Dog stress and anxiety are reactions to a real, perceived, or expected threat, as the Merck Veterinary Manual defines fear and anxiety. Noise, other dogs, and strangers were common fears in a survey of 13,715 Finnish dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals lists yawning, licking, panting, and pinned-back ears as stress signs. Move your dog away from the trigger, and see your vet if stress happens often or with many triggers.
Key points
- Noise leads the triggers: in the Finnish survey, 32% of dogs were noise sensitive, and 26% feared fireworks.
- Stress can show in the body: VCA lists vomiting, diarrhea, refusing food, and sudden shedding among its signs.
- In the moment, move your dog away from the stressor and let it rest in a safe place at home.
- See your vet if stress happens often or with many triggers. A vet-recommended care plan may combine behavior modification, routine changes, and medicine.
What dog stress and anxiety are, and how fear and phobia differ
While stress, fear, anxiety, and phobia often overlap, each word means something specific. Stress is emotional strain or pressure. Fear and anxiety are responses to a threat that is real or expected. A phobia is an exaggerated fear that ends in panic.
The table below sets the four states side by side, using Merck's and VCA's definitions.
| State | What it is | Example | What helps first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stress | Feelings of emotional strain or pressure | Holidays or the mail carrier, which Cornell's guide to anxious behavior names as disruptions | Move your dog away from the stressor. Daily exercise and a safe place to retreat help |
| Fear | A normal response to a real or perceived threat | Fear of fireworks or other loud noises | Move your dog away from the trigger and let it retreat to its safe place |
| Anxiety | Fear or apprehension when a dog anticipates a threat | Separation anxiety: panic when left alone | Keep the day predictable; see your vet if it happens often or with many triggers |
| Phobia | An exaggerated fear response that is sudden and profound and results in panic | Noise phobia, most often a fear of thunderstorms | See your vet; a plan may combine behavior modification, routine changes and medicine |
What is the difference between stress and anxiety in dogs?
Stress is the wider term. VCA uses it for feelings of emotional strain or pressure. Anxiety is narrower. In Merck's words, it is a response to fear or apprehension when a dog anticipates a threat. Fear and anxiety can also look alike, since signs such as avoidance, shaking, and trembling can come with both.
What noise phobia and separation anxiety look like
Merck describes noise phobia as a sudden and profound response to noise that leads to intense anxiety, panic, or attempts to escape confinement. Fear of thunderstorms, fireworks, and other loud noises is the most common form.
Separation anxiety is a syndrome in which a dog panics when left alone. The dog may bark, pace, or eliminate inside the house. Signs are often most severe within the first 15 to 30 minutes.
The goal is not a dog that never feels stress. It is fewer and milder episodes, and a faster return to calm.
How do I know if my dog is stressed? Warning signs from early to severe
Look for small signals as well as obvious ones. Lip licking, yawning, rapid blinking, and ears pinned back are easy to miss, while panting, pacing, shaking, and hiding are hard to overlook.
Learn what your dog looks like when relaxed, because one sign alone can have an ordinary cause, such as a yawn when tired or panting when hot. VCA, for example, counts weight shifted to the rear legs as a stress sign only in a dog with no orthopedic problem.
Early signs that are easy to miss
Cornell's list of anxiety signs and VCA's list of stress signs include:
- Lip licking or yawning
- Ears pulled down or pinned back
- The whites of the eyes showing
- Dilated pupils and rapid blinking
- Weight shifted to the rear legs, or cowering
Clear signs of stress
These signs are easier to spot. Cornell and VCA list most of them, while hiding is included in Cornell's page on fear of fireworks and thunderstorms.
- Panting
- Pacing, shaking, or trembling
- Whining or excessive barking
- Drooling
- Hiding or avoiding the situation by focusing elsewhere
- A tucked tail or stiff body
Can stress make a dog sick?
Yes, stress can affect your dog’s body. VCA lists sudden shedding, an urgent need to pee or poop, vomiting, diarrhea, and refusing food as possible stress signs. If stomach troubles persist or you notice other signs of illness, call your vet to find out what’s causing them.
Severe signs: panic
Merck and Cornell list these severe signs:
- Panic
- Destructive behavior
- Digging at doors
-
Trying to escape a room or crate
If your dog panics or tries to escape, call your vet. Don’t wait for panic to pass.
For signs grouped by intensity, see mild, moderate and severe anxiety signs.
What triggers anxiety in dogs, and how common is each trigger?
Loud noises topped the list. In an online survey of owners of 13,715 Finnish pet dogs across 264 breeds, 32% reported noise sensitivity, the most common anxiety-related trait. Owners reported fear of fireworks in 26% of dogs.
