Your Ultimate Guide To Managing Anxiety In Dogs
Whether it's due to loud noises, you leaving for work, growing older, or the presence of other pets or people - anxiety in dogs can be challenging to handle. So here's how to spot the signs - and set your buddy up for success in managing it.
Your buddy depends on your for their well-being – which can be even more of a challenge if they’re anxiety-prone. Just like us humans, anxiety in dogs can turn up in some distressing ways – not just for them, but for you too.
But on the bright side, with a little knowledge and some practical steps, you can help reduce your dog’s anxiety, learn what triggers it in the first place, spot the signs, and improve their quality of life. (Plus, figure out the number one emergency measure to take if your dog is prone to bolting due to anxiety or fear.) Let’s get started.
Where your dog’s anxiety might all begin
Just like with us, dogs can have a whole range of personalities – meaning, they can also be anxiety-prone for a whole bunch of reasons. More often than not, it could be your buddy’s experiences in early life that can set the stage for them developing anxiety around specific triggers.
Which could include:
- Neglect, whether from Mama dog or other humans who should’ve cared better for them
- Trauma or violence from former owners (or even in the case of some working dogs that might’ve worked in police or K-9 units)
- Other learned behaviors, like when puppies learn to bark, hide, or cower at the sound of thunder or when their caregiver leaves – because they’ve seen other dogs or puppies around them do just that.
- A lack of socialization, where your little buddy might not have been introduced to new environments, people, or other animals. This can make your dog stressed out and overwhelmed at such experiences – and this anxiety can carry on into adulthood.
- Or some combination thereof
Now you might think it’s easier to help puppies adjust to “new” experiences – especially if you’ve just adopted them and are introducing them to a safe, loving new home.
But adult dogs can adapt equally well and learn to overcome their fears with time and patience.
Which is why you’ll find it helpful to understand:
What are some signs of anxiety in dogs?
Dog anxiety can turn up in a bunch of ways, since it can vary depending on what’s triggering it. But knowing what to look for can help you address what’s bothering your buddy – and take action right away.
So keep an eye out for:
| Physical signs | Behavioral signs |
| – Dilated eyes, showing the whites – A low, tucked tail – Licking lips, – Ears drawn back, – Trembling, – Panting, – Shaking – Drooling | – Restless pacing, constant moving around or being unable to settle – Excessive vocalization, including barking, whining, even howling – Destructive behaviors, like chewing up slippers or furniture or even scratching at doors – Hiding behaviors, including under your bed or in a quiet corner of your house as a way to “escape.” – Clinginess or demanding attention |
An elevated heartbeat could be another sign of anxiety in dogs – one that’s much higher than 60-140 beats per minute, which is normal for most adult dogs.
- Though, puppies can have a faster heartbeat because they’re still growing.
- Keep in mind, this could also signal another health problem with your dog as well, which could also trigger some anxiety-driven behaviors.
Read more: Your Dog Heart Rate Guide: What’s Normal & What’s Not
⚠️ Most importantly – a nervous dog or one that’s anxiety-prone might try and run away.
(Even to the point of self-injury, if it means breaking through a door or a window in an attempt to escape somewhere “safe.”)
- This might be the case if you’ve just adopted your dog – and they aren’t 100% comfortable around you or your new environment yet.
- Or if you’ve got a high-energy, untrained puppy – or one that’s still in progress with their training.
Now this could be from your home, your yard, out the front door – or even during a walk, depending on what’s triggering your buddy’s anxiety.
So besides understanding your dog’s anxiety triggers and the warning signs, you’re also best off planning ahead for an emergency.
Which is where you could hover over your dog, monitoring their every move 24/7…
💡…or you could join a growing family of loving, responsible dog parents – just like you – who are using GPS trackers as an emergency measure.
🐶 With your trusty Tractive GPS strapped to your buddy’s collar, you’ll never have to fear losing them again – no matter how flighty or anxiety-prone they are.
Because having one now means you can track your dog:
- In real-time,
- Over an unlimited range,
- With an escape alert if they run past a “safe zone” you set up around your home or backyard,
- And even while on vacation (or 175 countries on a Premium subscription)
All with just a glance at your phone.
What can trigger anxiety in dogs? And how can you help?
Now depending on your buddy’s past experiences, you’ll find it helps to keep an eye out for WHEN your dog shows any signs of anxiety. (Like if there are loud noises outdoors, new people visiting home, or when you leave for work.)
This can help you better figure out what’s triggering their anxiety in the first place – and take steps accordingly.
However, if your dog’s anxiety persists even after you take action – get in touch with your vet. They can best advise you what other steps to take and if your dog might benefit from anti-anxiety medication or even help from a professional dog behaviorist.
