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Understanding anxiety in dogs

Anxiety, for dogs and humans, is simply a cycle of fear or worry that runs on repeat. For some dogs their anxious behaviours are caused by fireworks, for others it’s the postman, visitors, getting in the car, or being left alone. Living with an anxious dog can feel frustrating at times, but a dog’s anxiety isn’t stubbornness or bad behaviour, it’s an emotional response that tells you your dog feels unsafe or uncertain about something. 

Studies suggest that around 70% of dogs show at least one anxiety-related behaviour, such as fear of noise, separation-type distress (separation anxiety) or social worries (Salonen et al., 2020). That means your dog isn’t unusual, but that anxiety is better seen as something to manage, not ‘fix’.

Why anxiety happens

Just like people, dogs develop anxiety through a mix of genetics, experience, and their environment. Early trauma, unpredictable handling, or too little socialisation can leave lasting impressions. The research backs this up, too. A study in 2015 found that these factors, plus too little exercise at an early age, have been shown to influence anxiety levels later on in life (Tiira & Lohi, 2015).

Medical factors can also play a part. Pain, chronic inflammation, or thyroid changes may all make a dog more sensitive to stress signals. A quick vet check can help to rule out any underlying causes, before you focus on behaviour, diet or supplement changes.

Spotting the early signs

You’ll often notice little clues before big meltdowns. Shaking, drooling, panting, or hiding can all point to rising stress in your dog. Some dogs get clingy, and others might get quiet, shut down, and ‘retreat’ into themselves. Research into stress physiology shows anxious dogs can display measurable changes in heart rate and stress hormones, even before obvious signs appear (King et al., 2000). While you won’t be measuring clinical stress markers at home, the small, everyday signs that your dog’s on edge often appear long before full-blown anxiety does.

If you can, note what’s happening around these early behaviours so you can find patterns or triggers.

Calm-first steps that make a big difference

It sounds basic, but a solid routine is your best foundation. Dogs feel safer when they know what’s coming next - mealtimes, walks, naps, alone-time - all at roughly the same times each day. And whilst life can get in the way sometimes, predictability builds confidence, and becomes the cornerstone of anxiety management (Sherman & Mills, 2008). 

From there, and for further support, the gold-standard method is desensitisation and counter-conditioning: exposing your dog to a mild version of their ‘trigger’ (a soft sound, brief absence, or a short trip in the car), paired with something positive like a treat or play time, followed by gradual increases in their triggers over time. 

Where calming supplements fit in

Supplements can help smooth the process - they don’t sedate your dog, but instead support their ability to relax and focus, which can make calm-training more effective. When a dog’s baseline comfort improves, other behaviour strategies often start to work better too.

Common nutrients explored for their calming roles include amino acids such as L-tryptophan, L-theanine, and taurine, alongside supportive compounds like B-vitamins, that contribute to normal nervous-system function. Some blends also include L-tyrosine, a building block in neurotransmitter pathways linked to stress responses.

While behavioural trials in dogs are still limited for some of these nutrients, there’s growing interest in their supportive potential. Research shows L-tryptophan can help modulate mood-related neurotransmitters, particularly when paired with behaviour training (Sofyan et al., 2024), and one clinical study found L-theanine supplementation was associated with a reduction fear-related signs in dogs over one to two months of consistent use (Dramard et al., 2018).

Using supplements responsibly

Although straightforward, keep supplement use simple and consistent. Pick one product, follow its guidance and give it time to take effect alongside your behaviour plan.

Behavioural research shows that progress is gradual, and easiest to see through repeated, structured observation (Palestrini et al., 2010). Track two or three behaviours that matter to you most, such as barking or restlessness at bedtime, and note changes weekly rather than day-to-day. Keeping a behaviour diary like this is useful to help monitor progress and document triggers.

When to get professional help

If your dog’s distress is extreme, or you’ve seen little to no progress after several weeks of structured effort, it might be time for extra help. Severe or chronic anxiety sometimes needs medical or nutritional support alongside behavioural work. The BSAVA Manual of Behavioural Medicine notes that pharmacological aids may be appropriate for complex cases (BSAVA, 2021), which can be provided under veterinary guidance when appropriate to do so.