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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Lebensstil
- Sprache: Englisch
Find out whether your dog or puppy has anxiety, and learn what you can do to help
Dog anxiety is common among all breeds, but different dogs can show different symptoms. Dog Anxiety For Dummies is for the millions of dog parents (and dog-parents-to-be) who want to help improve their pets' quality of life and relieve their suffering. With this helpful resource, you can recognize common signs of anxiety in dogs, discover what triggers their anxiety, learn to use training and play to ease anxiety, and find professional help when you need it. You'll also get tips for dealing with specific situations like separation anxiety, fear aggression, noise-sensitive pups, and addressing trauma in rescue dogs. Calm dogs of all ages with the expert tips inside!
- Recognize your dog's anxiety symptoms and triggers
- Understand treatment options for dogs displaying anxious behaviors
- Implement daily routines and training solutions to help alleviate anxiety
- Help your dog feel comfortable about strangers, cope with containment anxiety, and live a happy life
This is the perfect Dummies guide for puppy and dog owners whose pets are suffering from anxiety, and for anyone considering adopting a dog in the future.
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Seitenzahl: 465
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024
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Dog Anxiety For Dummies®
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Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in the Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Getting Started with Dog Anxiety
Chapter 1: Understanding Anxiety in Dogs
Recognizing Anxiety in Your Dog
Understanding Why Some Dogs “Misbehave”
Exploring the Roots of Anxiety
Identifying Your Dog’s Triggers
Soothing Anxiety
You Are Not Alone
Chapter 2: Unpacking the Nature of Anxiety
Recognizing the Roots of Anxiety
Learning to Understand Your Dog’s Emotions
Listening When Your Dog Communicates
Tracking Your Dog’s Anxiety
Why Anxiety Can Lead to Aggression
Calming Your Dog
Chapter 3: Building Confidence with Routine and Play
Assuring Your Dog with Daily Routines
Training Lessons for Your Anxious Dog
Adopting Relaxation Techniques
Overcoming Anxiety with Play
Chapter 4: Addressing the Many Causes of Anxiety
Considering Genetic Factors
Recognizing the Role of Socialization
Handling Medical Issues
Adapting to Aging Woes
Focusing on Human Reinforcement
Changing Lifestyle Habits
Chapter 5: Finding Help When You Need It
Finding People Who Can Help
Turning to Prescription Medications and Over-the-Counter Supplements
Supporting Your Journey with Helpful Products
Finding the Right Approach
Part 2: Soothing a Dog's Separation Anxiety
Chapter 6: Understanding Separation Anxiety
Recognizing What Separation Anxiety Is and Isn’t
Common Reactions to Being Left Alone
The Mind-Behavior Connection
Misdiagnosing Separation Anxiety
Real-World Examples
The End Result
Chapter 7: Treating Separation Anxiety
Setting the Stage
Encouraging Calmer Interactions
Rehabilitating Separation Anxiety
Case Study: Helping Jabba with His Separation Anxiety
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Part 3: Resolving Containment Anxiety
Chapter 8: Soothing Indoor and Outdoor Containment Anxiety
Understanding Containment Anxiety
Helping Dogs Overcome Containment Anxiety
Calming Outdoor Reactivity
When You Can't Be There
Chapter 9: Recognizing Trauma in Rescues and Other Dogs
Identifying the Root of All Trauma
Building Your Dog’s Coping Skills
Externalizing Your Dog’s Focus
Helping Dogs Play Their Way to Joy
Watching the Flower Bloom
Chapter 10: Rehabilitating and Training Leash Reactive Dogs
Understanding Reactivity
Identifying Your Dog’s Leash Personality
Assessing Your Walking Style
Starting with Preliminary Exercises
Knowing What to Do When Your Dog Is Triggered
Soothing Your Dog's Leash Reactivity
Handling Life’s Unavoidable Situations
Part 4: Helping a Dog with Social Anxiety
Chapter 11: Easing Your Dog’s Fear of People
The Origins of Social Anxiety
Understanding Your Dog's Social Anxiety
Assessing Your Dog's Condition
Exploring Rehabilitation Techniques
Handling At-Home Reactivity
Easing Your Dog's Fear of People Outside Your Home
Chapter 12: Managing Resource Guarding and Other Aggressive Reactions
Understanding Resource Guarding
Managing Resource Guarding
Rehabilitating a Dog Who Guards Their Resources
Dealing with Special Scenarios
Part 5: Calming a Sensory-Sensitive Dog
Chapter 13: Rehabilitating Storm and Sound Sensitivities
Understanding the Root Causes
Recognizing Natural Attempts to Self-Soothe
Helping Your Dog Overcome Sound Sensitivity
Considering and Curing Common Sound Sensitivities
Using a Mindful Approach
Chapter 14: Alleviating Other Sensory Sensitivities
Sensing Something's Out of Whack
Attending to Scent and Taste Aversions
Understanding Touch Anxieties
Understanding Car Anxieties
Taking Action to Alleviate Sensitivities
Part 6: The Part of Tens
Chapter 15: Ten Plus Confidence Building Exercises
Busy Toys
Scent Games
Parlor Tricks
Passion Pursuits
Target Training
Socialization
Sniff and Strolls
Obstacle Courses
Play Doctor
Daycare and Group Training
Pet Therapy
Canine Sports
Chapter 16: Ten Plus Ways to Address Separation Anxiety
Stay Calm
Create a Safe Space
Use Calming Music or White Noise
Turn Off Lights
Turn Off the TV
Use Comforting Scents