So keep an eye out if your dog tends to spook or get stressed because of…
A big change in routine
No one likes a big change – including dogs. They’re creatures of habit, just like us, and a big change in routine or environment can be stressful for them. Especially one that’s missing the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of what they’re used to.
So if you’ve just:
- Shifted apartments, cities, or even countries,
- Adopted your buddy and brought them home,
- Brought home someone “new”, whether that’s a new pet, baby, or housemate
- Or even switched up your own routine by, say, working a night shift, where you aren’t around at the “usual” times,
…it could play a role in triggering some anxiety in your dog. Especially since they don’t understand why things are “different” from what they’re used to.
💡 How you can help
In these cases, give your dog some time to adjust. Don’t skip out on giving them plenty of cuddles, reassurance, and plenty of quality time together. (However much you can with your own change of routine.)
More often than not, this can help your dog slowly learn to adapt to the “new” normal and relax with time.
Being separated from you
Much like dropping your kids off on their first day of school, your dog might become a nervous wreck when you leave for work or even “disappear” into the bathroom. All of which signal separation anxiety, or believing you’ve abandoned them and aren’t likely to return any time soon. (Which your buddy might’ve picked up due to their early childhood experiences.)
💡 Here are a couple of tips to help your buddy if you suspect they have separation anxiety:
- Set up your dog a safe, enriched indoors space – especially one that keeps them occupied. Think interactive toys, treat-dispensing food puzzles, and even a few hours of dog TV to keep them busy while you’re gone.
- If you can, try and get someone to check up on your dog periodically – especially for feeding and toilet breaks. (Whether that’s a friend, neighbor, or loved one.)
- Experiment with an indoor camera that can help you check up on your dog throughout the day – ideally, one where your dog can both see your face and hear your voice. (Just your disembodied voice might trigger some confused barking and restlessness, especially if they can’t see you!)
- Practising gradual departures can help your dog slowly learn that you “disappearing” = “no big deal”– because you will eventually return.
Read more: How To Leave Your Dog Home Alone, 100% Stress-Free
⚠️ Because sadly, separation anxiety is another reason dogs might end up escaping from home.
“A dog with separation anxiety might try to escape from an area where he’s confined when he’s left alone or separated from his guardian.
The dog might attempt to dig and chew through doors or windows, which could result in self-injury, such as broken teeth, cut and scraped front paws and damaged nails.”
– ASPCA.org1
Loud noises
Which aren’t just annoying to deal with – they can majorly spook or stress out your dog! Whether it’s from:
- Fireworks,
- Thunderstorms,
- Construction outdoors
- A crying baby,
- Passing vehicles with loud horns or sirens
In these cases, it could be a combination of your dog’s keen sense of hearing and a learned “fearful” response that might trigger their noise anxiety.
Besides, loud, erratic noises – like fireworks, thunder, or drilling – can be overwhelming for your buddy because they can’t get used to it, don’t know why it’s happening, or might perceive it as a threat.
💡 How to calm down an anxious dog when it’s “noisy” outdoors
- Mask the “loud” sounds with another, more comforting sound can help. Consider using a white noise machine or some soothing music indoors. (Dogs tend to calm down with soft rock and reggae, for starters.)
- Keep your dog indoors when it’s “noisy” outdoors. Whether it’s New Year’s Eve or just a passing storm, it’s better to keep them in a safe, confined space with some toys and a blanket with your scent to help them relax and safely “hide.”
- Counter-conditioning your dog’s “scared” response to the loud noise can go a long way in helping them get used to it – and also learning that it’s not a threat.
⚠️ Sadly, loud noises are another prime reason behind any escape attempts. In fact, more dogs go missing around the 4th of July than any other day in the year!
But if you’ve invested in a Tractive device – you’ve got nothing to fear. Just hit “LIVE” on your mobile app:
🐶 And follow your dog’s every step – as they make their every step.
Growing older
If you’ve got a senior dog at home, it’s possible they might experience some anxiety from the changes that come with growing older. Which could include:
- Not being able to move around as easily – including from painful conditions like arthritis in dogs
- A loss of their senses, including their sense of smell, hearing, and vision
- Confusion and disorientation, including from cognitive decline
This might result in some anxious barking or vocalizing at night – since your dog might feel disoriented from being unable to see, smell, or hear as well as they used to. (So they might want more attention from you around these times.)
