How to Cope With Fear & Anxiety in Dogs

Anxiety and fear are quite common in dogs. Many owners struggle to find ways in which to help their four-legged friend cope with fear. There are different kinds of anxiety or fear that a dog may encounter, including noise fear, separation anxiety, and object phobia. Understanding what the cause of the fear or anxiety is will help in knowing how to treat the your dog. With patience, a fearful or anxious dog, can learn to overcome it.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Realize the worst thing you can do when your dog is fearful is coddle him, as this will reassure him that there really is something to be afraid of. This is the hardest part for most pet owners, since it is natural to want to comfort your dog when he is fearful or anxious, but doing so only adds to the fear. If your dog is fearful of noise, such as thunder or other loud noises, act calmly as if the noise is very natural. Your dog takes his queue from you. If you are anxious, he will be more anxious. When he is calm, praise him for the behavior and give him a treat as a reward. If he is nervous or anxious, do your best to ignore the behavior and do not offer a treat as comfort since this reinforces the anxious behavior. (See Reference 1)

    • 2

      Observe your dog's behavior and what he does when you leave. Dogs with separation anxiety will often chew items or become destructive when left alone. If your dog chews up your shoes or furniture only when you leave him alone, chances are he is suffering from separation anxiety. When you know you will be leaving your dog alone, don't make the event a big deal and do not fuss more over your dog before you are leaving, this will simply cause more anxiety. When you return home, you dog will go nuts wanting to greet you, don't make the greeting period a huge event, keep calm. (See Reference 2)

    • 3

      Make sure to introduce your dog to any new objects in your home. Some dogs become anxious over new items in their environment such as furniture, boxes, and exercise equipment. When you bring something new into your home, allow your dog to sniff it and walk around it, and if he appears fearful, be close to him when exploring the new object. When he is not acting fearful, praise him and offer a treat.