Why Is Anxiety In Dogs So Hard To Identify?

The difficulty with identifying anxiety in dogs is that it shows up in all sorts of different ways, often depending on the character of the dog as to the symptoms you will see. While anxiety can turn some dogs into painfully shy and timid creatures, others will display fear aggression, barking, snarling and lunging at anyone they feel threatened by.

With behaviour that can range from one end of the spectrum to the other, it becomes much harder to pinpoint anxiety as the cause for it and this kind of behaviour is more often labelled as a problem that needs correcting, or simply accepted as a flaw of the dog's character.

For example, how often have you heard dog owners say "my dog is aggressive" or "my dog is scared of everything"? They are accepting that it is part of the dog's character rather than thinking there is a reason for their behaviour.

It is of course true that some dogs are more shy than others and some are bolder and naturally more dominant, but the extremes on either side point to a deeper problem, but thankfully, one that can be cured!

Spotting the Signs of Anxiety

Anxiety can be present in dogs from a very early age, but it can also suddenly appear as if from nowhere. However, there is usually a trigger, which could be health related, or caused by a major change in the dog's life. Events like moving house, the arrival of a baby or the death of another dog can make a dog anxious.

Usually dogs will display more than one sign that they are feeling anxious, so watch closely for more subtle changes in their behaviour too. If you are still in doubt, consult with your vet because health and diet can be a contributing factor to this problem too.

Be aware that anxiety is not a problem that will go away on its own if you ignore it for a few months; in fact it is likely to get worse, so the sooner you take action the better.

Behaviour Problems Caused by Dog Anxiety

Somewhere in between fear aggression and extreme fearfulness there are a range of signs of anxiety that are often thought of as behaviour problems. The list below highlights the major ones and can be a useful starting point for identifying the problem in your dog.

• A dog barking, howling or whining when left alone
• A dog chewing everything they can get their teeth into such as furniture, carpets, window frame and doors whenever you leave them home alone
• Your dog urinating in the house while you're out
• Your dog pooping in the house
• Your dog following you everywhere
• Your dog whining the moment you are out of sight (even if it is only for a few minutes)
• Your dog pacing the floor, panting and salivating excessively
• Your dog chewing on their tail or paw until they are raw or sore

What to Do Next

If you think your dog is suffering from anxiety, you must take action swiftly and not allow the problem to escalate. Dog Rescue centres are full of anxious dogs whose owners have got to the point where they can no longer cope with the problem, so make sure you don't let it get to that stage. Ask your vet for advice or find a good training programme specifically designed to help anxiety in dogs.

The Author Venice Marriott is a writer, rescue dog owner and runs dog-anxiety.com a website which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with the behaviour problems created by anxiety in dogs. Click Here to watch an exclusive free video on dog anxiety from a professional dog trainer.