Reinforce Self-Soothing Activities
Make Departures Gradual
Encourage Impulse Control
Use Doggy Daycare or a Pet Sitter
Play Mind and Body Games
Run Through Lessons
Consider Supplements and Medication
Practice Patience and Understanding
Appendix A: Anxiety in Puppies
Appreciating a Puppy’s Vulnerability
Understanding the Fear Impression Period
Interpreting Puppy Behavior
Making Learning Fun
Handling Special Circumstances
Appendix B: Anxiety in Senior Dogs
Understanding Generalized Anxiety in Aging Dogs
Dealing with Separation Anxiety
Attending to Stranger Anxiety
Addressing Medical Issues Common in Elder Dogs
Dealing with Anxiety from Failing Senses
Addressing Anxiety from Loss of Bladder/Bowel Control
Appendix C: Addressing Fear of the Veterinarian and Other Pet Care Professionals
Understanding Your Dog's Fears
Helping Your Dog Tolerate the Vet
Normalizing Groomer Visits
Helping Your Dog Love Their Sitter or Walker
Making Daycare Fun
Normalizing Trainers and Board-n-Train Facilities
Appendix D: Managing Multi-dog Households
Understanding Dog-to-Dog Relationships
Logging the Conflicts
Creating Routines with Multiple Dogs
Building a Vocabulary with Your Dogs
Managing Tension
When Fights Happen
Index
About the Author
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 Five Levels of Dog Anxiety
Chapter 3
TABLE 3-1 Assigning Directions and Routines to Needs
Chapter 7
TABLE 7-1 Jabba's Separation Anxiety Behavior Log
Appendix B
TABLE B-1 Elder Dog Behaviors and Related Illnesses
List of Illustrations
Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: Your dog's ears convey a lot of information if you pay attention to...
FIGURE 2-2: A dog's mouth tells us a lot about their current emotional state.
FIGURE 2-3: A dog's eyes show where their attention lies.
FIGURE 2-4: Tails convey a full range of emotions.
FIGURE 2-5: Default, comfortable poses.
FIGURE 2-6: Red zones and safe zones.
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: Teach your dog that all good things happen when they’re on their ma...
FIGURE 3-2: Touch, come.
FIGURE 3-3: The high five is great for dogs that are is paw expressive.
Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: Taking your dog out into the world helps them become well-adjusted ...
FIGURE 4-2: Introduce your dog to a new family member gradually.
Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: A virtual or in-person trainer can provide lots of guidance.
FIGURE 5-2: Muzzle training should be a slow and steady process.
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6-1: Transition excitement (left) versus a calm dog (right).
Chapter 10
FIGURE 10-1: Loose leash walking.
FIGURE 10-2: Longline.
FIGURE 10-3: Socializing on leash.
Chapter 11
FIGURE 11-1: The right way vs. wrong way to approach a dog.
FIGURE 11-2: Bring your dog behind you in social situations.
Chapter 12
FIGURE 12-1: This pyramid of warning signs can help you assess the severity of ...
Chapter 13
FIGURE 13-1: Attempting to hide is a common reaction to fear and anxiety in dog...
FIGURE 13-2: Although you might find utility in your vacuum, you dog might just...
Appendix A
FIGURE A-1: A puppy sling can make a puppy feel secure while out experiencing t...
FIGURE A-2: Crate training helps a puppy feel secure while sleeping.
Appendix D
FIGURE D-1: The 10 o’clock, 2 o’clock formation.
FIGURE D-2: Offensive reaction (left) and defensive response (right).
Guide
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Begin Reading
Index
About the Author
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Dog Anxiety For Dummies®
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
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Published simultaneously in Canada
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Introduction
Anxiety isn't an experience unique to humans. Dogs all over the world are suffering, too. This book walks you through the factors contributing to dog stress, from being left alone to fear of new sights, sounds, and stimulations. Many triggers can put your dog on edge, and dogs who are prone to one type of anxiety tend to be more nervous throughout the day. Like anxious people, dogs with anxiety have trouble living in a calm, relaxed state, which can affect their health and well-being.
The challenge with dogs is that we cannot ask them to stretch out on the couch and tell us how they feel. Dogs communicate through postures and actions. In the pages ahead, you learn to decipher their physical communication as you teach them to understand the meaning of a few essential directions, like “come,” “stay,” and “down.” The goal is to be able to predict and respond quickly to prevent your dog from feeling stressed and acting out.
About This Book
Anxiety is a sobering topic; whether it hits when your dog meets a reactive dog, there is a storm surge, or any number of other triggering situations, I cover it all in this book. People often describe these reactions as a sudden switch — their dog is fine one minute, then they're suddenly pacing, drooling, and whining. Dogs can also suffer generalized anxiety when they anticipate something unbearable happening.
Throughout this book, I draw from human experience and use metaphors to help you consider your dog’s perspective. For example, how might you feel if someone you depend on doesn't respond to a text promptly? You might text repetitively, call, or have anxious thoughts. It’s not hard to imagine a dog's distress when being left alone. The first step is to imagine yourself in your dog's place.
