The most common dog anxiety symptoms are excessive panting, pacing, destructive behaviour, indoor toileting, and trembling - and around 70% of dogs experience at least one of these at some point in their lives. Your dog can’t tell you they’re stressed, but their behaviour absolutely can. Here’s how to spot the signs, understand what’s driving them, and find treatments that actually work.
What Are the Signs of Anxiety in Dogs?
Dog anxiety shows up in ways that are easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Some signs are obvious - a dog howling the moment you leave the house - but others are subtle enough that owners write them off as quirks or bad habits.
The most common dog anxiety symptoms include:
- Excessive panting or drooling when there’s no physical reason for it (they haven’t been running, it isn’t hot)
- Pacing or restlessness - walking the same route repeatedly, unable to settle
Trembling or shaking during storms, fireworks, or when left alone - Destructive behaviour - chewing door frames, scratching at exits, shredding furniture
- Toileting indoors despite being fully house-trained
- Excessive licking or grooming to the point of creating bald patches or sore skin
- Vocalisation - barking, whining, or howling that seems disproportionate to the situation
- Avoidance or hiding - retreating under furniture, refusing to enter certain rooms
- Loss of appetite or refusing treats they’d normally snap up
These signs often cluster together. A dog with separation anxiety might pace, drool, and destroy the skirting board - all in the first twenty minutes after you’ve left.
Dog Anxiety Signs by Type
| Sign | Separation Anxiety | Noise Anxiety | Generalised Anxiety |
| Destructive chewing/scratching | Very common | Occasional | Sometimes |
| Toileting indoors | Common | Occasional | Less common |
| Excessive barking/howling | Very common | Common | Sometimes |
| Panting and pacing | Common | Very common | Very common |
| Trembling/shaking | Sometimes | Very common | Common |
| Hiding/withdrawal | Less common | Very common | Common |
| Excessive licking/grooming | Sometimes | Less common | Very common |
| Refusal to eat | Common | Common | Common |
If you’re noticing three or more of these signs regularly, your dog is very likely experiencing anxiety - not just having an off day.
What Causes Anxiety in Dogs?
Dog anxiety is a genuine emotional response that causes measurable physiological changes — elevated cortisol, increased heart rate, and heightened muscle tension. It is not bad behaviour, disobedience, or something your dog will simply "grow out of." Punishing an anxious dog makes the problem worse, not better.
The most common triggers include:
Separation from their owner. Dog separation anxiety is the single most reported behavioural problem in dogs. It develops when a dog becomes overly attached to one person and can’t cope when that person leaves. Lockdown made this significantly worse - dogs who spent two years with their owners 24/7 suddenly had to cope with an empty house again.
Loud or unpredictable noises. Fireworks, thunderstorms, construction work, even the rumble of a wheelie bin. Dogs hear frequencies we can’t, so what seems like a distant bang to you can be overwhelming to them.
Changes in routine or environment. Moving house, a new baby, a change in work schedule, boarding kennels, even rearranging the furniture. Dogs are creatures of habit, and disruption creates stress.
Past trauma or poor socialisation. Rescue dogs are disproportionately affected. A dog who was neglected, abandoned, or under-socialised during their critical development window (3–14 weeks) is more likely to develop anxiety later.
Underlying pain or illness. This one catches owners off guard. A dog who suddenly develops anxious behaviour - especially an older dog - should be checked for pain.
Cognitive decline in senior dogs can also present as anxiety.
Dog anxiety is not caused by "spoiling" your dog, letting them on the sofa, or showing them too much affection. That’s a myth that refuses to die. Secure attachment is healthy. Anxiety develops when a dog’s coping mechanisms are overwhelmed, not because they’ve been loved too much.
How to Tell the Difference Between Separation Anxiety and General Anxiety
This distinction matters because the treatment approach differs. Dog separation anxiety is specifically triggered by being left alone - or more precisely, by the absence of a specific person.
Here’s a practical test: does the behaviour only happen when you leave, or does it happen at other times too?
A dog with separation anxiety will typically:
- Show distress as you prepare to leave (picking up keys, putting on shoes)
- Exhibit destructive behaviour, toileting, or vocalisation within the first 30 minutes of you leaving
- Be absolutely fine once you’re home
- Follow you from room to room when you are home
- A dog with generalised anxiety, on the other hand, shows stress responses across multiple situations - new people, unfamiliar environments, car journeys, vet visits - regardless of whether you’re present or not.
Some dogs have both. A dog with generalised anxiety is more likely to develop separation anxiety on top of it, because their baseline stress level is already elevated. If you’re unsure which you’re dealing with, setting up a camera to record your dog while you’re out can be genuinely revealing. Many owners are shocked by what they see.
What Actually Helps Dog Anxiety: Evidence-Based Options
Not everything marketed as a dog anxiety treatment actually works. Here’s what the evidence supports, ranked from simplest first steps to veterinary-level intervention.
| Approach | Best For | Evidence Level | Drug-Free? | Cost |
| Environmental management | All anxiety types | Strong (behavioural science) | Yes | Low |
| Pheromone diffusers (DAP) | Separation, general, noise anxiety | Strong (clinical trials) | Yes | Low–Medium |
| Behavioural training | Separation and general anxiety | Strong | Yes | Medium–High |
| Supplements (L-theanine, etc.) | Mild to moderate anxiety | Moderate | Yes | Low–Medium |
| Prescription medication | Severe or treatment-resistant anxiety | Strong | No | Medium |
Environmental management is your starting point. Create a safe space your dog can retreat to — a covered crate, a quiet room with their bed, somewhere that feels enclosed and secure. Maintain consistent routines for feeding, walking, and sleep. Predictability reduces stress.
