Anxiety in dogs often goes undiagnosed and the behaviour problems it causes is instead seen as a fault in the dogs personality or just plain bad behavior. For instance, aggression is usually thought of as a personality failing and excessive gnawing as naughty behaviour, but both these cases are much more likely to be driven by anxiety.
Missing the signals of anxiety in dogs, means we also miss the opportunity to help our dogs relax and enjoy their life with us. We also risk letting the anxiety get to the point where we don't trust them or know the way to cope with their behavior. Dog rescues finish up with a lot of anxious dogs!
Dog Fear Aggression
Aggression in dogs can be driven by domination issues, but again is more often driven by fear, so if your dog has a propensity to be a bit aggressive towards people or other dogs, watch out for other indicators of anxiousness and if you think that is the cause, take action fast.
In natural habitats a dog has 3 methods of defence; flight, freeze or fight and they are going to use them in that precise order. They will not risk getting hurt unless it is essential to defend themselves, their pack or their territory.
Many dog keepers report that their dog shows more aggression when on the lead than when off, which makes sense when you begin to understand the lead removes their first method of survival - flight.
Fear aggression isn't something that should be treated trivially and what starts with barking and growling can end in a dog bite or dog fight if you do not react in the correct way. Handling the anxiousness that lies behind the aggression is vital.
Shy or Timid Dogs
At the other end of the spectrum, anxiety in dogs can show itself as unduly scared or shy behaviour, eg a dog quivering behind you when scared, or bolting away to hide.
Some dog keepers report that their dog is scared of everything and they struggle to get them out of the house for a walk. Others dogs are so scared of people that they tremble at the sound of a human voice.
It is maybe hard to understand that aggression and the urge to run and hide are both driven by anxiety, but points to the personality of the dog determining how they cope with the anxiousness they're feeling.
Dog Behaviour Problems
Somewhere in the middle, between aggression and acute fear there are a lot more signs of anxiety that are often viewed as dog behaviour problems.
The classic one is barking and crying when left home alone. Another is excessive gnawing of everything they can get their teeth into like furniture, carpets, window frames and doors. Maybe the least agreeable is your dog urinating or pooping in the house while you're out.
Physical symptoms in your dog can also be driven by anxiety and can show themselves as pacing the floor, panting and salivating excessively or chewing on their tail or paws until raw.
What to Do Next
If you think your dog is suffering from anxiety and is showing one or a number of the symptoms above, I would like to start by saying you can handle it. Anxiousness isn't a character failing in your dog, and the symptoms you see isn't your dog being badly behaved, but simply a response to what they are feeling.
Yes, some dogs are a lot more frightened by nature and may always need a little more reassuring but when you cope with the anxiousness you will allow your dog calm down and they are going to become more confident.
The most efficient approach is to show them that they can trust you to be the decision maker because when they trust you, they are going to look to you first to find out how you react and if you are not concerned about a situation, they won't be either. The easiest way to gain that trust is for you to find out how to show them that you are the pack leader.
Missing the signals of anxiety in dogs, means we also miss the opportunity to help our dogs relax and enjoy their life with us. We also risk letting the anxiety get to the point where we don't trust them or know the way to cope with their behavior. Dog rescues finish up with a lot of anxious dogs!
Dog Fear Aggression
Aggression in dogs can be driven by domination issues, but again is more often driven by fear, so if your dog has a propensity to be a bit aggressive towards people or other dogs, watch out for other indicators of anxiousness and if you think that is the cause, take action fast.
In natural habitats a dog has 3 methods of defence; flight, freeze or fight and they are going to use them in that precise order. They will not risk getting hurt unless it is essential to defend themselves, their pack or their territory.
Many dog keepers report that their dog shows more aggression when on the lead than when off, which makes sense when you begin to understand the lead removes their first method of survival - flight.
Fear aggression isn't something that should be treated trivially and what starts with barking and growling can end in a dog bite or dog fight if you do not react in the correct way. Handling the anxiousness that lies behind the aggression is vital.
Shy or Timid Dogs
At the other end of the spectrum, anxiety in dogs can show itself as unduly scared or shy behaviour, eg a dog quivering behind you when scared, or bolting away to hide.
Some dog keepers report that their dog is scared of everything and they struggle to get them out of the house for a walk. Others dogs are so scared of people that they tremble at the sound of a human voice.
It is maybe hard to understand that aggression and the urge to run and hide are both driven by anxiety, but points to the personality of the dog determining how they cope with the anxiousness they're feeling.
Dog Behaviour Problems
Somewhere in the middle, between aggression and acute fear there are a lot more signs of anxiety that are often viewed as dog behaviour problems.
The classic one is barking and crying when left home alone. Another is excessive gnawing of everything they can get their teeth into like furniture, carpets, window frames and doors. Maybe the least agreeable is your dog urinating or pooping in the house while you're out.
Physical symptoms in your dog can also be driven by anxiety and can show themselves as pacing the floor, panting and salivating excessively or chewing on their tail or paws until raw.
What to Do Next
If you think your dog is suffering from anxiety and is showing one or a number of the symptoms above, I would like to start by saying you can handle it. Anxiousness isn't a character failing in your dog, and the symptoms you see isn't your dog being badly behaved, but simply a response to what they are feeling.
Yes, some dogs are a lot more frightened by nature and may always need a little more reassuring but when you cope with the anxiousness you will allow your dog calm down and they are going to become more confident.
The most efficient approach is to show them that they can trust you to be the decision maker because when they trust you, they are going to look to you first to find out how you react and if you are not concerned about a situation, they won't be either. The easiest way to gain that trust is for you to find out how to show them that you are the pack leader.
About the Author:
Author Venice Marriott is a writer and dog owner and runs the website dog-anxiety.com to provide help for dog owners battling with the problems created by anxiety in dogs. Click Here to get additional information about anxiety, and access free video training created by a world renowned dog training expert.
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