Dog anxiety tends to manifest in behavior problems, which can range from chewing on objects that aren't the dog's toys, to barking or growling. In some cases, a house-trained dog might do his or her business in the house. If you notice a behavioral change in your dog, consider whether separation anxiety or some other type of stress might be the cause for the problem. Several options exist to cure dog anxiety, if you feel this is the issue.
Instructions
Analyze your dog's behavior to determine whether the anxiety might be specific to a change in your daily routine. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, you might find that the behavioral changes occur when you leave the dog home alone. Other events like birthday parties, celebrations or company may trigger the anxiety. Knowing the trigger for the anxiety can help you better solve the problem.
Enforce pet training before any interaction occurs with your dog. This can be as simple as telling the dog to sit before putting his food out. The point is to make the dog listen and obey, which can help the dog calm down.
Establish a space where the dog can feel secure. You can use a folded blanket, a dog bed or a kennel for this. The key is to train the dog to understand that the designated area is his space. To do this, you might want to give the dog affection or treats only when she is sitting in her area.
Exercise with your dog. Just like exercise can help humans with anxiety issues, it can help cure dog anxiety. Daily exercise can also help establish structure for your pet, which can reduce stress.
Attend training classes with your dog. The more structure you provide for your pet, the less likely anxiety will occur. Plus, you can use the things you learn at training to help when anxiety occurs at home.
Consider leaving the television or the radio on when you leave the home. Sometimes the noise will help a dog to feel like someone is at home with him, which can reduce anxiety.
Try natural cures like Bach's Rescue Remedy (the version specifically for pets) mixed in with food or water. A tonic of certain plant extracts like aspen, holly, honeysuckle, and rock rose may help cure your dog's anxiety.