Some dogs have anxiety problems, just like humans; and the anxiety may be mild or severe depending on the animal. There are several possible causes of dog anxiety such as: environmental stresses or changes, emotional or physical abuse and physical disease; and for some pets, it is simply in their genetics to have a more nervous disposition.

Why dog anxiety happens:

Several puppies have anxiety when they are first adopted by their owners. They will cry and possibly destroy things when they are left alone because they are not used to it. However, it is important to try to wean your puppy away from depending on you to comfort them because that could make the problem worse as they get older. Other dogs may have anxiety when they move to a new home, or when another animal is adopted into the family. In fact, many dogs will experience anxiety when a baby is added to the household because they are no longer the center of attention and many dogs will become anxious during certain situations such as traveling or during storms.

Symptoms of dog anxiety:

Any pet that has had a bout of anxiety for more than a few days should be examined by a veterinarian and the veterinarian can look for potential underlying causes. They will ask about the symptoms your dog is having, such as:

• Excessive vocalization, neediness or clinginess.

• Fear of being alone.

• Trembling.

• Hypersensitivity to noise and other stimuli.

• Increased aggression. In some cases, dogs may be aggressive when they become anxious which can be dangerous to their owners.

Treating dog anxiety:

Anxiety can be treated as long as the underlying cause is known. If you can pinpoint the stressor, you can work to either remove the stressor altogether, or use behavior modifications and training to help your dog adjust to whatever is causing them stress; help from a professional trainer or animal behaviorist is often beneficial. Keeping your dog healthy can help to ease anxiety as well, make sure he/she has a healthy diet and gets plenty of exercise. When it comes to treating anxiety, training slowly is important. If you train too quickly, this may simply increase the anxiety and negative behaviors.

Genetics as a contributing factor:

Some dog breeds are more prone to anxiety problems because they have it in their genes. It is often seen in breeds such as Great Danes, German short-haired pointers, German shepherds, bull terriers, Jack Russell terriers, Dalmatians and basset hounds.

Dog anxiety which leads to unintentional aggression is one of the top reasons as to why owners give up their pets, so it is important to understand why it is happening and how to effectively treat it.

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