Salonen and colleagues published the survey in Scientific Reports (2020). Owners chose to participate and reported their dogs’ signs, so these percentages may not reflect dogs overall.
The table shows how common each trait was among dogs in the survey.
| Trait | Share of 13,715 dogs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Noise sensitivity | 32% | The most common trait in the survey |
| General fearfulness | 29% | More common in female dogs |
| Fear of fireworks | 26% | See fireworks and thunder in the calm plan below |
| Fear of surfaces and heights | 23.5% | Build tolerance in small, positive steps, as in the day-to-day section below |
| Fear of other dogs | 17% | See strangers and other dogs on walks in the calm plan |
| Fear of strangers | 15% | See doorbell and visitors in the calm plan |
| Fear of novel situations | 11% | See moving house and a new rescue dog in the calm plan |
| Separation-related behavior | 5% to 6% | Reported far less often than noise fears in this sample |
What causes anxiety in dogs?
Genes, frightening experiences, missed socialization, illness, aging, harsh training, and everyday disruptions can all contribute to anxiety.
- Genes and frightening experiences. Some dogs inherit a tendency toward fears or phobias. According to VCA's guide to fears and phobias in dogs, one frightening experience can create intense fear that extends to other situations.
- Missed early socialization. Cornell lists limited socialization during puppyhood as one reason dogs may fear loud noises.
- Illness or aging. Cornell also notes that illness can contribute to anxiety, which may worsen as aging changes brain chemistry.
- Harsh training. Punishment or confrontation during training can increase fear, avoidance, and aggression, according to Merck's guide to behavior modification in dogs.
- Everyday disruptions. Cornell names holidays and visits from mail carriers as events that can unsettle anxious dogs.
Can a dog suddenly develop anxiety?
Yes. One frightening experience can trigger intense fear, and Cornell lists underlying illness as a reason dogs may develop a fear of loud noises. If your dog suddenly seems anxious, contact your vet to check for a medical cause, as explained in the vet section below.
Do dogs get more anxious with age?
Some do. In the Finnish survey, noise sensitivity, especially fear of thunder, was more common in older dogs. Cornell notes that canine cognitive dysfunction usually affects senior dogs. If your older dog develops new fears, see the vet section below.
A calm plan for 12 common situations
Start by helping your dog move away from whatever is upsetting them. Over time, build their comfort through small, positive steps. The table offers a first step for 12 common situations, with supporting sources and links to a full HolistaPet guide where available.
Each row’s source appears in that row or earlier in this article.
| Situation | What you may see | First steps | Read next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fireworks and thunder | Trembling, panting, pacing, drooling, hiding, digging at doors or trying to escape | If you can, use a room where sounds are naturally muted, and start noise training at a time of year when storms or fireworks are unlikely, as VCA's guide to fear of storms and fireworks advises. Keep your dog leashed, even in a fenced yard, keep ID and microchip details current, and talk to your vet about medicine well in advance. | What to do on fireworks night |
| Being left alone | Panic, barking, pacing, or accidents in the house, often worst in the first 15 to 30 minutes | Ask your vet about a behavior modification plan built on desensitization and counterconditioning. | Step-by-step help for separation anxiety |
| Doorbell and visitors | Refusing treats, trembling, cowering, or trying to get away | Until door training is complete, take your dog out of the area before you open the door, as VCA's advice on door greetings suggests. Never hold your dog still to force a greeting; let it choose not to interact. | Training steps in the day-to-day section below |
| Halloween and holiday gatherings | Any of the stress signs above, such as pacing, barking, or hiding | Unless your dog is very social, keep it in a separate, comfortable room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours, as the ASPCA's Halloween safety tips advise. During holiday visits, keep the normal schedule for meals and walks and a quiet area to retreat to, per Cornell's page on holiday hazards. | Daily habits in the day-to-day section below |
| Vet visits | Panting, tense lips, vocalizing, or trying to escape when handled | Practice gentle handling at home: first sessions of a few seconds, then a minute, and finally 3 to 5 minutes, per VCA's handling exercises. Take a break at any of these signs. | The vet section below |
| Grooming and nail trims | Pulling the paw away or moving off the nail-care area | Keep sessions short (a minute or two) and frequent (a few days a week). VCA's nail-trim advice warns that forcibly restraining a dog by hand or in a hammock or sling carries a high risk of worsening fear. A dog that is already fearful may need weeks, months, or longer. | Training steps in the day-to-day section below |