⚠️ Keep an eye out for signs like if your dog seems to:
- Bump into furniture more often (which could signal vision problems)
- Have difficulties climbing up and down stairs, jumping up to spots they’d normally reach, or just seems more reluctant around walks or playtime
- Not respond when you call out their name (which could signal hearing problems)
- Sleep more or less often than usual. A change in your dog’s sleep cycles can be one of the first signs of cognitive decline.
Your vet can best advise you whether your senior dog could benefit from anti-anxiety medication or what changes you could make to your indoor space to help them get around more easily. (Like, for example, special carpets or rugs to reduce any joint pain – or identify different rooms from the tactile sensation, if they’re having vision trouble.)
Other dogs or people
If your dog hasn’t been properly socialized, they might get anxious in the presence of other dogs or people. This is why it’s so important to introduce them to new environments, people, and pets – so that your dog learns how to behave around others and how others should behave around them.
But all isn’t lost if you’ve adopted an adult or senior dog. Rather, here’s a socialization checklist you can follow to give you an idea of where to start – and which applies to all dogs, no matter if they’re a puppy or a grand-paw.
💡 How you can help your buddy socialize – no matter their age
Follow this checklist to get your buddy used to different people, places, and pets – step by step and as gradually as possible:
| People | Places |
| – Adults – Kids and babies – Elderly folks Pro tip: introduce your puppy to people wearing different types of clothing – like jackets, caps, sunglasses, etc. | – The vet office – Pet stores – Boarding and daycare facilities – The park – Shopping centers – Family gatherings (and anywhere else you might bring along pets) |
| Gentle handling or touching | Animals |
| – Ears – Paws – Mouth – Tail – Collar – Gentle brushing | – Other puppies – Adult dogs – Cats – Any other animals your puppies might be exposed to |
| Others | Sights & sounds |
| – Stairs – Water (especially in a tub) – Medical equipment (like canes, wheelchairs, crutches) – Floors and surfaces (tile, wood floors, carpeting, grass, cement, etc.) – Entering and riding in cars | – Passing vehicles – Car horns – Bicycles |
More tips on how to calm an anxious dog – and also plan ahead
Depending on what tends to trigger your dog’s anxiety, you’ve got a couple of options if you’re wondering how to calm an anxious dog – besides setting them up a safe indoor environment. For example, you could try:
Calming tools
Including:
- Thundershirts. weighted blankets, or snug-fitting anxiety wraps that provide gentle pressure – kind of like swaddling a baby. (Though do make sure to get the green light from your vet first.)
- Spritz a blanket or sweater with some lavender or chamomile and leave it behind for your dog if you have to head out for work. These scents can be calming and help reduce their stress.
- Some chews or supplements can contain ingredients like chamomile, which can also help your dog feel calmer.
- A pheromone diffuser can mimic the natural pheromones released by mother dogs. Consider installing one indoors when you’re not around and have to leave your dog at home alone.
Exercise
Daily walks and playtime help you two spend some quality time together, stay healthy, and also help your dog release any pent-up energy or anxiety.
Plus, the change of scenery from the indoors can help your buddy feel that much better just by being outdoors. Where they get to enjoy the fresh air, sunlight, and the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. All of which can help reduce anxiety.
And even if the weather’s rubbish outdoors, here are a couple of fun indoor games for dogs to keep you two occupied!
💡Plus, if you want to stay motivated, why not:
- Set your buddy some activity goals,
- Or check how active they are compared to other, similar dogs around the world?
Your trusty Tractive GPS doubles as an Activity Tracker for dogs. With its built-in motion detector, it logs in your dog’s movements throughout the day as active minutes.
Which, over time, can help you figure out:
- How active your dog is on the regular
- Whether your dog’s hit their activity goals for the day – or if they could go for one last game of fetch
- And where your dog ranks on your community leaderboard – i.e., compared to other, similar dogs around the world
😉 Because what’s better than a little healthy competition to keep you motivated, right?
Regular training
You might think a nervous dog or one that’s prone to anxiety might not respond well to training. But as it turns out, regular basic obedience training can actually help them feel more grounded and secure. (Especially since it also means time they spend with you in a structured environment, establishing boundaries, and helping them learn what’s “good” behavior and what isn’t.)
- So don’t skip out on basic commands like “Sit,” “Stay,” and “Drop it,” – especially if your buddy tends to chew the nearest object when anxious or paces around endlessly.
- Try and switch up your regular training with a new method – like clicker training, for example. This is a fun, practical method that’s built on positive reinforcement, loved by dogs and dog trainers around the world.
- In more serious cases, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional dog training school or expert in your locality. This is another opportunity for your buddy to socialize, learn some commands from the pros, and for you to pick up some training tips and experience all in one.
💡A well-trained dog is also one that can control its impulses better. Specifically, their urge to hide, flee, or escape from something “scary” in their environment.
