Difference Between Separation Anxiety And Normal Canine Behavior
Separation anxiety is a serious condition, and it goes beyond the occasional mournful whimper when you leave the house or the shredded sock waiting for you upon your return. Its also not the same as boredom, and unlike a little mischief when your dog is left alone, separation anxiety is the result of legitimate stress.
Before labeling destroyed cushions or potty accidents as SA, be sure its not a case of inadequate training. Does your dog truly understand good manners, even when youre not watching him? Is he 100% potty trained? One of the best ways to see whats really going on in your absence is to audio or videotape your dogs behavior while youre away.
If The Problem Is Mild
- Give your dog a special treat each time you leave . Only give them this treat when you’re gone, and take it away when you get home.
- Make your comings and goings low-key without a lot of greeting. Ignore your pup for the first few minutes after you get home.
- Leave some recently worn clothes out that smell like you.
- Consider giving your pet over-the-counter natural calming supplements.
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How Can I Help My Dog With Anxiety
There is no single best way of helping dogs cope with anxiety. Every dog and every anxiety type is different.
For example, some dogs respond to pheromone diffusers and collars , while others need anti-anxiety medication. There are also anxious dogs that need behavior modification like desensitization and counterconditioning and dogs that calm down simply by wearing a thundershirt.
Pet owners must work with their veterinarians and veterinary behaviorists to find the best management plan for their dogs anxieties.
Cuddle Them If They’re Crying
Older methods around treating anxiety in dogs advised not patting or comforting the animal to avoid “reinforcing” the behaviour.
If you can afford it, doggy day care is a good option for pets with separation anxiety, or taking your dog to a friend or family’s home when you need to leave.
“If we invite friends of mine out for dinner they get in a dog sitter,” she says, as an example.
Creating a safe space for your pet at home and regular exercise will also help keep them be calmer when you’re not around.
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Build Your Dog’s Confidence
If your dog is fearful and anxious when left alone, it could be an issue with their confidence. Just like humans, the more we reward our dogs and boost their confidence the happier they will be to do things on their own.
You can help your dog to be less anxious about being left alone by engaging in some basic training to help increase their self-confidence. This could be teaching them fun new tricks or just practicing behaviours they already know such as sit, down and paw. Try to also reward any independent behaviour from your dog, rewarding them with gentle praise if they choose to settle themselves down somewhere away from you.
How To Calm An Anxious Dog
It isnt always easy to identify pet stressors, but if Fido seems frightened, learn what options you have to help him overcome anxiety and depression.
Much like humans, dogs show anxiety in different ways and can be triggered by different factors. Separation anxiety and general fear commonly cause other behavioral issues in dogs. Knowing how to calm an anxious dog before it adopts dangerous, hyperactive or destructive habits is important, and understanding what puts dogs at ease is the first step to helping them be well.
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Do Dogs With Anxiety Bite
While dog bites can happen for many reasons, most puppies bite out of fear aggression. Just like humans, dogs can inherit a tendency to be anxious, but the dogs environment, life experience, and breed tendencies also play a role. That can lead to scared puppies that react with aggression to frightening events.
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Try Dog Appeasing Pheromones
Dog appeasing pheromones are synthetic pheromones similar to the calming pheromones that female dogs give off while nursing puppies.
These pheromones can help reduce anxiety in some dogs and are available in a few different forms. There are collars, sprays, and diffusers, so you can choose the best option for your dog.
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Give Her A Safe Place To Retreat
A comfortable space where your pup can easily retreat to if needed is a crucial part to managing anxiety. This is where crate training can be helpful for pet parents, Dr. Roth said. The dog will recognize the crate as their safe, comfort space and can willingly relocate themselves to it if they need to calm themselves down.
Knowing When To Get Professional Help
If youve been trying to implement these tips without success, your dog may have developed a phobia rather than anxiety. To help with these behaviors, reach out to a dog behavioral expert.
It would help if you ensured that the trainer you select uses positive reinforcement training will not use punishment.
