If your dog’s a natural introvert, you may be wondering how to help an anxious dog – especially if they are one of the dog breeds most likely to have separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety in dogs, which, according to the American Kennel Club, affects up to 14% of dogs, is just one reason your pet might be shy or nervous. It could also be fear-related, which is one of the reasons early socialization is so important for puppies.
According to dog trainer and author Pippa Mattinson, the critical time for socializing a puppy is up until 16 weeks, because up until that time, puppies will readily bond with anyone who shows them friendship. This ‘window for socialization’, as Mattinson terms it, begins to close at 12 weeks; at 16, it’s shut, and puppies will start to be wary, even fearful, of novelty.
Other dogs can be fearful due to past trauma, whether that’s neglect by a previous owner or an isolated bad experience. It could be linked to a medical issue or pain, or could even manifest as your dog ages.
Before we explore how to help an anxious dog, let’s first take a look at how to spot the signs of fear and anxiety in a dog. After all, knowing what you’re dealing with is the first step in finding a solution.
Signs of anxiety in dogs
Signs that your dog could be stressed or anxious include:
- Aggression
- Excessive panting
- Destructive behaviour
- Inability to settle
- Repetitive vocalizations
- Pacing
- Lip licking
- Ears pinned back
- Lifting paws
- Yawning
Owners who spot these signs consistently would benefit from learning how to help an anxious dog. Here are some tips to help you and your dog find your way together.
20 ways to build confidence in a shy or anxious dog
1. Establish a routine
According to dog trainer and behaviourist Renee Rhoades, predictability reduces anxiety, and keeping to a regular schedule can help an anxious dog become more confident.
Consistent patterns each day, such as a walk first thing before breakfast, mean your dog can become comfortable with the familiar, which is a great base from which to expand their horizons slowly but surely.
2. Get the exercise right
Ever heard the saying ‘a tired dog is a happy dog’? We’re not talking about physical exhaustion here, but just as dozing off after a long hike can be really satisfying for humans, so too is resting your paws after an energy-burning walk.
Dogs have an innate need to exercise, and not getting enough can have physical and mental ramifications, even contributing to anxiety and unwanted behaviour such as chewing.
Different dog breeds require different amounts of exercise to satisfy both their physical and mental needs, so consulting a vet’s guide to dog exercise is a good way to get a handle on how much to walk your dog.
3. Boost mental stimulation
Mental stimulation is arguably just as important as physical exercise. If you’ve ever hung out with a bored child, you’ll know that keeping the brain active keeps unwanted behaviour at bay!
Much like an unruly child, a bored dog will start to entertain himself if he spends too long with nothing to do. This could lead to destructive chewing and other undesirable habits you’d rather keep in check.
A great way to help your dog keep busy is with the best dog toys or long-lasting dog chews. A lot of trainers swear by filling a Kong with dog-safe treats or edible pastes and freezing it to give your pet a tasty puzzle that will take him a while to solve.
4. Check for signs of pain
Dogs are notoriously adept at hiding when they’re in pain, and can be even more reluctant to let you examine them. It’s one reason why it’s so important to handle your dog’s feet and legs when they are small.
A dog’s pain might indicate a medical issue or condition such as arthritis, and could contribute to fearfulness. As well as anxiety, signs a dog is in pain include restlessness, lip-licking, looking at or avoiding you when you go to touch them, shaking, abnormal gait or posture, or a reduction in appetite.
5. Consult your vet
Perhaps you’ve tried increasing your dog’s physical and mental activity and seen no reduction in anxious behavior? Or, maybe your dog is regularly exhibiting signs of pain? Don’t dwell in uncertainty – make an appointment with your vet, who can examine your dog and help you find the cause of your dog’s anxiety, or perhaps rule out certain medical conditions.
6. Consider physical therapy
Your vet may refer your dog to an animal physical therapy practitioner following a consultation, or it might be something to explore for your dog yourself.
Either way, it’s good to seek veterinary guidance on the subject, as regulations for pet physical therapy vary state by state. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that pet physical therapy be performed by a licensed vet, vet tech or a physical therapist with an animal specialization. You can also look for a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) certification.
7. Work to find a tailored program
According to the American Kennel Club, anxiety in dogs is best tackled via a combination of training, preventative strategies like exercise and socialization, or even medication. Your vet can help you devise a program for your dog, and might refer you to other specialists such as behaviourists and trainers, too.
8. Learn your dog's body language
Once you’ve got a program to follow, learning to read and interpret your dog’s body language will help keep you on track by informing you when things are getting a bit too much or your dog needs to take a break. Why not take a look at our expert guide on dog body language?
