If your dog has separation anxiety or is very anxious in general, it can become difficult to do many things. Dogs and anxiety have the tendency of controlling much of your life if you don’t get a handle on the situation.

If your dog gets anxious every time you get ready to go out of the house, you may be contributing to the situation because you get excited or anxious yourself. Attempt to make every departure low-keyed and don’t rush out the door. If you habitually exercise this exit strategy, your dog’s anxious reaction to your leaving will continually decrease.

Pretend to be leaving at all times of the day by doing the things that you usually do (picking up car keys, putting on a coat, and so forth) just before you leave. If you do this often enough and don’t leave, when you actually depart, it’s not as traumatic for the dog.

Don’t let your dog dictate to you when you are to do things. Just because he suddenly wants to play, eat, or do something doesn’t mean you have to oblige. Teach the dog that he does things when you tell him that he can.

Exercise is a good thing for dogs and anxiety. Your pet will sleep most of the day if you don’t motivate him to move around some. Physical exertion works with animals similarly to how it does with humans; it is subduing and relaxing. Young dogs can benefit from twenty minutes to an hour and a half of running or mobile exercise each day.

Interaction with other animals or people is good because it conditions the dog to expect new things. Dogs that spend much of their time alone or with just one or two people are not socially balanced, and this makes them more anxious when they are in a situation where they must socialize. Dogs and anxiety are a common combination, but not one that cannot usually be worked through with a little patience and effort.