How to manage the signs of dog anxiety

That’s why it’s important to recognise the signs of dog anxiety, and treat them early where you can. However, there are no quick fixes. Treating these issues takes time and consistency. What are the signs of dog anxiety? Firstly, it’s important to be able to recognise when your dog’s feeling anxious and some signs are more obvious than others. However, certified dog behaviourist and trainer Adem Fehmi advises keeping an eye out for these seven general symptoms. What triggers dog anxiety? Every dog is unique, so there’s no one answer to this question. Root causes of anxiety or reactive behaviour can include genetics, their environment, previous traumas or experiences, a dog's daily routine, and even how we humans interact with them. There also could be many types of behavioural conditions at play. Your dog could be suffering from a phobia (like a fear of noise), separation anxiety , or one of the many types of aggression such as fear-based aggression, dog aggression or many more. To successfully understand and improve these behaviours, it’s essential that you try to uncover what type of anxiety condition it could be, and what the underlying triggers are for that particular dog. Our in-house vet Dr Kirsten Rongrenn also recommends booking an appointment with your vet to rule out any underlying medical issues that could be causing your dog to display anxious behaviours. She says: “Addressing these conditions appropriately will allow you to determine if the behaviour will persist even when your dog is physically healthy. If it does, you can continue to work on diagnosing and managing the issue. In some cases, prescription medication for anxiety or behavioural conditions may be warranted.” How can I help my dog with anxiety? Because your dog’s anxiety is personal, any training will need to be too. But although there’s no one simple formula to follow, Adem Fehmi has these six general tips for addressing the early warning signs. The most effective training will always address both the triggers of your dog’s anxiety and the underlying causes. This could range from gradual desensitisation for a mild phobia, to in-depth behaviour modification training and medication. Seeking professional help for dog anxiety Because dog anxiety can be so complex, it may not always be possible to fix the situation alone. If your pet’s anxiety is impacting their quality of life, their safety, or the safety of other pets and people around them, it could be time to seek professional advice. If you’ve already determined with your vet that your dog isn’t experiencing any underlying physical conditions, then seeking the advice of a certified dog trainer or behaviour specialist like Adem is a great next step. “The value of having an expert assess your pet’s daily life and routine is immeasurable”, says Adem. “This allows a trainer or behaviourist to work with your pet in their own territory and help determine what the underlying triggers of anxiety are.” A bespoke training plan, plus consistency, patience and love will slowly but surely get your dog back to feeling healthy, happy and stress-free. But what about the cost? Well, it might be covered by your pet insurance plan. Complete Care covers vet-referred behaviour treatment if your pet needs it after an accident or illness.

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