9. Get the full history
Whether you’re taking a puppy home or adopting a dog from a shelter, get as much history on your dog as possible. Ask the breeder how the puppy has been raised and how many people or dogs he’s met. Shelter staff are usually very knowledgeable about their residents, but it doesn’t hurt to get as much information as you can about your new pet.
With all the facts, you’ll be able to tailor your dog’s first few weeks to help build resilience, whether that’s through organised meetups with your human and canine pals, obedience training, and more.
10. Avoid triggering situations for now
While exposing your dog to novelty or desensitizing them to tricky situations is important, the American Kennel Club states that it’s perfectly fine to avoid these challenging or triggering instances while you build your dog’s confidence. Far better to meet these situations when your dog is equipped with tools and training than to go into them with no support.
11. Signal to others
You can help an anxious dog by advocating for him, too. That might be politely asking an approaching owner to leash or recall their dog, or dressing your pooch in a harness or bandana that informs other pet parents he’s nervous, reactive, or needs space.
12. Tailor your doggy play dates
Socializing a nervous dog takes a bit more effort than one with a confident personality, and not something you want to leave to chance. Choose a friend with a suitable dog and ask if they’d be willing to meet in a neutral place (not your home or a favoured/busy dog park) and fully brief them on your situation.
They’ll need to be ready to only interact with you from a distance if needed, but even be prepared to abandon the meeting if you sense your dog is becoming agitated. Equally, gauge if your friend would be happy to arrange follow-up meetings to help build your pup’s confidence with his new canine friend.
13. Work with a professional
There’s no shame in turning to people who know their stuff in times of need, and when it comes to a shy or anxious dog, enlisting the help of professionals is the best way to take out the guesswork and know you’re doing the right thing.
It will mean a financial investment, of course, but if you implement and stick to professional advice, it’s sure to be worthwhile.
14. Use a pet cam
Suspect your dog has separation anxiety? Installing one of the best pet cameras in your home can help you assess what’s going on when you step out of the room. This could help you figure out the next steps to help your dog.
15. Give your dog a den
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home advises that all dogs have access to a space set up that they can use as their den. In other words, a safe place they can settle and relax without fear of any triggers.
This could be a crate or one of the best calming dog beds that creates a nest feel in a quiet, low-lit part of your home. It’s best to set these areas up away from a window or where there is excessive noise and foot traffic, so your dog can lie down in peace when needed.
16. Teach your pup to settle
Dogs with separation anxiety like to be with their owners 24/7, so building up independence skills, such as settling by themselves, is a big part of helping a Velcro dog.
To start with, place a food puzzle or snuffle mat on the floor away from you if your dog normally chooses to sit right next to you. Then, build up to securing the toy in a room away from you so your dog can’t bring it to you and solve it. In this way, you teach your dog independence, reward him for being alone, and show him that your absence can be a good thing!
17. Make your absence no big deal
Giving your pet lots of attention just before you leave and after you return can feel like offering reassurance, but in fact it can signal to your dog that something is about to change, and the anticipation can be stressful.
Instead, quietly leave your dog and, on return, don’t make a fuss of him until he settles. That way, you’re telling your pooch that your absence is nothing to get excited or agitated about – it’s simply par for the course.
18. Make it a game
Teaching a ‘place’ or ‘stay’ command and building up to using it to leave the room is another way to reward your dog for independence. This helps increase their resilience and rewards them for behaving quietly and contentedly in your absence.
You can make it a game by using the command to test your dog’s patience, even using your pet camera to check they’re in their place and increase the time you’re absent from a few seconds to a couple of minutes.
19. Try a dog sport
As your dog increases in confidence at home and in familiar places, why not see if they’ll come out of their shell with a dog sport? There are so many hobbies you can do with your dog, and finding a suitable dog sport class, which could be anything from agility to flyball to canicross, with a sympathetic instructor, could be the start of a great new outlet for your dog’s burgeoning confidence.
20. Don't rush your dog
Finally, it’s important to remember that progress is rarely linear. Break down your dog’s resilience training – be it learning independence, how to socialize, or some other kind of training – into bite-sized chunks and try not to be disheartened if you find yourself repeating or going back a step.
Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and the time you invest in taking things slowly will add up to more progress than skipping a step and over-facing your dog.
Read next: 32 ways to destress your dog
Edited by Georgia Guerin and Alexis de Leaver.
This feature was last updated in June 2025 by Bethany Stone.