Soon, you’ll learn how to read your dog’s postures and translate their fears by looking at them. Chapter by chapter, you’ll learn to engage in brain games and energy busters and inspire their cooperation with fun lessons and daily structure. Practicing the exercises in this book will build your dog’s resilience as they develop a confident, survivalist mentality. The ultimate reward for this time well spent? A loving bond that lasts a lifetime.
Foolish Assumptions
There are a few things I take for granted in this book. I assume that you know the following:
You know that your dog is more than paws and a tail, or at least a stump of a tail!
You have a dog you’re worried about, and you would give anything to make them happy.
You don’t want to obtain a PhD in animal behavior. You want a practical guide on how to rehabilitate your anxious dog.
If you fit into these categories, this book is for you.
Icons Used in the Book
The book includes the following core icons to ensure you are aware of the most critical things.
Indicates practical information that can help you make the most of your time.
Describes interesting facts that add enjoyment and depth to your understanding.
When you see this icon, you know that the information that follows is important enough to read twice!
Highlights information that could be detrimental to your success if you ignore it.
Highlights interesting information that’s specific to the professional dog trainers and behaviorists.
Indicates information from another chapter that relates to the topic at hand. You might want to earmark these sections for related information.
Beyond the Book
You can find helpful extras — including a glossary and a references section citing works from various academic journals, scientific research, and books authored by my colleagues — at www.dummies.com/go/doganxietyfd.
In addition to these extras, I created an easy-to-access Cheat Sheet that offers quick reminders on how to ease your dog's anxiety and fun ways to build their confidence. You can download this from www.dummies.com by typing Dog Anxiety For Dummies into the search bar.
Follow me on Instagram or TikTok (@SarahSaysPets) and tune into my podcast, Life Unleashed with Sarah Hodgson, for more quick tips and visuals on working, playing, and understanding your dog. Visit www.SarahHodgson.com for free downloads, e-books, and even virtual training.
Where to Go from Here
The beauty of this book is its flexibility; you can skip to the parts most relevant to your situation. However, it is a good idea to start with all the chapters in Part 1, as they lay the groundwork and explain the underlying issues surrounding anxiety in dogs. You'll be encouraged to bookmark certain sections, as the information is referenced often throughout the book.
Does your dog have an emotional episode every time you walk into another room? Or is your dog fine with short departures but loses it when you're gone longer than 20 minutes? Part 2 addresses separation anxiety. For some dogs, being alone triggers the equivalent of a panic attack.
Part 3 looks at containment anxiety. While some dogs find solace in their crate, others may attempt to claw, paw, and free themselves. The reason for this panic can vary from a bad experience, a delayed return, or simply a faulty fire alarm. In the extreme, containment anxiety can extend to any sense of entrapment, be it in a room, a house, a yard, or even a leash. Some dogs even react to being hugged.
Part 4 covers social anxiety. While most dogs are cautious of strangers, when introductions cause extreme anxiety, such as running away, hiding, shrieking in terror, or fear-eliminating, it’s important to address these reactions head on. Routine games and interaction can help your dog unpack their extreme fears as you work to create positive associations with their triggers, whether they are to other dogs or puppies, animals, people, or children.
Part 5 focuses on sensory sensitivity. Your dog relies heavily on all their senses: smell, hearing, touch, and sight, although sight is used only to indicate motion. This part focuses on all sensory sensitivities, from sights and sounds to tastes and touch. Dogs experiencing anxiety in these circumstances require a thoughtful and organized approach to overcome their stress and panicked responses.
Whether you read this book chapter by chapter or reference it one section at a time, the information in these pages will teach you how to successfully calm your dog. By providing them with guidance, you can lead your dog to their happy place, teach them healthy self-soothing activities, and enrich both of your lives.
Part 1
Getting Started with Dog Anxiety
IN THIS PART …
Understanding dog anxiety and identifying your dog’s triggers
Identifying and addressing the causes of anxiety
Calming your dog with routines and playtime
Learning to recognize how your dog communicates
Getting help from professionals and medicine
Chapter 1
Understanding Anxiety in Dogs
IN THIS CHAPTER
Defining anxiety
Considering your dog’s worldview
Identifying your dog’s triggers
More than anything, dogs want to feel safe. However, many dogs with anxiety experience life as a series of unpredictable events and startling interruptions, leaving them feeling stressed and unsure. The good news is that you can help unpack your dog's fears and help them learn to enjoy life.
It can be difficult to witness your dog struggling with anxiety, and you can't reason with them or validate their emotions as you can a person. Being routinely anxious takes an emotional toll, whether your dog dreads abandonment, is sensitive to noise, weather, or other sensory stimulation, or views other people and dogs as threatening.
Understanding the similarities between human and dog anxiety will help you appreciate your dog’s struggles. Recognizing how your dog comprehends their circumstances and communicates stress will help you guide their rehabilitation with empathy and kindness.
Working through your dog’s anxiety is more than training them to make better choices and self-soothe once their anxiety is triggered. The initial goal is to build their general confidence and joy for living. By inspiring fun and happiness through shared interactions, games, and lessons, you can help your dog prioritize your relationship and look to you before they react.
Punishment and violence have no part in this process and will only intensify your dog’s anxiety. Although you may feel frustrated at times, it's important not to take it out on your dog.
Recognizing Anxiety in Your Dog
All of us can relate to anxiety. Whether you or someone you love receives bad news, experiences financial insecurity, or endures the butterflies before starting a new job, we have all felt it. Coping with anxiety is something we recognize and identify, even at an early age. Many people have a distinct formula for dealing with our anxiety, things like talking to a friend or therapist, going for a walk, or deep breathing. Some people even download an app!
