Dog anxiety: signs, types, causes and what helps
Quick answer
Dog anxiety is lasting worry about a threat that is not there, unlike fear, which is a reaction to a real one. The common signs are pacing, panting, trembling, hiding and lip licking, plus barking, destruction or house soiling that happen only when the dog is left alone. (Merck, VCA, ASPCA)
Mild signs often ease with a safe retreat and reward-based training. Any growling or snapping, or anxiety that starts suddenly in an older dog, needs a vet first. (Merck (owners), ASPCA)
Mild: try these steps
Occasional signs tied to one trigger, such as a storm, that pass once it does. Give a safe retreat and move your dog away from the trigger. (VCA)
Moderate: start a plan, talk to your vet
Clear signs whenever your dog is left alone, or anxiety that is frequent or has many triggers. Start a step-by-step plan and book a vet check. (ASPCA, VCA)
Severe or sudden: see your vet now
Growling, snapping or biting, a sudden change in an older dog, or panic that injures your dog as it tries to escape. (Merck (owners), ASPCA, ASPCA)
Dog anxiety signs score
Twelve signs from the ASPCA, Merck and VCA lists. Answer for the last few weeks. Anything you skip counts as no. The result updates as you go.
Your tally
Mild: try these steps
This is a sign tally, not a diagnosis. Only a vet can tell anxiety from pain or illness.
Signs by type (0 of 12 seen; 0 answered yes)
- Separation-related0
- Noise or situational0
- Generalised0
- Possible medical cause0
Why
- Few or occasional signs: give your dog a quiet retreat, remove it from the trigger and do not force it to face what scares it. (a Zooming Paws tally rule, not a clinical cut-off) (VCA)
A guide, not a diagnosis. If you are worried, call your vet whatever this says.
In short
Key takeaways
- Anxiety is worry about a threat that is not present; fear is a response to one that is. (Merck, VCA)
- Separation anxiety signs happen only when your dog is alone, and typically start within the first 15 to 30 minutes after you leave. (ASPCA, Merck)
- Pain is an important hidden cause: signs of pain turned up in 28% to 82% of dogs in a study of veterinary behaviour cases. (Merck)
- Treatment is reward-based behaviour modification and changes at home, sometimes with medication from your vet. Punishment makes anxiety worse. (AVSAB, ASPCA, Merck)
How the score works
How the dog anxiety signs score works
The score lists twelve signs named by the ASPCA, the Merck Veterinary Manual and VCA, each answered yes, sometimes or no. Each sign counts towards one of four types: separation-related, noise or situational, generalised, or a possible medical cause. (ASPCA, Merck, VCA)
Aggression when approached, or sudden anxiety in an older dog, answered yes or sometimes, always gives Severe or sudden: see your vet now: both need a vet first. (Merck (owners), ASPCA)
The line between mild and moderate is a Zooming Paws tally rule, not a clinical cut-off: no source gives a number of signs. You get Moderate: start a plan, talk to your vet for a firm yes to any sign that happens when your dog is alone, or for three or more yes answers. That follows what the sources do say: separation signs beyond the mildest need a desensitisation plan, and a dog stressed often or by many triggers should see a vet. (ASPCA, VCA)
Three worked examples
| Answers given | Count by type | Result | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trembling, hiding, refusing food: yes. Lip licking: sometimes. | Situational three, generalised one | Moderate: start a plan, talk to your vet | Three yes answers meet our tally line for frequent anxiety. (VCA) |
| Barking when left alone: yes. | Separation one | Moderate: start a plan, talk to your vet | A clear sign when alone points to separation anxiety and a step-by-step plan. (ASPCA) |
| Older dog, sudden onset: sometimes. Pacing and house soiling when alone: yes. | Medical, generalised and separation, one each | Severe or sudden: see your vet now | A sudden change in an older dog outranks every other answer. (ASPCA) |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Types
Types of anxiety in dogs
Vets separate fear (a response to a real threat), anxiety (worry about one that is not there) and phobia (a fear out of proportion to the danger). Noise phobia often comes with separation distress, so many dogs fit more than one type. (Merck)
| Type | What it looks like | Read next | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separation-related | Barking, destruction at exits, house soiling or escape attempts only when alone, typically starting within the first 15 to 30 minutes | Separation anxiety | (Merck, ASPCA) |
| Noise | Panting, pacing and hiding, up to panic and escape, with storms, fireworks or gunshots; the most common anxiety trait (32%) in one large survey | Calming by trigger | (VCA, Merck, Salonen 2020) |
| Situational | Hiding, turning away, panting or refusing food at the vet, with visitors or in new places | Calming by trigger | (VCA) |
| Generalised | Persistent worry with no single trigger: trouble settling, constant watchfulness | Calming at home | (Merck) |
| Age-related or cognitive | New fears or night restlessness in an older dog; anxiety is one sign of cognitive dysfunction | See a vet first | (Merck, ASPCA) |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Signs
Signs of anxiety in dogs, by category
Context matters: lip licking can just mean your dog wants a treat. Our dog body language chart shows the postures; the shaking and panting guides cover medical causes, and the barking cause finder covers barking. (VCA)
| Sign | Counts as | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pacing or restlessness | Generalised | (VCA, Merck) |
| Panting without heat or exercise | Generalised | (VCA) |
| Lip licking or yawning | Generalised | (Merck, VCA) |
| Trembling or shaking | Noise or situational | (Merck (owners)) |
| Hiding or trying to get away | Noise or situational | (VCA, VCA) |
| Refusing food in certain situations | Noise or situational | (VCA) |
| Destruction when alone | Separation-related | (ASPCA) |
| House soiling when alone | Separation-related | (ASPCA) |
| Barking or howling when alone | Separation-related | (ASPCA) |
| Escape attempts | Separation-related | (ASPCA, Merck (owners)) |
| Aggression when approached | Possible medical cause | (Merck (owners), ASPCA) |
| Sudden onset in an older dog | Possible medical cause | (ASPCA) |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Causes
What causes anxiety in dogs?
