Anxiety Behaviors in Dogs

Anxiety behaviors in dogs are common but frustrating for their owners. Some dogs become anxious when left alone, while others have specific phobias that cause anxiety.

  1. Destructive Behaviors

    • Many dogs with anxiety chew inappropriately or engage in other destructive behaviors, particularly when left alone. If you frequently come home to a damaged house, your dog likely suffers from separation anxiety.

    Inappropriate Elimination

    • Dogs experiencing anxiety might eliminate indoors. This is an involuntary response to fear, not intentional misbehavior.

    Other Behaviors

    • Other common anxiety behaviors include circling, pacing, panting heavily, excessive salivation, hiding in cramped spaces and biting. These behaviors could indicate a health problem. Visit a veterinarian before presuming anxiety is the culprit.

    Misconceptions

    • Anxiety behaviors are often misinterpreted as intentional acts of revenge by a dog left alone or exposed to something frightening. In reality, anxiety behaviors are simply the dog's compulsive attempts to calm itself when it feels nervous.

    Prevention

    • To prevent a new dog or puppy from developing anxiety, expose it to a wide variety of stimuli at an early age, including common phobias like vacuum cleaners and thunderstorms. To prevent separation anxiety, ignore your dog for at least 15 minutes before leaving the house and after returning.

    Solution

    • If your dog has anxiety, consider hiring an animal behaviorist to help you develop a treatment plan. Each dog is an individual and will benefit from a slightly different approach.