How To Train A Dog With Anxiety
Introduction
Do you have a dog that seems to be constantly in a state of panic, even when there’s nothing wrong? Does he seem to tremble at the sound of his own bark or cower when a new person enters the room? If so, your dog may have anxiety. While this problem isn’t as serious as it sounds, it can require some additional training and can affect how you interact with your pet. Here are some tips for how to train a dog with anxiety.
Identifying the problem
In order to train a dog with anxiety, you must first identify the problem. First, determine whether your dog is experiencing separation anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder. These two types of anxiety are very different and require different approaches when training. If you’re not sure which type applies to your pet, try some behavioral tests on him before deciding what kind of training will be best for him:
- Separation Anxiety Test: Place treat-filled Kong toys in different rooms of the house (or outside if it’s safe) and watch how long he stays alone before going after them. If he stays put for at least 15 minutes without breaking into his toy stash then he may have some separation issues that need addressed through a less stressful means than traditional obedience training methods
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder Test: Watch how your dog reacts when there’s something scary happening—like an earthquake or thunderstorm—but don’t react yourself (to avoid scaring him even more). If he seems uncomfortable but doesn’t completely freak out or cower under furniture then he may just be stressed out by certain stimuli
Socializing your dog with other dogs
Socializing your dog with other dogs is one of the most important aspects of training a dog with anxiety. Dogs are social animals and they love to interact with one another. This is true for both dogs that have had anxious tendencies and those who do not. Your dog needs to learn how to play with other dogs as well as how he should interact with them in order to eliminate some of his anxiety when around them.
There are many different ways that you can socialize your dog on a regular basis, but the easiest way is by taking him out on walks or letting him run loose in a safe area where there are other dogs nearby. You should never leave your pet alone if there are any signs of fear or aggression, however! It’s also important that you pay close attention during these times so that he doesn’t become overstimulated while interacting with others nearby; this could make matters worse instead than better if left unchecked!
Socializing your dog with people
The first step in training your dog to overcome anxiety is socializing it with the people in its life. This means taking the time to introduce your dog to new people, places, and things on a regular basis. The more comfortable your pup is around these things, the less likely they are to panic when faced with them in the future.
Socializing also includes being exposed to other dogs—especially ones that may be bigger than they are or otherwise different from what they’re used to seeing at home or on walks through town. It’s important that you also take this opportunity for some one-on-one play time between you and your pup so that it knows how much fun it can have with humans too!
However, before we talk about how exactly this works best: there’s another important type of socialization we need to talk about…
Train your dog to recognize his name and come when called
A trained dog will come when called. This is a very important skill for your dog to have and it is essential, especially if you are training him in any other commands or tricks. Dogs often get distracted by things around them, so the more consistent you can be with this one command the better. If you know that your dog knows how to come when called, he will be more confident in himself and therefore less likely to get distracted by other things going on around him.
Start out at home and make yourself as boring as possible (not easy with my two dogs!) while saying “come” over and over again until your pet comes running into the room full of energy ready for some fun! In order for this to work however, there has got to be something awesome waiting for him at home – whether that’s food treats or just lots of love from mommy or daddy!
Train your dog to set boundaries
There are many ways to train a dog to set boundaries. The best way to do this is by teaching them where they can and cannot go. You might want to train your dog to stay in a room, or perhaps you need your dog trained on how to stay in a crate, small area, car or yard.
Once they’ve learned these boundaries, you’ll be able to take them anywhere without worrying about them running off or causing trouble while you’re out doing errands with them.
Doggy training classes
The good news is that you can take advantage of the hard work of other people. There are many dog training classes in your area, and they will probably have space available right now.
These classes are a great way to bond with your pet and learn how to communicate with them. They’re also an excellent opportunity to teach your pet some fun tricks like “sit” or “roll over.” You might even meet other owners who have dogs similar to yours—and we all know how important it is for both human and canine friends to socialize!
Learning new things will relax your anxious dog.
- Dog Training Classes. Dogs love to learn new things, so enrolling your dog in a dog training class is an excellent way for them to be distracted from their anxiety. There are many types of classes out there, such as puppy socialization classes and agility classes. These are great ways for your dog to meet other dogs and people, as well as learning some new skills like walking on a leash or coming when called.
- Doggy Daycare. If it’s not possible for you to take your anxious pup outside during the day due to work or childcare responsibilities, consider utilizing doggy daycare services instead! You can drop off your pup at one of several locations around town and rest assured knowing they will have fun playing with other dogs all day long while being cared for by trained staff members who know how best to engage with them (and even provide medication if necessary). This way, both owner and pet get what they need!
- Dog Sports & Activities: Another fun way that dogs can let off steam during their free time is through participating in various sports such as flyball racing or agility competitions! These types of activities allow pets something new every day which keeps boredom at bay while providing exercise too — two birds with one stone!”
Conclusion
Some of these tips may not apply to every single anxious dog in the world, but these are things that have been helpful for fur parents with anxious dogs. Remember that everyone is different and so are dogs, so try to keep an open mind and maybe you’ll learn something new about training your dog!