Dogs aren’t so lucky. In fact, with limited freedom or ability to express themselves, dogs vent their stress in ways we sometimes deem unacceptable, such as barking, chewing, eliminating, or nipping. Left on their own or unattended, they can suffer greatly.
Unlike people, dogs can’t explain unpredictable events, so their tension builds up. Unless you step in and help your dog desensitize triggering events, they will be left with a lot of unresolved triggers and phobias.
Your dog doesn’t identify stress as a separate emotion. When they feel anxiety, it affects their whole being. While there are things they can do to calm themselves, such as run away, dig, or hide, modern dogs often have little agency over their actions and the freedom to choose their own path.
The great disconnect
Your dog doesn’t categorize behavior as good or bad. Even for us, right or wrong is often inconsistent; it can be different from house to house, culture to culture, and even person to person. Many couples differ in opinions regarding greeting manners and play. From your dog’s perspective, their behavior is a moment-to-moment decision that is more dependent on what alleviates their anxiety or pain. Here are a few examples:
When left alone, a dog might tear the house apart or howl for hours — not to punish you for leaving, but because they physically implode when finding themselves alone. This is known as
separation anxiety.
If you can’t find your dog before leaving for work or they dig their heels in as you try to get them in the crate, they are not trying to derail your schedule. Many dogs have
containment anxiety
and become visibly upset when forced into small, contained spaces.
Dogs don’t growl at strangers or other dogs because they’re mean; they do so because they’re afraid and unable to distance themselves. Dogs with
social anxiety
are often unsure of a strange person, another dog, or of children.
When some dogs sense a storm or hear a loud noise, they become terrified. They hide and run away to soothe their distress, not to derail your schedule or plans. This is an example of a
sensory-sensitive
dog.
When dogs react to other dogs on leash or from the safety of an enclosure, they are generally afraid and use their behavior to urge the oncoming dog away.
Understand anxiety
Many words describe the range of intensely fearful emotions dogs experience. While these terms might seem interchangeable, it's important to explore the differences before you can get handle on your dog's issues:
Anxiety:
Dogs experience anxiety when they anticipate a future threat or feel uneasy about something that isn't immediately present. This can manifest as restlessness, excessive barking, or destructive behavior. Unlike fear, which is a response to an immediate threat, anxiety is more about the anticipation of possible dangers.
Fear:
Dogs feel fear when they perceive a real or imagined threat in their environment. This might be triggered by routine events or specific stimuli, such as fireworks, a balloon, or a person wearing a hat. While fear is a normal survival instinct, it can become problematic due to a lack of socialization or a learned response. Fortunately, dogs of every age can develop more positive associations through gradual exposure, a process known as
counterconditioning
.
Panic:
When a stressful event is pronounced and inescapable, a dog may develop a panicked response. For example, Jasper, a terrier mix, was fine being left alone in his crate until a smoke alarm went off and fire trucks arrived. Now Jasper panics whenever he hears sirens and is confined.
Phobia:
When dogs have a chronic fear of an unavoidable noise, situation, or traumatic experience that leads to a PTSD-like response, phobic reactions can evolve. Examples include being left alone, experiencing trauma, hearing thunderstorms, and being confined on a leash. Dogs with phobias often become sensitized to related events, such as the sound of rain paired with thunderstorms, or be crated before isolation. For some dogs, similar-sounding events on the radio or TV can also trigger panic.
Aggression:
Dog aggression is a response to perceived threats or stressors. It can result from fear, anxiety, or frustration. Aggressive behaviors can include growling, barking, lunging, and biting. Dog aggression is often a way of trying to protect themselves or their territory.
Other words I use to represent different levels of anxiety include distress, dread, alarm, caution, and stress.
Your dog’s anxiety falls into one of two camps:
Generalized:
Dogs with generalized anxiety are constantly stressed by any number of sensory stimulations, which interferes with their everyday lives and, by association, your life.
Episodic (situational):
These dogs live a relatively stress-free existence until a specific event occurs, such as a thunderstorm, a vacuum, and so on.
KNOWING WHAT ANXIETY IS AND ISN’T
Not all dogs who act up have anxiety. Sometimes, what might seem like anxiety is actually a response to excitement, frustration, age, pain, or illness.
While dogs can’t explain their feelings in English, they express them constantly through body postures and subtle interactions. A dog experiencing anxiety shows their stress in various ways, including pacing, whining, lip licking, panting, and soliciting attention. Chapter 2 takes a closer look at dog communication and covers how they express their emotional states.
Recognize your role in their anxiety
Nobody intends to reinforce their dog’s anxiety or maladaptive habits. Too often, however, we do just that. The message often gets lost in translation when trying to reassure a dog. Consider these examples:
When out for a walk, do you retreat from other dogs, people, and situations that frighten your dog, or do you tighten your hold on the leash, drag your dog toward what they’re trying to avoid, or stand still?
When you come home to a frenzied dog or a destroyed household, do you stay calm, or do you get frustrated or angry with your dog?
When your dog barks or whines incessantly or paws you repeatedly for your attention, do you politely redirect them, or do you give in to their demands?
Often, our reassurances reinforce our dog’s stress. How you’d naturally reassure a friend having a meltdown or panic attack differs from how you should reassure a dog or puppy.