If youre dealing with a phobia, punishment can make symptoms worse, especially when it comes to fear. It would be best if you always tried to resolve issues before the issues become a long-term problem quickly.
Should these behaviors be a longer-term issue, dont panic. Many problem behaviors can be corrected soon with the proper training, assuming they put your dogs specific needs in a top priority.
Its always important to remember that dogs are sentient beings with their personality and quirks. While some dogs may not mind being left for hours at a time, other breeds are more sensitive to the removal of the pack.
There may be certain dogs that will never be genuinely okay with remaining alone all day by itself, especially when theyve gotten used to your presence daily. By limiting the length of time alone to reasonable intervals initially, youre taking the steps needed to set your dog up for success.
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What Are Some Of The Indicators Of Stress In Dogs
Pacing or shaking. You have seen your dog shake after a bath or a roll in the grass. That whole body shake can be amusing and is quite normalunless it is occurring as the result of a stressful situation. For example, dogs are commonly stressed when visiting the veterinarian. Many dogs shake it off when they descend from the exam table and touch down on the ground. Dogs, like people, also pace when agitated. Some dogs walk a repeated path around the exam room while waiting for the veterinarian to come in.
Whining or barking. Vocalization is normal self-expression in dogs but may be intensified when they are under stress. Dogs that are afraid or tense may whine or bark to get your attention, or to self soothe.
Yawning, drooling, and licking. Dogs yawn when they are tired or bored, they also yawn when stressed. A stressful yawn is more prolonged and intense than a sleepy yawn. Dogs may also drool and lick excessively when nervous.
Changes in eyes and ears. Stressed dogs, like stressed people, may have dilated pupils and blink rapidly. They may open their eyes really wide and show more sclera than usual, giving them a startled appearance. Ears that are usually relaxed or alert are pinned back against the head.
Changes in body posture. Dogs normally bear even weight on all four legs. If a healthy dog with no orthopedic problems shifts his weight to his rear legs or cowers, he may be exhibiting stress. When scared, dogs may also tuck their tails or become quite rigid.
What Dog Breeds Have The Most Anxiety
Collies, Shepherds, Spaniels, Hounds, and Retrievers are particularly prone to dog anxiety. Lets take a closer look at each anxiety-susceptible dog breed.
- Border Collie. Often described as the adrenaline junkie of the canine world, the Border Collie thrives when active and surrounded by people. Therefore, members of the breed are likely to develop separation anxiety.
- German Shepherd. German shepherds are essentially herding dogs and enjoy exercise, a lot of company, and spending time outdoors. If left alone or without physical or mental stimulation, they are likely to become anxious.
- Cocker Spaniel. This hunting dog loves being engaged and active. Spending too much time indoors and without company is a known stress trigger for members of this breed. Spaniels also tend to become very clingy.
- Basset Hound. Despite their droopy eyes and goofiness, Basset Hounds are very social dogs. If lacking socialization and attention, they often develop situational and separation anxiety. As a result, Basset Hounds can be destructive.
- Labrador Retriever. This popular family dog hates being left when alone or confined. The Labrador Retriever thrives on human affection and physical activity. Therefore, it can get bored easily and become anxious.
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Symptoms Of Anxiety In Dogs
Dogs cant tell their owners in words if they are feeling stressed and anxious, but there are some signs to watch for in the form of troubling or even aggressive behaviors. According to Michelle Burch, DVM, from Safe Hounds Pet Insurance, some of these behaviors may include:
- Excessive barking, howling, or whining
- Trying to hide or escape
- Destructive behavior
These behaviors are normal under some circumstances, but can be clues as to how a dog is feeling. Signs of anxiety can range depending on the severity from mild to severe, Dr. Burch says. Anxiety and fear can also change depending on the situation.
Preventing And Treating Travel Anxiety In Dogs
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Does your dog get anxious in the car? Do they pant and never settle down? Travel anxiety can ruin a road trip before you even hit the highway.
What can you do about it?