- Genes: temperament can be inherited. (Merck (owners), Merck)
- Early life: stress before birth and poor socialisation between 3 and 12 weeks of age. (Merck)
- Experience: a frightening event, repeated exposure to a scary noise, or past punishment. (VCA, Merck (owners))
- Change: a new family, schedule or home, or someone leaving the household, is linked to separation anxiety. (ASPCA)
- Pain: 28% to 82% of dogs seen by veterinary behaviourists in one study showed signs of pain. (Merck)
- Age: hearing loss, cognitive decline, arthritis or hypothyroidism in older dogs. (ASPCA)
Breeds
Are some dog breeds more prone to anxiety?
Breed plays a role, as a tendency rather than a rule. A survey of the owners of 13,700 pet dogs in Finland found large differences between breeds in every anxiety trait. Noise sensitivity was most common in Lagotto Romagnolos and Wheaten Terriers, and fearfulness in Spanish Water Dogs and Shetland Sheepdogs; Labrador Retrievers were rarely fearful. (Salonen 2020)
These are owner reports from one country, not a ranking. Early experience matters as well as genes, and any dog can become anxious. (Salonen 2020, Merck)
At home
How to help a dog with anxiety at home
Use only reward-based methods: the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior does not support aversives in any context. (AVSAB)
- Use the score above and note when the signs happen: alone, at noises, with people, or all the time.
- Set up a safe retreat your dog already links with treats, open before the trigger starts. (Merck, VCA)
- When stress signs appear, calmly move your dog away from the trigger; never force it to face the fear. (VCA)
- Mask sounds with white noise and keep the routine predictable. (VCA, Merck)
- For mild separation worries, give a food puzzle each time you leave, plus at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day (see dog exercise). (ASPCA)
- Never punish anxiety: it is distress, not disobedience. (ASPCA, AVSAB)
Red flags
Dog anxiety signs that need a vet now
- Growling, snapping or biting, especially when approached or touched (Merck (owners), ASPCA)
- Anxiety or night restlessness that started suddenly in an older dog (ASPCA)
- Injuries from escape attempts or frantic chewing (ASPCA)
- Panic during noises, with attempts to escape (Merck (owners))
- Signs of pain: less sociable, reluctant to be handled, snapping at other pets (VCA)
- Stress that happens often or with many triggers (VCA)
Getting help
When to see a vet vs a veterinary behaviourist
Start with your own vet, who checks for a physical cause first, then treats it, prescribes or refers you on. (VCA, VCA)
A veterinary behaviourist is a vet who has also completed an internship, a 3 to 5 year behaviour residency and a board exam, certified by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB). They treat medical and behaviour causes together. (VCA) Find one through the college at dacvb.org.
| Who | When to choose them | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Your vet | First, for anxiety that is new, frequent or has many triggers | (VCA, ASPCA) |
| Veterinary behaviourist | Intense anxiety, aggression, illness signs or a sudden change | (VCA, ASPCA) |
| Trainer | Alongside a vet plan; training is unregulated, so ask for reward-based methods | (VCA, AVSAB) |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
For aggression, see a vet before anything else; our reactive dog guide covers managing it meanwhile. (ASPCA)
Treatment
Dog anxiety treatment: what a vet may discuss
Treatment combines behaviour modification (desensitisation, counterconditioning, positive reinforcement), changes at home (avoiding triggers, routines, a safe haven) and, for some dogs, medication. Medication alone is usually not enough, and a separation plan can take months. (Merck, VCA)
The drug classes the Merck Veterinary Manual lists for behaviour problems are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), azapirones, serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors, alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, gabapentinoids, benzodiazepines, and a monoamine oxidase inhibitor for cognitive dysfunction. Your vet may discuss one; whether any suits your dog is your vet’s call. (Merck)
Merck also lists pheromones, supplements and diets as adjuncts: see calming treats for dogs and anxiety vests. (Merck)
The guides
Every dog anxiety guide, one problem at a time
- Training plan generator
Separation anxiety in dogs
Separation anxiety or boredom? A quick splitter, then a week-by-week graduated departure plan.