The good news is anxiety isn’t a life sentence. Your dog can make more positive associations and learn better coping skills with your guidance and the information in this book. As they become more emotionally stable, your dog will be more confident and relaxed, even in formerly unnerving situations. One of your first goals is to identify what’s causing your dog's anxiety and why.
Understanding Why Some Dogs “Misbehave”
Your dog doesn’t love their anxiety any more than you do. When fear transforms a moment, their body floods with adrenaline, giving them a jolt of energy to escape or fend off a threat. Even though you know they’re safe, your dog might not see it the same way. If your dog feels trapped, they’ll become frantic and can't be persuaded with reassurances or food. If they are scared, they’ll want to flee. Anxious energy is like steam in a pressure cooker, which eventually needs to be released. Although you may not see steam coming from your dog’s ears, your dog may run away, bark, or even fight to defend themselves. When left alone, your dog may chew your couch, eliminate inappropriately, or claw at the door frame.
It's easy to get angry when your dog acts uncontrollably. But remember your dog’s not being spiteful; they have no control over their stress reactions. When they get startled, they disconnect from reality. Your frustration can further their emotional dysregulation.
Dogs learn to recognize our emotions based on our body language and tone of voice. I know it’s frustrating to witness your dog’s destruction or endure their frantic attempts to pull away or climb on you for attention, but the only way to help your dog is to stay calm and control yourself. You must model the behavior you want them to mirror in order to change your dog's behavior.
If you feel overwhelmed, find supportive help beyond these pages. Whether you hire a personal trainer or behavior specialist, ensure they’re qualified to treat anxiety. If you’re considering supplements or prescription medications to help your dog, you’ll find more information in Chapter 5.
Exploring the Roots of Anxiety
To understand the nature of your dog’s anxiety, consider our long history with their species. Back when we were cave dwellers, dogs hung around the perimeters and ate our scraps. It was a symbiotic relationship that worked well. Dogs got free food, and in turn, they protected the campsite from other predators.
As we diversified and expanded around the globe, dogs joyfully adapted to our demands and the changing lifestyle. Over the years, dogs endured our selective breeding practices to hone skills like herding and hunting, often resulting in intense physical modification.
When natural behaviors become undesirable
Everything went along hunky dory, at least for a while. For thousands of years, dogs continued to enjoy their free-range lifestyle, hunting prey and maintaining their own schedules. However, as our population ballooned, we built cities, suburbs, and transportation routes. Our beloved dogs were suddenly at risk. Leash laws were enacted to restrict dogs from roaming, and most of their former skills were rendered obsolete. They were brought inside to live among us, and dogs entered a new phase of expectations and reality as intimate members of our immediate family.
Nowadays, many dogs live a fishbowl-like existence, looking out at the world rather than participating in it. Dogs are experiencing an identity crisis! Lacking outlets for their energy and curiosity, we reprimanded them for behaviors they were bred to do. Watchdogs are admonished for barking at passersby, retrievers for carrying the wrong thing, terriers are scolded for digging, and herding dogs for chasing other pets and children. Without enrichment, these highly social, intelligent, and energetic species suffer in ways we cannot imagine.
The “fur baby” paradox
It’s common these days for people to think of their dog like one of their children. It’s not hard to understand why: We love them like babies, and they demand a similar level of care and attention. Throughout this book, I draw on similarities between dogs and children, as it can be helpful to apply some parenting techniques to dogs. Consider these similarities:
Both thrive best with structure, routine, boundaries, and unconditional love.
They have similar needs: to eat, drink, sleep, play, and potty.
Both act out when overtired or have unmet needs. Puppies get nippy, however, whereas kids cry.
Both lack impulse control and emotional regulation. They both need a good model to develop these skills and express emotions properly.
However, it’s important to remember that our dogs are not people. They are beautifully unique. A primary difference is their brain size, which is about 1/20th of ours. Their head space mostly comprises sensory neurons, enabling them to interpret sound, sights, and smells in unfathomable ways, despite their limited cognitive ability. Whereas our lives are devoted to deep thoughts and postulations, our dogs' lives are committed to sensory interpretation.
Did you know that dogs can perceive the squeak of a mouse under your floorboard, identify your car's arrival before it turns in the driveway, and sense weather events due to slight changes in barometric pressure? Their sense of smell is so powerful they can identify illnesses like cancer and COVID-19, find people buried beneath the rubble, and even sense our mood fluctuations by whiffing a shift in our hormones. If genius were measured in sensory awareness, our dogs would be at the top of the class.
The bottom line is that it’s important not to anthropomorphize your dog too much. Dogs have a magical way of navigating the world that we should stand in awe of rather than disregard. In her book, Animals Make Us Human, Temple Grandin identifies anthropomorphism as the phenomenon of treating animals like humans, where reality is exclusively viewed through the lens of human values and experiences.
Pause to consider our somewhat egocentric tendency to overlook the unique qualities of our beloved dogs. Many people unwittingly attribute human motivations and characteristics to their dogs rather than honoring their distinct needs, desires, and natural reactions. It's here, in the light of this denial, that their anxiety often takes root.
Identifying Your Dog’s Triggers
Triggers are noises, objects, or sightings that are either unfamiliar and frightening or familiar and scary to your dog. Every dog is unique.