Which is why training your dog to come back when called – aka, recall training – should be a command you practice on the regular, if not daily!
Read more: Dog Recall: How To Teach Your Dog To Come When Called
Supervised outdoor time
Confining a nervous dog indoors isn’t always ideal. (Especially when the weather’s nice enough to head out for a walk or to the park!)
Rather, you’re better off ensuring you’re present any time you and your buddy venture outdoors. Staying close to your buddy means you can intervene at a moment’s notice if you notice them showing any signs of anxiety – and help them slowly learn that it isn’t so scary outdoors, after all.
So make sure you:
- Keep your buddy leashed while out on walks together. Be firm but kind with fellow dog parents, especially if your dog doesn’t like being approached by others.
- Stick around if you’re playing together in the backyard. A lone dog in a backyard could be a prime target for dog thieves!
- While you don’t need to hover over your dog at a dog park, make sure you’re close enough that they can retreat back to you as a “safe place” when they need.
💡 And if you can secure your backyard fence – even better.
Just make sure it’s just high enough so that your dog can’t jump over it – and built low enough so that they can’t dig under it. (Both of which the average dog is more than capable of doing when sufficiently spooked!)
⚠️ But if you’ve got a weirdly-shaped yard, bizarre HOA rules, or just don’t have a physical fence…
Then why not try a Virtual Fence, for a change?
🏡 In under 5 minutes, you can set up a “safe zone” around your home or backyard – which your trusty Tractive GPS starts monitoring right away.
Now the minute your dog tries leaving this “safe zone” – your tracker sends you an escape alert.
So you can intervene and bring your dog back to safety – and figure out what’s spooking them in the first place.
And the best part? You can even monitor your safe zones remotely – no matter if you’re in the same town, city, or even country as your dog.
Ready to manage your buddy’s anxiety for good?
Anxiety in dogs isn’t the easiest condition to handle. But with some patience, love, and consistency, you can identify what tends to trigger them, help your buddy calm down, and slowly help them relax with time.
So keep an eye (or ear) out for:
The main signs of anxiety in dogs
Which could include:
| Physical signs | Behavioral signs |
| – Dilated eyes, showing the whites – A low, tucked tail – Licking lips, – Ears drawn back, – Trembling, – Panting, – Shaking – Drooling – An elevated heartbeat | – Restless pacing, constant moving around or being unable to settle – Excessive vocalization, including barking, whining, even howling – Destructive behaviors, like chewing up slippers or furniture or even scratching at doors – Hiding behaviors, including under your bed or in a quiet corner of your house as a way to “escape.” – Clinginess or demanding attention |
Next, watch out for WHEN your buddy tends to behave anxiously.
| Whether it’s due to: | Which you can address by: |
| A big change in routine | – Giving your dog some time to adjust – and spending tons of quality time with them. – Try and feed them and play with them around the same time every day, so they can adapt more easily to the “new” environment. |
| Separation anxiety | – Set up your dog a comfortable indoor space to keep them occupied when you’re gone. – Practice gradual departures to slowly train your dog to learn that you leaving isn’t the end of the world. |
| Noise anxiety | – Mask any “scary” noises with a white noise machine or some gentle music – Get your dog “used” to the scary noise by playing it at a very low volume – but keep them distracted with a toy or a game. |
| Growing older | Keep an eye out for if your senior dog has trouble getting around, frequently bumps into furniture, or doesn’t respond as quickly when you call their name. These could all be signs they’re experiencing a loss of senses – which can be confusing, disorienting, and anxiety-inducing all in one. |
| Other dogs and/or people | Socializing your dog to different people, places, and pets can help them slowly learn how to behave |
More ways to calm an anxious dog down
- Calming tools like pheromone diffusers or anti-anxiety-wraps can help create a soothing indoor environment for your buddy. (Or just leave behind a blanket or sweater with your scent.)
- Regular walks and exercise can help your buddy release any pent-up anxiety. Plus, being in nature can naturally help them feel better and calm down.
- Regular obedience training can help your dog feel more grounded and secure, since you’re helping them understand how to behave in a controlled environment. It can also help your buddy control their impulses that much better – especially to hide or flee!
- Supervised outdoor time can help your dog enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of nature – with you around to intervene in case something goes wrong.
⚠️ And if your buddy is on the younger side, still in progress with their training, or tends to flee at the slightest sound – or escape from home the minute you leave for work…
Always know where your dog is
Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.
Got a dog that’s a bit on the…well, more stoic side? It can be difficult picking up on their signs of stress or anxiety. Here’s a short video that could help:
And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.
