Dog anxiety: Ways to spot and help reduce it
Just like us, there will be times when your dog will feel anxious. Fear and anxiety in dogs often stem from their perception of an external threat. This perceived threat can sometimes cause an extreme response, so it is important that we as owners can identify when our pets are feeling anxious and help to minimise it.
Here are just a few common ways in which your dog may express anxiety:
- Tail between their legs
- Hiding away
- Excessive barking
What are some causes of anxiety in dogs?
Fear and anxiety in dogs can come from several things and vary between dogs, due to things such as breed and temperament. However, there are common scenarios where dogs will likely feel anxious, including:
Being introduced to unfamiliar environments, people and other dogs
Being placed in unfamiliar environments can often cause dogs to become stressed and hostile if not properly introduced or managed. Some dogs enjoy going to new places and socialising with new people and dogs, where others may not warm up straight away, or even at all. It is important that we as owners can recognise when our dog feels uncomfortable and try to reassure them that they are in a safe environment.
In these situations, reassurance is key. Stroking and rewarding your dog when they begin to calm down are a couple of ways to help them feel less threatened. It is also a good idea to expose your dog to new environments as often as possible to get them used to being out of their comfort zone.
Being separated from owners and natural environment
Separation anxiety in dogs happen when a dog feels abandoned. This may be more common in dogs who have a history of abandonment, such as rehoming or spending time in rescue shelters. Dogs have a natural dependency on their owners, and I’m sure as much as we’d all love to spend all our time with our dogs, it’s not always possible. It is important to practice healthy separation so that your dog does not feel as anxious when they are away from you.
Personally, we like to get Zeus into overnight boarding or with trusted dog sitters on occasion to get him comfortable with spending time out of his usual environment; and to also give him the chance to interact with new dogs and people. As long as you trust that your dog is in safe hands, I would definitely recommend trying this out.
Other ways to help with your dog’s anxiety
Anxiety is higher for some dogs, and in some instances, further intervention is needed to help reduce and manage their anxiety. If this is the case, it may be worth consulting a veterinary behaviourist or getting anti-anxiety medication prescribed for your dog.
We hope that this article was insightful. If you have some tips and tricks that have helped your dog with easing their anxiety, it would be great to hear from you! Drop us an email or DM, we’d love to know!