Before diving into the rest of this book, make a list of the things you know or think might be triggering your dog’s anxiety. Regardless of what’s causing or prompting your dog’s anxiety, there is nothing wrong with them that can’t be improved, managed, or cured entirely.
Unfortunately, your dog’s anxiety cannot be soothed with a quick hug, pat on the head, or favorite treat. When their anxiety is triggered, your dog enters an alternative reality where danger lurks, and bad things could happen. Anxiety feels natural to your dog, and in the moment, nothing you do or say can influence their reaction. The only way to calm your dog down is to get them to a safe place and wait it out.
Trigger stacking occurs when a dog faces multiple triggers without a chance to disengage or soothe their nerves. The accumulation of stresses can intensify the dog's distress, amplifying their emotional reactions and potentially leading to aggression. For example, if a dog is sensitive to thunder, unfamiliar dogs, and construction vehicles, experiencing them all at once, such as while out on a walk — can be extremely overwhelming, causing the equivalent of a panic attack.
When anxious, your dog will have unique symptoms that range from mild to explosive. If left untreated, your dog’s anxiety can result in medical issues, too, such as respiratory and intestinal issues.
ABC: ANTECEDENT-BEHAVIOR-CONSEQUENCE
The pros like to reference their own version of the ABCs when researching and rehabilitating canine anxiety. Here, the letters stand for Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence. This framework analyzes behavior by examining what happens before, during, and after an action. The antecedent is what occurs before the behavior, the behavior is the action itself, and the consequence is what follows the behavior. This framework helps clarify the context and triggers of behavior and its outcomes.
Not all dogs respond to interruptive stimuli in the same way. A confident dog might be so conditioned to a noise as to ignore it. Another dog might be excited by the noise if it has been associated with positive events. Other dogs experience an alert response when an unrecognizable event or a stimulus reminds them of a scary experience or immediate danger, causing them to grow anxious. Behaviors can vary from mild reactions like lip licking or turning away to intense reactions like running away or showing aggression.
Soothing Anxiety
We’re taught all our lives how to deal with anxiety — we’re told to talk it out, to practice mindfulness, or to exercise. Your dog needs similar outlets. Although you might know road construction won’t harm you, the barking dog can’t get to you, and babies are not zombies, a dog with anxiety isn’t so sure. Respect your dog’s anxiety and remember, in most instances, there are only two things that will soothe them:
Distance:
Once you identify something causing your dog anxiety, move away from it. When possible, bring your dog into a comforting place, whether that’s behind your legs, a room in your home, or a place away from the triggering event. If you’re walking outside and your dog gets unnerved by a dog, person, or thing, divert your route and wait to praise or treat your dog until they regain a sense of calm.
Time:
Anxiety fills your dog with stress hormones that may take some time to dissipate. Notice the length of time your dog needs to regain their sense of joy and adventure. Each dog has their own anxiety blueprint. The more you work with them, the faster they’ll learn to recover.
While anxiety and fear are warranted reactions from your dog’s perspective, they can make different and more positive associations. Chapter 3 explores how freedom, food, and fun inspire joy and confidence.
You Are Not Alone
We all want to be safe. No matter what type of anxiety your dog suffers, simply picking up this book promises results. Remember, anxiety is just one part of their personality — and it's manageable, even curable, in many cases.
With your help, your dog can learn directions, engage in fun activities, and develop a life framed by consistency and reassurances that have been lacking until now.
Each part of this book is dedicated to a specific type of anxiety. You may find that your dog struggles with more than one, and since each part is standalone, you can start anywhere you like! The chapters in this part help build your understanding of dog anxiety and how to identify your dog’s triggers. Let’s get started!
Chapter 2
Unpacking the Nature of Anxiety
IN THIS CHAPTER
Learning how dogs communicate
Understanding your dog’s confusion
Recognizing their emotional shifts
This chapter is one of the most important in the book. In it, you learn how to identify your dog’s mood simply by tuning into their breathing and body language. This will enable you to recognize signs of anxiety before it takes hold of your dog.
Your dog constantly communicates with you and the world around them, something I explain in the pages ahead. Many people don’t know how to interpret their dog’s interactions, leading to frequent misunderstandings and heightened anxiety. This chapter sheds light on your dog’s anxiety and their interactions with the world around them.
Recognizing the Roots of Anxiety
Dog anxiety is a relatively modern phenomenon. Until recently, dogs had more agency to run away, hide, or avoid triggering situations. Modern dog parenting has turned instinctive dog behavior on its head, curtailing their freedom and forcing them to measure up to our standards of how they should conduct their lives.
Dogs don’t behave vindictively, nor do they think things like, “Let me bark now to ruin this moment,” or “Mom left me alone, so I’m going to chew up the couch,” or “I don’t want anyone showing affection, so I’m going to ambush all hugs.” Instead, their behavior reflects the stress they feel in different situations. Try not to take your dog’s actions personally.
For example, people often greet their human family and friends enthusiastically, with smiles, hugs, and face-to-face communication. However, some dogs might see these gestures as threatening. Humans are the only animals who view sustained eye contact and gleaming teeth as friendly; other animals interpret these signals as confrontational or an invitation to play rough. By studying how dogs naturally engage, you can better understand how they perceive your interactions.
Observe how friendly dogs approach each other, often curving their bodies and lowering their heads. Excited dogs may exhibit more energetic behavior, such as bouncing from side to side or performing a play bow with their front half lowered and their rump and tail raised. Confrontational dogs tend to stiffen their bodies and approach head-on, sometimes circling each other tensely.
