Did you know that some dogs can experience anxiety in social situations? This type of problem, known as social anxiety, causes discomfort, tension, and apprehension during everyday moments when the dog has contact with other people or other dogs. It can happen while walking in parks, walking in a crowd, or even when a visitor comes to your home.
Many don’t realize it, but all dogs need proper socialization. The lack of socialization can have a big negative impact on your pup’s life, causing social anxiety, fear, or even aggression.
To help you better understand what social anxiety in dogs is, we explain the signs, the main causes, and how to treat it below.
Continue reading for tips that you can put into practice to help your furry friend with this problem.
Signs your dog is suffering from social anxiety
A dog with social anxiety may exhibit some specific behaviors, such as:
- Aggressiveness: The dog tends to growl, bark, or even lunge towards other people or other dogs.
- Shyness and fear: Your dog may choose to chase after you in the presence of other people or even whimper.
- Nervousness: Your pup may be very nervous and breathe heavily. In extreme cases, the dog may drool, pee, or defecate out of nervousness.
Causes of social anxiety in dogs
Dogs that aren’t introduced to new experiences can be anxious in social situations, especially when they involve new people or even other furry friends.
To avoid this type of problem, it is necessary that your dog is continuously socialized since puppyhood to learn to deal with different everyday situations. In this content, we share tips on how to socialize your pup.
Social anxiety is also very common in dogs that have been rescued and adopted, especially when there are signs of abuse or neglect by their former owners. These dogs end up going through negative experiences with people and therefore associate them with something bad.
Read more: Dog Depression: How to Help Your Dog?
How to treat social anxiety in dogs?
The first thing you need to do when you notice that your dog is suffering from social anxiety is to try to find out what causes this reaction.
You need to be extremely patient and respect your dog’s limits to really help him effectively.
If your dog is afraid of somewhere and tends to get anxious when approaching, you can take him to that place every day, keeping him a safe distance away. Gradually, bring your dog closer and closer, until he is no longer afraid of that place. It’s a slow process, but it’s worth it.
If anxiety about other dogs is the case, it’s important that you don’t force this approach. You must introduce your dog to another dog cautiously and slowly. Choose a calm dog and keep him at a comfortable distance for short periods of time. Gradually, you will be able to decrease the distance between the dogs and increase the contact time, making your pup start to tolerate other dogs in social environments.
It is your responsibility to make your dog feel comfortable in any kind of environment. Your dog doesn’t have to love social interactions, but he must be able to tolerate them without any reactivity. If you need help, we’d recommend reaching out to a Balanced Dog Trainer.
Read more: Does my Dog Have Separation Anxiety?
Dog Walker Astoria
If you require help providing socialization opportunities for your dog and you live in Astoria, you can enroll your pup in daily Socialization Walks with Buster and Whiskers. We offer daily 1-hour Socialization Walks. If your pup is under-socialized, we will work with them to help desensitize them and get them ready for our Group Socialization Walks. You must live within our Astoria coverage area. In addition, your dog must be up-to-date on all required vaccinations. Laying a strong foundation in socialization is the best gift you can give your pup for a long and happy life together!
Buster and Whiskers is The #1 Dog Walking Service in Astoria, NY. If your dog needs more exercise or social interaction, enroll your pup in daily Socialization Walks with us. Contact us for a professional and reliable Dog Walker in Astoria! Follow us on Instagram.
