WHAT IS ANXIETY?

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, apprehension, worry, or nervousness. 

Anxiety can be short-lived and related to certain events or triggers, such as thunderstorms, fireworks, car rides, the vet, new people, etc. 

Anxiety can also be chronic, ongoing, and seemingly have no triggering event. This is called generalized anxiety and is typically considered an anxiety disorder. 

CAUSES OF ANXIETY

Just as with humans, anxiety in dogs is caused by a variety of factors, including: 

• Genetics - if either parent is anxious, the anxiety genes may be passed down to the puppies.

• In utero stress hormones - if mom is anxious and stressed while pregnant, those stress hormones will pass through the placenta to the puppies in utero. This is an evolutionary trait to allow the puppies to come into the world equipped to handle the stressful environment, and this can be incredibly helpful in the survival of the puppies. After all, a cautious, fearful puppy is more likely to survive.

• Learned behavior - puppies will watch their mother to learn how they should feel about a new situation. If the mother is anxious, the puppies will learn this anxious behavior. Anxious behavior can also be learned from owner behavior as well.

• Lack of proper socialization - The socialization period for puppies ends at 12-16 weeks, and before then they should have lots of positive exposure to new people, animals, smells, sights, sounds, etc. The more early socialization, the more confident they're likely to be. Puppies with limited socialization are far more likely to have anxiety issues, such as those born in shelters or puppy mills or kept in the house until fully vaccinated.

• Being a singleton puppy or being removed from the litter too early - puppies learn a great deal of social skills, frustration tolerance, and coping skills from their littermates and mom. Young pups are constantly jockeying for a good teat during feeding time, which means they’re being stepped on, shoved, and nipped at by pushy littermates. Likewise, they experience these same intrusions while they’re sleeping. But these mundane irritants help puppies learn to cope with stressors and handle frustrations reasonably. Puppies who don’t get these lessons in stress often struggle to cope with life.

• Traumatic experience(s).

• Poor physical health.

• Not having their needs met - love, attention, exercise, quality food, water, and mental stimulation.

• Big life changes - moving to a new home, divorce of owners, etc.

SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY

Each dog shows anxiety differently. Some common and less common signs of anxiety are: 

• shaking/trembling

• muzzle licking or lip licking

• drooling

• tucked tail

• heavy panting (unrelated to temperature or activity)

• pacing/aimlessly wandering

• barking at nothing

• excessive barking or whining

• aggression - growling, snapping, aggressive barking

• restless or unable to settle down and relax

• hypervigilant

• excessive self-licking or biting, often to the point of injury

• hair pulling - yanking out their own fur

• tail chasing or spinning

• snapping at things that aren't there

• watching things that aren't there

• refusal to eat or take treats

• lack of interest in activities they normally love

• less responsive/obedient than normal

• avoidant behavior - trying to leave, not wanting to be petted or touched

• excessive humping of objects or sexually self-stimulating

• destructive behavior

• intense attempts at escaping confinement, often to the point of causing injury

HOW TO HELP YOUR DOG’S ANXIETY

Exercise: Just as with people, exercise is a powerful tool to combat anxiety, and one that is highly underutilized. According to studies in people, exercise can be as effective as medication due to feel-good endorphins, chemicals produced in the brain to combat pain, stress, and anxiety. 

Studies show that a vigorous workout can reduce anxiety for hours after the exercise has ended. Regular, routine exercise can have longer lasting effects. 

Play fetch, go for a run, leash up your dog for a bike ride, or go for a hike or long walk. In the winter you can go snow shoeing or cross-country skiing or just bundle up and go for a walk. You can also do an indoor walk at a pet-friendly store.

Positive, games-based training: This can help in several ways. First, if your dog has a specific trigger, you can work to create positive associations with the trigger through a technique called counterconditioning and desensitization.

Second, it helps your dog build confidence and makes it easier for you to communicate with them. If your dog is anxious, you can distract them with cues they know to help keep their minds off the stressful thing by focusing on a specific and simple task. 

Finally, play is a huge confidence booster in general, both for dogs and people, so incorporating play and games into training is an added bonus.

Supplements: These are non-prescription options to ease your dog's anxiety. Some common ones are Solliquin, Adaptil, or herbal supplements like Pet Wellbeing

CBD: This is becoming increasingly popular among dogs and their humans. Check out the blog post on CBD! CBD for pets comes in both treat form and in an oil you can give directly to your dog from the dropper or sprinkle on their food. This is usually given 2-3 times daily for generalized anxiety or an hour before a triggering event for dogs with specific anxiety. Not all CBD products are created equal, so do your homework and find a reputable company. I love Treatibles (use code GOODDOG for 10% off) and Austin and Kat. If CBD doesn’t seem to help, try increasing the dosage. There’s a huge range of safe doses and you can likely increase it quite a bit. You can also try switching brands. Some people notice a difference after a dose or two, but I had to give my dog CBD for about a week consistently before noticing improvement, so don’t write it off too quickly.

Medicinal Mushrooms: These have been found to be helpful for numerous things, including reducing anxiety. Real Mushrooms has a pet line with Mushroom Relax Pet Treats, which contains a blend of calming mushrooms and other calming supplements in a flavored soft chew.

Prescription Medication: People are often very wary of the idea of medicating their dog for anxiety. There is a common misconception that medication will turn a dog into a drooling, sedated zombie. The truth is, many medications have few to no side effects, and most side effects are temporary. Medication will make your dog a better version of themselves. Here’s a fantastic article, written by a veterinarian and dog trainer, that explains anxiety meds. I’ve personally worked with lots of dogs who’s lives have been significantly improved with behavior medication.

WHAT WILL WORSEN YOUR DOG'S ANXIETY

• Physical punishment and aversive training - prong collars, shock collars, choke chains, leash corrections, scruffing, alpha rolling, yelling, hitting, etc. Numerous studies have shown this increases anxiety.

• Not meeting your dog's needs for love, attention, play, exercise, mental stimulation, etc.

• Forcing your dog to do something they’re scared of with the expectation that they’ll “get over it” or “get used to it.” For example, if your dog is anxious around other dogs, and you take him to the dog park, his anxiety will significantly increase. This technique is called flooding and is ineffective and will more than likely worsen the problem.

• Getting angry, stressed, or upset with your dog. They are looking to you for guidance. A calm, relaxed demeanor will help reduce your dog's anxiety.