Learning to Understand Your Dog’s Emotions
All behavior is rooted in emotion. In 1998, neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp outlined emotions in all mammals, not just dogs and humans. This section summarizes the five key emotions motivating your dog’s behavior — seeking, curiosity, play, fear, and frustration.
Seeking
Seeking involves fulfilling everyday needs, such as finding food and water. Dogs focused on fulfilling these everyday needs are streamlined in their focus.
Curiosity
Curious dogs love to explore and won’t hesitate when socializing or adventuring. While unfamiliar sights or sounds may momentarily give them pause, they quickly recover.
Play
Surprisingly, play is as essential to maintaining a balanced life as eating and sleeping. Dogs engage in play only when they feel secure in their environment and with the company they keep.
Three key indicators of anxiety are a reluctance to eat, play, and interact with their people. Conversely, a clear indication that your dog's anxiety is improving is renewed interest in food, play, and interactions.
Fear
Fear is at the root of all anxious behaviors, prompted by a situation, person, or object posing as a potential threat, whether real or imagined. Most dogs choose to run away, hide, or retreat into their den (your home), although when a dog is enclosed or on a leash, they may cower, buck, or even show aggression. While you can do much to relieve your dog's fear, understanding the causes and modifying time and proximity can help alleviate and redirect their fear responses.
Frustration
Frustration erupts when a dog cannot attain what they expect or desire. It’s easy to recognize when a ball rolls just out of reach; however, frustration also plays a role in anxiety. It becomes more complex when a dog with anxiety barks at passersby or feels trapped at the end of a leash.
I've left out the two emotions related to reproduction: lust and maternal instinct.
Peer just below the surface
Underlying your dog’s emotions is their nervous system, which is composed of two parts.
The
parasympathetic nervous system
(PNS) conserves energy and prioritizes bodily functions such as eating and elimination. It’s known as the
rest and digest
state.
The
sympathetic nervous system
(SNS) provides the energy necessary to cope with the needs and stresses of everyday life. Whether real or imagined, it increases blood flow and respiration. It is also known as the
fight, flight, or freeze
state.
TESTING YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Let’s test your new knowledge. See if you can guess which need state these situations stem from:
Your dog pounces on you when you sleep in on Sunday morning.Your dog backs up when a stranger reaches out to pet them.Your dog barks at a toy stuck under the couch.Your dog leaps to the window when a squirrel or bird is flitting about.Your dog eagerly drops a ball in your lap.Answer key: 1. Seeking; 2. Fear; 3. Frustration; 4. Curiosity; 5. Play
Ideally, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems should work harmoniously to regulate energy and relaxation. For dogs with anxiety, however, this system is often imbalanced. Stressful events throughout the day flood their bodies with stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which are necessary to provide energy and alertness. While these physiological responses are crucial for survival, especially in threatening situations, many anxieties are irrational and can cause chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This persistent state of heightened arousal can overwhelm the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for promoting relaxation and recovery.
Alternatively, isolated or neglected dogs can experience an imbalance in their parasympathetic nervous system. Over time, any imbalance can lead to physical and psychological health issues in dogs, on top of their chronic anxiety.
HORMONES
Cortisol, known as the stress hormone, is at the core of your dog’s anxiety. It can be constantly present in cases of severe generalized anxiety or released suddenly in dogs experiencing periodic anxiety. In mild cases of generalized anxiety, cortisol may drip steadily, especially when factors arise that predict an unpleasant or dangerous outcome.Adrenaline is the hormone responsible for the body's immediate reaction to stress or danger. When your dog encounters a perceived threat, adrenaline floods their system, triggering the fight, flight, or freeze response. You might notice their heart rate increase, pupils dilate, and muscles tense, preparing them to react swiftly to the situation.Serotonin is known as the happy hormone. When dogs experience a surge of serotonin, it elicits an enthusiastic response, such as during greetings or play. Think of the dog who jumps for joy! While you can redirect this behavior, the happy mood isn't cause for concern.Oxytocin is another prominent hormone contributing to the loving bond between you and your dog. Gentle petting (which I refer to as “the soothing effects of the mother tongue,” as it mimics the comforting touch of a nurturing mother) significantly contributes to improved health and reduced stress, partly because it releases oxytocin into the dog's bloodstream.Emotional reactions vs rational responses
Recognizing the difference between your dog’s emotional reaction to a situation or stimulus and a more measured rational reaction is essential to understanding your dog’s anxiety. When your dog reacts impulsively to an unpredicted event, such as your leaving, hearing an unfamiliar noise, or seeing a stranger suddenly approach, their body floods with adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones provide a jolt of energy necessary when there is a real threat. When the fear is imagined, your dog’s reaction may seem out of place or even feigned. They might become destructive, run away, or lunge to fend off a perceived threat.
Consider a dog or puppy startled by a thunderbolt during a walk. If they were alone, they might run for cover or race home to their den. However, when we restrain dogs on leashes, it intensifies their anxiety, as they feel trapped. Many people try to soothe or distract their dog with treats and toys, not realizing that a dog refusing food and comfort is likely in a state of panic.
If you are unsure about the extent of your dog’s anxiety, offer them a treat or favorite toy. If they don’t take the treat or engage with you, their emotional reaction is too high.