| Car rides | Signs that look like car sickness, even in a car that is not moving; fear of the car can contribute, per Merck's page on motion sickness | Before a long trip, take short practice rides in the carrier if your dog uses one. If your dog links its carrier with vet visits, Merck's car-travel advice is to take it in the carrier to fun places, such as a dog park. Your vet can also prescribe medicine. | Why some dogs pant and shake in the car |
| Boarding or a pet sitter | Eating or drinking less during the first few boarding stays, which is normal | Book a short trial stay, such as a weekend or a few days, before a long one, as VCA's boarding advice suggests. If your dog is very stressed, your vet may prescribe calming medicine or other treatment. | The vet section below |
| Moving house | Any of the stress signs above | Keep meals and walks on the old schedule. Set times for meals, walks, play, and training. Add predictability. | Daily habits in the day-to-day section below |
| A new rescue dog | Refusing food, trembling, cowering, or trying to escape when people approach | Keep a predictable daily schedule, and let your dog choose when to greet people. Stop any greeting if these signs appear. | Daily habits in the day-to-day section below |
| Puppies | From 3 to 14 weeks of age, puppies are ready to accept new people and animals | Arrange socialization at least twice a week until 16 weeks, then weekly positive social contact for at least another year. | The prevention section below |
| Strangers and other dogs on walks | Refusing treats, trembling, cowering, or trying to escape | Keep enough distance that your dog can still take treats. Do not scold a frightened dog. | Training a dog that reacts on walks |
How to help a dog with anxiety day to day
First, remove your dog from the stressor. Then follow a predictable routine and reward calm behavior in small steps.
How to calm a stressed dog in the moment
- Move your dog away from what’s upsetting them.
- Let your dog retreat to a safe, familiar spot at home, away from whatever is causing stress.
- Avoid scolding or punishment. VCA warns this can make a frightened dog more fearful, even around you.
- Don’t hold your dog in place to greet someone. Let them decide whether to interact.
Should you comfort a scared dog?
Yes. First, help your dog move away from what’s frightening them and settle in their safe place. Offer gentle petting if they welcome it. Once they relax, reward their calm posture with a treat or gentle massage, as described on VCA's noise-training page.
Build a predictable day
A predictable day can help your dog feel more at ease. Cornell recommends consistent times for meals, walks, play, and training. VCA also suggests exercise to ease stress and a safe spot at home where your dog can retreat when something upsets them.
Print this daily calm-routine checklist and check off each item:
- Meals at set times
- Walks at set times
- Daily exercise
- A safe spot your dog can always access
- One short, reward-based training session
- A quick diary note about any triggers you notice
Desensitization and counterconditioning, in plain words
Desensitization helps your dog get comfortable with a trigger through small, gentle steps. Counterconditioning pairs that trigger with something enjoyable to build a more positive response.
Merck suggests playing a doorbell recording quietly, then increasing the volume only while your dog feels calm. Progress takes time and patience. VCA notes that noise training can take several weeks.
Reward calm, and choose a reward-based trainer
Reward relaxed body language with treats, as VCA’s noise-training page recommends. Cornell advises avoiding trainers who use harsh methods or punishment. Never punish a frightened dog. VCA warns this may lead to aggressive responses.
How to prevent dog anxiety, starting in puppyhood
Start early. Between 3 and 14 weeks, puppies are especially open to meeting new people and animals. VCA recommends socialization at least twice weekly until 16 weeks, then positive social contact weekly for at least another year.
Can you prevent anxiety in dogs?
You can’t prevent every fear, since some dogs inherit a tendency toward fears or phobias. But you can help through positive early experiences, short and gentle training sessions, and a predictable routine at home.
At what age should puppies be socialized?
Puppies focus on other dogs between 3 and 8 weeks, then increasingly on people between 5 and 12 weeks, according to Merck's guide to normal social behavior in dogs. Puppies raised only in kennels or without human contact by 14 weeks may struggle to develop social skills.
Keep each experience short and positive
One bad experience can lead to lasting fear, so keep sessions short and enjoyable. Stop if your puppy refuses food, trembles, cowers, or tries to escape.
Teach puppies that fireworks mean good things
In a 2019 PLOS ONE survey of owners of 1,225 dogs, owners reported fewer later firework fears when puppies or non-fearful adult dogs learned to associate fireworks with good things. These findings came from owner reports, not a controlled trial.
Preventing new fears in adult dogs
Adult dogs benefit from the same approach: predictable routines and gradual introductions to new things, using the desensitization steps above.
When to see your vet or a veterinary behaviorist
See your vet if your dog often seems stressed or reacts to many triggers. If they hurt themselves trying to escape during panic, such as breaking nails or teeth or getting cuts, call your vet that day.
