What is dog anxiety?

Dog anxiety can affect all breeds and even though some dogs only experience anxiety at certain times of the year or in specific situations, if untreated it can cause behavioural issues.

Fear related anxiety – this is a common form of dog anxiety and can be caused by loud noises, strange people or animals, visual stimuli such as hats or bright colours, new or strange environments, specific situations like vet visits or car journeys or floor surfaces. Some dogs may only have brief reactions to these kinds of stimuli, but they may also affect anxious dogs consequently.

Age-related anxiety – this can affect older dogs and can be associated with cognitive dysfunction. They may seem more anxious than normal and more fearful of unfamiliar people or places.

Separation anxiety – separation anxiety is common in dogs who are not used to being away from their owner. If left home alone for a few hours some dogs can become nervous, and this can be shown in a variety of ways.

Some common signs of dog anxiety can include:

• Increased vocalisation
• Isolation
• Increased sleeping
• Decreased appetite
• Aggression
• Digestive problems

There are several situations that can cause dog anxiety. Certain times of year, such as fireworks season can cause anxiety in dogs, as well as new environments. Some dogs become nervous when visiting the vet or travelling in the car.

Tips to reduce dog anxiety

There are a few ways you can help reduce anxiety in dogs including:

Create a safe zone – Make sure your pet has a safe place to retreat to, should they become anxious.

Keep your routine – Fixed routines can help to keep your dog calm. Any changes to your normal household routine can upset and stress your pet. Try to feed and walk them at the same time as usual.

Distract your pet – Use toys to keep your pet distracted and focused on something else.

Don’t punish or shout at your dog– If they do something wrong, don’t shout at them as it could cause further stress.

Plan – If you know a specific event, such as reworks or a trip to the vets could make your pet anxious, try to prepare ahead of the event.

Use music – Play calming music if you must leave your dog home alone, to help drown out external noise that could make them anxious.

Comfort your pet – Sit close to your pet and stroke them to try and keep them calm. Physical contact could help to make them feel safe and reduce their anxiety. If they prefer to be by themselves, let them wander off to a safe place to hide. Keep checking on them to make sure they are OK.

Training – If a trip in the car or being left alone causes your pet to have anxiety, you could train them to get used to these situations. Reward your dog with a treat and praise them when they respond positively to training.

Socialisation – If your dog is nervous of people or other dogs, training classes could help reduce anxiety during these occasions. Refrain from locking them away when visitors come, as this will only add to their stress.

Natural support – use Nutracalm to naturally support dog anxiety. Nutracalm has been specially formulated using a unique combination of natural ingredients. Its fast-acting nature makes it the perfect product for many short-term stressful situations, however it has also been developed for safe long-term use.