A better reaction when a dog is startled by thunder or another unfamiliar noise is to lead them home or to a nearby shelter. Once dogs feel safe, they naturally calm themselves by shaking off, yawning, or sniffing about. Rewards and attention should be offered only after the dog seeks social comfort. The time to engage the dog with familiar directions, games, and reward-based interactions is after they’ve recovered from an emotionally stressful episode, not during it.
While scientists are still researching a dog’s ability to use rational thought, anyone who loves a dog knows they can use their behavior to achieve preferred outcomes and choose responses that get them what they want.
Listening When Your Dog Communicates
Communication is merely the expression of emotions. One of the biggest differences between dogs and people is our communication styles. We talk a lot, while dogs rely on body language. You may be listening to your dog instead of watching them communicate.
Your dog’s five talking points
This section outlines your dog’s five key talking points — their ears, mouth, eyes, tail, and posture. It's important to recognize that your dog isn't always anxious; their mood can vary depending on their surroundings, situations, and companions.
Ears
Your dog’s ears are very expressive. They can move independently or together and rotate up, down, backward, and forward. Your dog’s focus, concentration, or concern can be quickly understood by observing their ears. Since dogs have different types of ears, from floppy to upright, there is no universal standard for interpreting ear position, but some general rules apply.
Use your dog’s resting ears as a starting point. Notice them upright when they focus intently, one up and one back when trying to track noises coming from various directions or tilted back together when zoning or focusing on something behind them. You can recognize your dog’s anxiety when both ears are pinned back. See Figure 2-1.
© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
FIGURE 2-1: Your dog's ears convey a lot of information if you pay attention to them.
Mouth
Your dog’s mouth conveys a lot of information as well. An open mouth signals a relaxed smile (unless overheating), whereas closed lips convey concentration, anxiousness, or frustration (see Figure 2-2). Dogs also close their mouth when resting. Check in with your dog now — how are they feeling?
© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
FIGURE 2-2: A dog's mouth tells us a lot about their current emotional state.
Eyes
Your dog’s eyes can be difficult to read or get a clear fix on as you’re not on the same level. Take a quick look at your dog’s pupil — that dark circle in the center — when resting. The pupil will change shape in shifting light and in response to strong emotions. First, look at your dog’s natural eye and pupil shape. Pupils get larger at dusk to let more light in and widen if a dog is fearful or startled. Ours do the same.
Dogs — like people — look at stuff that interests them. If you’re wondering what has your dog’s attention, notice what they’re looking at — a squirrel, a garbage can, or the cupcake on the countertop.
Dogs signal discomfort, dismissiveness, and submission by avoiding eye contact. Should you even notice a stiff glare, with or without the white corners of their eyes showing, your dog is feeling threatened. Retreat or redirect your dog’s focus with a toy or treat. See Figure 2-3.
© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
FIGURE 2-3: A dog's eyes show where their attention lies.
Be mindful of dogs that show hard eyes: glassy, unemotional, and still, matched with a stiff posture. Back away immediately and slowly — whether this is your dog or someone else’s.
Tail talk
A dog's tail is always talking; its movements and tempo convey wide-ranging emotions. Different tail positions indicate different emotional states: A relaxed tail is their default, a tucked tail signals anxiety, and a tail plastered against the belly indicates panic.
An uplifted tail suggests happiness, excitement, or curiosity, whereas an arched tail above the rump indicates frustration or defensiveness.
A side-to-side swing, paired with an open mouth and full body wiggle, signals friendliness, like a happy smile. Short arching sways can signify excitement, submission, or worry, depending on the tail's level. A vigorously twitching tip indicates emotional turmoil, while an arched tail suggests agitation. Contrary to popular belief, a wagging tail doesn't always convey happiness. See Figure 2-4.
© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
FIGURE 2-4: Tails convey a full range of emotions.
Overall posture
Your dog's posture is the clearest indicator of their emotional state; are they cowering in fear, bouncing enthusiastically, lying like a deflated balloon, leaning forward, stiff, or loose? Read all your dog's cues (ears, eyes, mouth, tail, and posture) together as they may sometimes convey conflicting messages, for example, when a dog wants to approach but feels apprehensive.
Take note of your dog's default comfortable poses (see Figure 2-5). Remember how your dog appears when resting — are they sprawled out on their side? This communicates trust — they're in a deep, nourishing sleep! Are they curled up in a ball? Dogs do this to conserve heat and protect their organs from potential threats. Dogs with generalized anxiety may struggle to relax anywhere other than their own home or safe place, like a crate or cozy bed.
© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
FIGURE 2-5: Default, comfortable poses.
Happy, joyful dogs exhibit relaxed postures, moving freely without tension or distress. Their tail wags in a wide arc, and their mouth is generally slightly open, resembling a human smile. An alert posture indicates they recognize a sound or sight, even if it's not apparent. Their tail is lifted, their ears and eyes are directed toward the disruption, and their mouth is either closed or slightly open, especially in cases of generalized anxiety.
Vocalizations
While dogs can’t talk, they use various sounds to convey their feelings and support their body language. There is a difference between a dog who barks from boredom, an alert barker, and one who barks for attention. Consider these various vocalizations:
Alert barking
indicates territorial defense. Many dogs alert bark any time they sense something approaching. You’ll know it’s an alert bark if it’s high-pitched and repetitive.
Boredom barking
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