Read the guide - Alone-time calculator
How long can a dog be left alone?
A sourced time range by age and situation, and what to put in place for longer days.
Read the guide - Trigger picker
How to calm an anxious dog
Pick the trigger, from storms to vet visits, and get a before, during and after checklist.
Read the guide - Label checker
Calming treats for dogs
What L-theanine, tryptophan, melatonin, CBD and the rest actually did in published studies.
Read the guide - Vest size finder
Dog anxiety vests
Find the size band from the makers’ charts, and what the studies found on pressure wraps.
Read the guide - Reactivity profile
Reactive dog
Pick the trigger and the reaction to get a management and training outline.
Read the guide - Cat anxiety checker
Cat anxiety
A cat stress sign checker, causes, separation anxiety in cats and the five pillars.
Read the guide
For other behaviour, start at the dog behaviour checker.
FAQ
Questions people ask
- What are the signs of anxiety in dogs?
- The common signs are pacing, panting when it is not hot, trembling, hiding, yawning, lip licking and refusing food in stressful situations. If the worry is about being alone, look for barking, chewing at doors, house soiling or escape attempts only while you are out. Growling or snapping when approached needs a vet check first. (VCA, ASPCA, Merck)
- What causes sudden anxiety in dogs?
- A sudden change usually has a trigger or a medical cause. Pain is an important one. In older dogs, hearing loss, cognitive decline and treatable illnesses such as arthritis or thyroid disease can show up as new fears or night restlessness. A move, a new routine or a change in the household can also set it off. (Merck, ASPCA, ASPCA)
- What can I give my dog for anxiety?
- Start with a vet check rather than a product, because pain and illness can look like anxiety. Your vet may discuss behaviour modification, changes at home and, for some dogs, prescription medicine, usually alongside training rather than instead of it. Pheromones, some supplements and diets are listed as adjuncts. Never give a human medicine without your vet’s advice. (Merck, ASPCA, VCA)
- Which dog breeds are most prone to anxiety?
- Breed plays a part, but it is not the whole story. A large Finnish survey found big differences between breeds in every anxiety trait, with Lagotto Romagnolos and Wheaten Terriers often noise sensitive and Labrador Retrievers rarely fearful. Early experience and socialisation matter too, so a dog of any breed can become anxious. (Salonen 2020, Merck (owners), Merck)
- Should I comfort my dog when it is anxious?
- Stay calm and help your dog get away from what scares it, without fussing over it. VCA suggests luring your dog to a quieter spot with a treat, and not asking it to engage with you if stress signs increase. Never punish an anxious dog: it is a distress response, not disobedience. (VCA, ASPCA)
- What is the difference between fear and anxiety in dogs?
- Fear is a normal response to a threat that is really there, such as a thunderclap. Anxiety is a lasting worry about a threat that is not present, so the dog stays tense or watchful when nothing is happening. A phobia is a persistent fear out of all proportion to the danger, often showing as panic. (Merck, Merck (owners))
Sources
Where this comes from
Every figure and threshold on this page comes from the veterinary sources below, and each one is linked where it is used. Where no source gives a cut-off, we say call your vet rather than invent one.
Behavior Problems of Dogs
Merck Veterinary Manual - dated September 2025 - read 2026-10-27
merckvetmanual.comBehavior Problems in Dogs
Merck Veterinary Manual, pet owner version - dated April 2026 - read 2026-10-27
merckvetmanual.comSeparation Anxiety
ASPCA - read 2026-10-27
aspca.orgAggression
ASPCA - read 2026-10-27
aspca.orgBehavior Problems in Older Dogs
ASPCA - read 2026-10-27
aspca.orgSigns Your Dog Is Stressed and How to Relieve It
VCA Animal Hospitals - dated March 24, 2025 - read 2026-10-27
vcahospitals.comFear of Noises in Dogs
VCA Animal Hospitals - dated 2024-02-07 - read 2026-10-27
vcahospitals.comDo I Need a Trainer, a Behaviorist, or a Veterinary Behaviorist?
VCA Animal Hospitals - read 2026-10-27
vcahospitals.comHow to Recognize Pain in Aging Dogs
VCA Animal Hospitals - dated January 19, 2026 - read 2026-10-27
vcahospitals.comPosition Statements
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior - read 2026-10-27
avsab.orgPrevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs
Scientific Reports (via PubMed Central) - dated 2020 - read 2026-10-27
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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Last reviewed . Estimate only. For health questions, ask your vet.