Anxious Dog Breeds and Our Tips for Proper Care
All dogs and dog breeds are wonderful. It’s truly amazing to think about the fact that dogs come in so many different shapes, colors, personalities, and sizes. In the world of dogs, there’s something for everyone, and many humans worldwide love these four-legged creatures. We are so lucky to have them.
Like people, all dogs are different. Some are goofy and silly, some are tough and strong, and others are reserved and wise. Often, these personality traits can be predicted with some accuracy based on breed.
One quality that is common across numerous breeds is nervousness. Anxious dog breeds often demonstrate nervous behaviors when separated from their owner or anytime they are in an unfamiliar environment or situation. These dogs still make great companions, but they sometimes may require some extra special care.
If you have a dog that often seems anxious, or if you are planning to adopt a new dog soon, read on to learn more about anxious dog breeds and the ways you can help your pup to feel more relaxed and comfortable when triggering situations arise.
Causes of Dog Anxiety
People know their dogs so well. Even though we can’t speak to our dogs, we can often tell how they are feeling at any given time. When a dog demonstrates anxious behavior, it’s natural for its owner to feel empathy for their furry friend.
Watching a nervous dog get worked up can be heartbreaking to see, but the dog’s owner may not know what to do to deescalate the situation. When anxiety arises, the first thing to do is to determine the cause.
There are three primary causes of anxiety in dogs.
Anxiety Caused by Fear
One of the most common causes of anxiety in dogs is fear. Dogs are smart, but there are a lot of things about the world that they do not understand. Their confusion can quickly lead to feelings of fear if the cause is not immediately addressed.
Some dogs aren’t bothered by anything, but others are afraid of everything. A feeling of fear can be triggered in dogs by loud noises, exposure to strange people or animals, new or unusual environments, unfamiliar surfaces, or visits to the vet.
In some cases, a dog will experience feelings of fear at first, but will quickly adapt. Other dogs will continue to feel very uncomfortable even long after the stimulus has passed.
Anxiety Caused by Separation
Our dogs would be happiest if we were always present. However, because of work and other obligations, that’s not always possible. Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety feel distraught when they can’t be with their owners. As a result, they may demonstrate upsetting behaviors like pacing, barking, chewing, or having indoor accidents while their people are away.
Anxiety Caused by Aging
Some dogs don’t experience feelings of anxiety until they are in their later years. This is often due to the deterioration of the senses. When dogs can’t smell or hear as well as they once did, the world can rapidly become a very confusing place. Further, some dogs suffer from cognitive dysfunction syndrome in their old age, a condition that is similar to Alzheimer’s disease.
Anxious Dog Breeds
Although any type of dog can be susceptible to feelings of anxiety, it is more common in some breeds of dogs than others.
Some people think that only small dogs can feel anxious, but that’s not the case at all. There are also several large breeds of dogs that experience anxiety.
Small dog breeds that often experience anxiety include Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Bichon Frises, Havanese, Cocker Spaniels, Italian Greyhounds, and Toy Poodles. German Shorthaired Pointers, German Shepherds, Border Collies, Vizslas, Australian Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers are some larger breeds who sometimes demonstrate nervous behaviors triggered by anxiety.
These anxious dog breeds can benefit from some tender loving care to help them get through their feelings of nervousness and to get back to feeling happy and fun-loving like normal.
How to Treat Anxiety in Dogs
There are several things that you, as a dog owner, can do to help your dog feel calmer and less anxious. Some dog owners fear that the only solution is medication, and that is not at all the case. Although medication can be helpful in severe cases, there are lots of things you can try before taking that step.
Training
One of the best ways to help your dog navigate a stressful situation is through counterconditioning. This type of training encourages the dog to focus on something pleasant when a trigger for their anxiety arises. An owner can distract the dog with positive commands, treats, or toys until the dog has adjusted to the negative stimulus or until that stimulus has disappeared.
Desensitization training can also be helpful, but training a dog in this way can be very challenging as well. Training of this kind involves gentle, repeated exposure to the anxiety trigger over time until the dog is no longer wary of it.
CBD Oil Treatment
CBD oil has changed the world over the past decade or so, and more and more people are using it to treat pain, anxiety, and other issues. It makes sense, then, that it can also be useful for dogs.
This substance is found in cannabis and hemp, but it does not have any psychoactive effects on people or on animals, but it does have a calming effect. Many pet owners have found that CBD can be beneficial when it comes to helping their dogs get over feelings of anxiety.
Medications
As a last resort, anxiety medication can help immensely. A veterinarian will prescribe this for dogs for whom all else has failed, and it can be a lifesaver. Medication can help to calm a dog when a triggering event is predictable and can help your dog feel better before the anxiety even begins.
Dogs Don't Have to Live With Anxiety
Fortunately, your furry, four-legged buddy doesn’t have to suffer from anxiety. Even if he or she is one of the anxious dog breeds mentioned above, your dog can find calm and relief in his or her life with some help from you.
If you are interested in trying CBD products for your dog on his or her feelings of anxiety or pain, please check out the rest of our site, and please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. We are here to help, and we can’t wait to hear from you.