How to Ease a Dog's Anxieties

Like humans, dogs can be plagued by anxiety disorders. Separation anxiety is a common type of disorder, but many dogs get anxious over loud noises and strange people as well. In order to ease your dog's fears, you need to figure out what causes the anxiety and how you can adapt to the situation.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look for the signs of canine anxiety. A dog may begin chewing furniture, urinating inside the house or lick its paws or other extremities when subjected to the cause of the anxiety.

2. Start crate training your dogs in order to keep them contained when you are not at home. Make the crate comfortable for the dogs, creating a place that they do not mind staying in. Crate training protects your house from damage caused by your dog displaying anxieties.

3. Keep your dog busy. If your dog is active and has plenty of toys, it will be distracted and will not be focused on the source of anxiety.

4. Leave the television or radio turned on throughout the day. Hearing human voices when you are not home will make your dog far less likely to become anxious.

5. Desensitize your dog to loud noises. Clap your hands loudly or bang pots and pans when the dog is in a calm state. They will react fearfully at first, but they will begin to familiarize themselves with the sounds and not get upset when they hear loud noises.

Tips & Warnings

• Gradually let the dog become used to the crate. At first, leave the door open and place a blanket with your scent on it inside the crate. The dog will eventually be able to stay in the crate.
• Give the dog a reward for not reacting to a loud noise.

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