Fortunately, quite a few things give the suggestions in this article a whirl to make Fido a better traveler. Dogs can be great travel companions, but before you gas up the car and back out of the driveway, there are definitely a few things you can do to make your dog’s trip in the car smoother, safer, and more enjoyable for everybody.
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Responding To Your Dog’s Anxiety
Fixing Separation Anxiety One Step At A Time
Effective treatment of separation anxiety can feel overwhelming. Its a slow process made more difficult by the fact that sometimes progress comes at a literal pace of one second at a time.
Guiding your dog through a separation anxiety protocol might not be easy, but having not only gone through this process with many clients but also with my own beloved dog, I can honestly say there is hope and recovery is completely possible! Flores says.
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Recognize The Signs Of Dog Anxiety
Dogs use body language to communicate how they are feeling, says Ashley Atkinson, CPDT-KA and behavior consultant at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
For example, if your dog seems uneasy or is fixated on licking, they could be communicating nervousness, stress, or fear. There are many subtle signs of dog anxiety.
According to Dr. Susan Konecny, RN, DVM, medical director of Best Friends Animal Society, some clinical signs include:
Get Your Dog Used To Travel Gear In Advance
Strategically place suitcases and duffel bags throughout your home and leave them within plain sight. You could open some and place a few items of clothing inside, and leave others closed.
The goal of this exercise is to get your dog to accept their presence without any other reaction than a polite sniff rather than fearing its sudden appearance. This may take several days, or maybe even weeks or months, so consistency and patience are key here.
If your dog is food motivated, decorate your travel gear with high-value treats. You could use smelly green tripe, pieces of string cheese, or cut up hot dog. Next, watch your pup find and enjoy the food jackpots. The goal here is to associate something positive with the travel gear.
If your dog isnt food motivated but loves toys, place some of his favorite toys on top of or inside the suitcases and bags instead. This will serve the same purpose as the food reward.
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What Causes Separation Anxiety
It’s not fully understood why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and others don’t. But remember, your dog’s behaviors are part of a panic response. Your dog isn’t trying to punish you! They just want you to come home!
These are some of the scenarios that can trigger separation anxiety:
- Being left alone for the first time.
- Being left alone when accustomed to constant human contact.
- Suffering a traumatic event, such as time away from you in a boarding kennel.
- Change in the family’s routine or structure, or the loss of a family member or other pet.
Change Your Going Away Signals
Use a different door, put your coat on but dont leave for 15 minutes, leave your keys/purse/shoes in a different location. The goal is to break your dogs association of these actions with your departure and not let them trigger separation anxiety. When you leave, give your dog a treat or a toy to play with to distract them. Calming treats for dogs can be used as a short-term remedy for separation anxiety. They will also teach your pooch that being alone is not scary and create positive associations with your departure.
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What Causes Anxiety In Dogs
Anxiety in dogs can be caused by various reasons from loud noises to being left alone for a significant amount of time. Here are some of the most common causes of dog anxiety:
- Loud Noises. Noise anxiety or phobia is a common issue in dogs. The trigger can be any loud noise fireworks, thunder, vacuum cleaners, construction workers, etc. Dogs with PTSD often exhibit noise phobia.
- Environmental Changes. Changes in the environment such as thunder and lightning are common anxiety triggers for dogs. In such cases, the dog reacts to changes in static electricity or air pressure.
- In dogs, separation anxiety is fear of being alone . Dogs with separation anxiety are destructive, extremely vocal, and prone to house soiling. Certain dog breeds are more prone to SA.
- Social Situations. Social anxiety is when a dog feels uncomfortable around other dogs or people. In such situations, the dog will respond by becoming scared, submissive, or even aggressive.
- Travel. Motion sickness is possible in dogs too. During car rides, dogs feel nauseated and consequently anxious. The anxiety is even bigger if past car rides result in a vet visit or other stressful situation.
- Medical Condition. Finally, dog anxiety can be caused by an underlying medical problem like hormonal imbalances or painful conditions . In such cases, the anxiety is secondary.