A sudden change in behavior, or new fears in an older dog, is also a reason to book a visit.
What happens at the vet visit
Your vet first checks for health problems that could affect your dog’s behavior, according to Merck's guide to diagnosing behavior problems in dogs. They’ll also ask about your dog’s behavior and history. Bringing a video can help them understand what’s happening and make an accurate diagnosis.
When a veterinary behaviorist can help
VCA recommends seeking qualified help as soon as you notice intense fear of people or animals. Most board-certified veterinary behaviorists work at veterinary colleges or private referral practices. Ask your vet for a referral.
What will a vet give my dog for anxiety?
It depends on your dog. A plan may include behavior modification, a change in the daily routine, medicine to relieve physical discomfort, and medicine to reduce the emotional response to triggers, VCA explains. Merck notes that many fear-related problems can be treated with behavior modification programs that focus on desensitization and counterconditioning, and that a veterinarian may also prescribe medicine.
Cornell names fluoxetine, clomipramine, trazodone, and dexmedetomidine among the medicines a veterinarian may choose. Only your vet can decide whether a medicine fits your dog, and at what dose.
A 14-day stress diary for the visit
Merck lists what the vet's behavioral history covers:
- Your dog's age, sex and breed
- The age when the problem started
- How long it has gone on
- What your dog does
- How often it happens
- How long an episode lasts
Keep this diary for 14 days, one line per episode, and bring it with any phone videos to the visit. On each line, write down:
- The date and time
- The trigger
- What your dog did
- How long it took your dog to calm down
- What helped
- Whether you saved a video (yes or no)
Calm-support products: where they fit
Calm-support products are an add-on to the routine and training above, not a treatment, and any medicine is your vet's choice.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has not approved cannabis for any use in animals and cannot ensure the safety or effectiveness of these products. You should talk with your veterinarian about appropriate treatment options.
Pressure wraps and static-reducing capes have been designed to reduce anxiety, but a 2019 VCA review found minimal data to support their efficacy.
For everyday calm as part of a daily routine, HolistaPet makes CBD Calming Chews for Dogs, CBD calming treats, and Sleep Aid for Dogs. You can see HolistaPet's calm products in the CBD calming dog treats collection. Each is meant to support a calm, relaxed mood alongside the habits above. Ask your vet before adding any supplement, especially if your dog takes medicine.
Learn more about these pet favorites below.
| Product | Format | Label facts |
|---|---|---|
| CBD Calming Chews for Dogs | Soft chew, peanut butter flavor | Broad-spectrum CBD; 5, 10 or 20 mg of CBD per chew; 30 chews per pouch (150 to 600 mg of CBD per pouch) |
| HolistaPet's CBD calming treats | Hard chew, peanut butter apple flavor | Broad-spectrum CBD with chamomile and L-theanine; vegan ingredients; each batch third-party tested |
| Sleep Aid for Dogs | Soft chew | Melatonin, chamomile, passion flower, L-theanine, ashwagandha, valerian root and tryptophan; 30 or 60 chews |
If you want the background first, read how CBD interacts with a dog's body.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version). Behavior Problems in Dogs. 2026.
- Scientific Reports. Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs (Salonen M, Sulkama S, Mikkola S, et al.). 2020.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Signs Your Dog is Stressed and How to Relieve It. 2025.
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Riney Canine Health Center. Anxious behavior: How to help your dog cope with unsettling situations. 2025.
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Riney Canine Health Center. Fear of fireworks and thunderstorms. Undated.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Fears and Phobias in Dogs: Animals and People. 2024.
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version). Behavior Modification in Dogs. 2026.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Treating Fear of Storms and Fireworks in Dogs. 2026.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Dog Behavior Problems: Barking and Jumping at the Door. 2023.
- ASPCA. Halloween Safety Tips. Undated.
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Riney Canine Health Center. Holiday hazards for dogs. 2024.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Successful Nail Trims: Training for Happy Handling. 2023.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Taking the Stress out of Nail Trimming for Dogs. 2025.
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version). Motion Sickness in Dogs. 2024.
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Special Pet Topics). Traveling by Car With Pets. 2025.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Boarding Your Dog. 2025.
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version). Normal Social Behavior in Dogs. 2026.
- PLOS ONE. Not a one-way road: Severity, progression and prevention of firework fears in dogs (Riemer S). 2019.
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version). Diagnosing Behavior Problems in Dogs. 2026.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including Cannabidiol (CBD). 2024.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Behavior Management Products for Dogs. 2019.
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