The types of anxiety in dogs include ones that are the same in humans like separation, social, and fear, and just like humans, dogs can show similar symptoms like irritability, excessive noise making, and pacing. In fact, this study of roughly 14,000 pet dogs showed about three quarters of dogs demonstrate at least one symptom of anxiety.
Interesting fact: Only 19% of US adults have an anxiety disorder, and only 31% have an issue throughout their adult life compared to roughly ¾ of dogs.
While humans can learn to cope as we understand English and can communicate with therapists, your four legged friend will need to rely on other methods to help reduce their symptoms and regain control. And that’s where this guide comes in.
Below you’ll find the most common types of dog anxiety, how to identify each, and a couple of talking points to give you a starting point so you can help reduce the stress they feel from anxiety symptoms.
The types of dog anxiety include:
- Separation
- Social
- Travel
- Noise
- New home and adoption
Dogs experiencing anxiety may display:
- Changes in eating habits
- Fear of stimulations
- Depression
- A lack of energy
- Going to the bathroom on the floor vs. waiting to go outside
- Unusual amounts of barking
- Aggressive behaviors like growling and showing teeth
- Being extra needy, jumping on you, and extra licks
The ways to determine which of these are related to a specific type of anxiety depends on “when” they are displayed and “how” they happen. Here’s some starting points to help you identify the cause so you can work on providing relief for fido.
Separation
The cause: The most common type of anxiety in dogs is separation as your dog bonds with you and your family, but unlike a human they cannot understand time or when you’ll be back. The fear of not knowing when their family will return is the likely cause of separation anxiety in dogs.
Dogs are pack animals, and when that pack is cemented, they want to be with you at all times. This can be more severe with rescue dogs, adopted dogs, and dogs whose previous owners recently died.
Symptoms: Some of the most common symptoms you’ll see with a dog who has separation anxiety include scratches on the door where the human exits, urine and feces by the door, and an overwhelming welcome with extra noise when the person returns home.
Treatment: You may be able to alleviate the stress by keeping some clothes you wear to bed on their dog bed so they pick up your scent and relax in a comforting space. You could also try breaking the signals that you’re leaving like carrying a backpack around your home vs. only picking it up when you go to school, or making sure you jingle and carry the car keys when you go for walks or to signal play time vs. only when you go to work and run errands.
Social
The cause: Some dogs are naturally introverted and don’t like to be social, while others could have been kept away from other animals with previous owners. Just like a human with social anxiety, there will be a feeling of nervousness as you introduce the animal to others and encourage playing.
Symptoms: Signals that your dog suffers from social anxiety can include standing still when at a dog park vs. exploring and sniffing other dogs. They may stare directly ahead or at the ground vs. making eye contact with other dogs and humans, and you may notice them walking slowly towards or approaching their friends more slowly and with more caution than other dogs.
Treatment: The first thing to try is bringing them to a dog park during slower hours and see if other pet parents whose dogs are similar in size and have social anxiety would like to join. You could also try this in a backyard so it is more relaxed than a public park. Another option could be trying a CBD oil for dog anxiety before taking them to socialize to help reduce the anxiety.
Travel
The cause: Whether it is going to the vet, having traveled to shelters or adoptions only to be put back in a cage, or bad experiences from when they were puppies, the fear of not making it back home can cause travel anxiety in dogs. Dogs and humans want to be in a safe space, and traveling without understanding where you’re going can cause fear and anxiety.
Symptoms: To detect travel anxiety in your dog look for them to shy away from you when you call them over if they see a carrier or leash, disobeying your commands to get into the car, and simply not walking towards you or cooperating when you try to get them ready to leave.
Treatment: CBD oils can be a good way to reduce the stress so the dog is more relaxed and open to travel. You can also try adding fun stops like a dog bakery or toy store more frequently. If your dog is in a crate for a long time, have some clothing you sleep in inside the crate so your scent is with them. And make sure to include their favorite toy and a chew toy as these can be comforting.
Noise
The cause: A dog’s hearing is more sensitive than a human’s so what sounds like a small tap when we drop something small on the floor could sound like a bowling ball on tile to a dog.
There’s a belief by some including Dr. Stanley Coren from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, that a dog’s ears are so sensitive they can hear the earth scraping up to 24 hours before an earthquake hits. You can find in his 2006 study (currently not online) and other studies like this one where farm animals including dogs seem to predict earthquakes.
Symptoms: Hiding, whimpering, crying, and running away when a noise happens, or when specific noises occur are all signs of noise anxiety in dogs. It could be specific noises that relate to trauma and memories from when they were puppies, to loud and unexpected noises like fireworks on the 4th of July.
This study shows that some scents like lavender may be calming to dogs, and if this works for yours try a scented air freshener near the calm space.
Treatment: The first thing to do is to turn on the tv or a consistent noise that your dog likes when you know that scarier noises like fireworks and or from repair people in your home will occur. Next you can try placing carpets over hard surfaces where items drop most often. This can reduce the noise levels as items fall. Last you can try soundproofing a small room or closet and fitting it with a dog bed so your four legged friend can have their own safe space to retreat to when scared.
New home and adoption
The cause: Being in a new environment with new smells, new people, and new stimuli can overwhelm the senses of a dog. Combined with the unknowns of what to expect as they enter and adjust to their new surroundings, there is likely going to be some form of anxiety. Until the space becomes familiar, the dog may experience more anxiety than in previous locations.
Symptoms: The most common symptom of new home and adoption anxiety are your dog hiding in their safe space like a crate or under a bed, and being extra clingy including following you around the home and cuddling up more tightly and more frequently.
Treatment: CBD tinctures and oils may help reduce the anxiety as you bring your pup into their new home and introduce them to new family members. Some extra treats and pets, or play time may also help make them feel more welcome and comfortable in the space. Other times it is giving them personal space while being present like reading a book in the same room so they know you’re there and they can adjust at their own pace.
There’s no one way or another to treat anxiety in a dog as each dog is unique. But the starting points can change based on the type of anxiety the dog has. If you found this guide helpful in detecting the issues your dog is facing, subscribe to our newsletter below and we’ll email you more content just like it.