Pheromone diffusers are the most accessible drug-free dog anxiety treatment with clinical backing. DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) replicates the pheromone a mother dog produces to calm her puppies. A calming pheromone diffuser plugs into a standard socket and releases DAP continuously, helping to reduce stress behaviours across all anxiety types. Research by Kim et al. (2010) found DAP significantly reduced elimination problems (P=0.038), excessive licking (P=0.005), and pacing (P=0.017) in stressed dogs. They’re a strong first step before considering anything more involved.
Behavioural training - specifically desensitisation and counter-conditioning - is the gold standard for separation anxiety. It is not a quick fix - expect weeks to months of consistent effort. The process means gradually increasing the duration your dog is left alone, pairing your departure with positive experiences, and never pushing past their threshold. Omni offer Free Behaviourist Consultations, which you can book online.
Supplements like the Omni Stress & Anxiety Supplement that contain L-theanine have some supporting evidence for anxiety. They’re a complementary addition to the approaches above.
Veterinary medication (fluoxetine, clomipramine, or situational medications like sileo for noise phobia) is appropriate for severe cases where other approaches haven’t been enough. It is not a standalone solution - medication works best alongside behavioural modification, not instead of it.
How Dog Calming Pheromone Diffusers Help with Anxiety
DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) is a synthetic version of the pheromone naturally produced by lactating dogs. It signals safety and comfort. When released through a diffuser, it creates an environment that helps dogs feel calmer without sedation or medication.
The clinical evidence behind DAP is solid. According to Riddell et al. (2021), stress hormone reductions of 68–82% were demonstrated in dogs exposed to DAP, which is a significant physiological effect - not just a behavioural one. Crucially, research published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal reported zero toxicities or side effects in any DAP-treated animal, making it safe for multi-pet households, puppies, and senior dogs.
A calming pheromone diffuser covers approximately 50–70 square metres and runs continuously for around 30 days. For ongoing use, refill packs keep costs manageable without replacing the whole unit.
Pheromone diffusers work best when placed in the room where your dog spends most of their time - or in their safe space. They’re particularly effective for:
- Dogs left home alone during the working day
- Firework season and thunderstorm anxiety
- Settling rescue dogs into a new home
- Reducing general stress in multi-dog households
They won’t "cure" severe anxiety on their own, but they lower your dog’s baseline stress level, which makes every other intervention - training, routine changes, even medication - more effective.
When to See a Vet About Your Dog’s Anxiety
Most mild to moderate dog anxiety responds well to environmental changes, pheromone support, and consistent training. But some dogs need professional help, and waiting too long makes the problem harder to treat.
See your vet if your dog is:
- Self-harming - chewing their paws raw, biting their tail until it bleeds, or licking to the point of open sores
- Refusing food for more than 24 hours during anxious episodes
- Showing aggression linked to anxiety - growling, snapping, or biting when stressed
- Getting worse despite your efforts - if you’ve tried environmental management, pheromones, and training for 4–6 weeks without improvement
- Experiencing sudden onset anxiety with no obvious trigger - this can indicate underlying pain or illness
Your vet can rule out medical causes, discuss medication options, and refer you to a certified clinical animal behaviourist. A behaviourist consultation gives you a structured, personalised plan - far more effective than guesswork. Omni Pet offers behaviourist consultations for exactly this purpose: expert, tailored guidance when general advice isn’t enough.
Dog anxiety is treatable. The dogs who struggle most are the ones whose owners don’t recognise the signs or assume they’ll just "get over it." Early intervention - even something as simple as plugging in a pheromone diffuser and establishing a consistent routine - makes a real difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the first signs of anxiety in dogs?
The earliest dog anxiety symptoms are often subtle: lip licking, yawning when they’re not tired, turning their head away from something, or a tucked tail. These are calming signals - your dog’s way of saying they’re uncomfortable. More obvious signs like panting, pacing, trembling, and destructive behaviour tend to develop once the anxiety has become more established. Pay attention to context. A dog who yawns every time you pick up your car keys is telling you something.
Can dog anxiety go away on its own?
Rarely. Mild situational anxiety - like nervousness in a new home - can settle as the dog adjusts, usually within a few weeks. But established anxiety patterns, especially separation anxiety, tend to worsen without intervention. The neural pathways that drive anxiety become more entrenched each time the cycle repeats. Early action with environmental management and pheromone support gives the best outcomes.
What calms an anxious dog down quickly?
In the moment, reduce stimulation. Move your dog to a quiet, familiar space. Speak in a calm, low tone. Avoid forcing interaction - let them come to you. A pheromone diffuser running in their safe space helps lower stress hormones over the following 15–30 minutes. For predictable triggers like fireworks, having the diffuser running before the event starts is far more effective than reacting once your dog is already panicking.
Are calming pheromone diffusers safe for dogs?
Yes. DAP-based diffusers have no reported toxicities or side effects in any published research. They’re safe for puppies, senior dogs, pregnant dogs, and multi-pet households (they don’t affect cats or humans). They’re a drug-free option, which makes them a sensible first step before considering supplements or medication. According to Kim et al. (2010), clinical trials show significant reductions in stress-related behaviours including pacing (P=0.017), excessive licking (P=0.005), and indoor toileting (P=0.038).
Should I see a vet or a behaviourist for dog anxiety?
Start with your vet to rule out any underlying medical cause - pain and illness can both present as anxiety. If your dog gets a clean bill of health, a certified clinical animal behaviourist is the next step for moderate to severe cases. For mild anxiety, environmental changes and a pheromone diffuser are often enough. If your dog is self-harming, aggressive, or deteriorating despite your efforts, don’t wait - seek professional help promptly.
