How to help a dog with anxiety

Fireworks, car journeys, being left alone, trips to the vet – what worries one dog might not bother another in the slightest. And sometimes the things they find scary can take you completely by surprise.

Learning what makes your dog anxious, and how they show it, is a big part of helping them. Some situations call for a little extra reassurance there and then. Others need more time, patience and support from your vet or a qualified behaviourist.

Short term: How to help and anxious dog

When your dog’s worried, the first priority is helping them feel safe. You won’t always be able to remove whatever is bothering them, but you can make the situation a little easier.

1. Stay calm and never punish fearful behaviour

Some fearful behaviour can look like barking, hiding, toileting indoors or destructive behaviour. This can be difficult to deal with, but punishment can add to your dog’s stress. Keep your response calm, patient and focus on helping them feel safe.

2. Give them some distance from the trigger

If you know what’s upsetting your dog and you can avoid it for now, do. A quieter walking route, some space from visitors or avoiding a busy environment can give them a chance to settle while you work on the longer-term problem.

 3. Keep their routine familiar

When something is making your dog anxious, familiarity can help. Try to keep walks, meals, rest and bedtime routines as normal as possible, especially when something else in their world is changing.

 4. Give them somewhere safe to retreat

Some dogs want to hide when they’re worried. A quiet corner, covered crate, or cosy spot away from windows and household activity gives them somewhere to go when things get too much.

Let your dog choose whether to use it, and make sure everyone at home knows to leave them undisturbed when they do.

 5. Let them stay close if they want to

If your dog comes to you for reassurance, it’s fine to comfort them. Let them sit beside you, lean against you or have a gentle fuss if that’s what they want. 

Stay relaxed and take your cue from them. Some dogs want company when they’re anxious, while others would rather have some space.

 6. Soften outside noise

If loud or unpredictable sounds are the problem, close windows and curtains to help reduce the noise coming into the house. Familiar music, television or radio at a comfortable volume can also help mask sudden sounds.

 7. Offer something familiar to do

A favourite toy, gentle game or food-based activity may help redirect your dog’s attention. If they’re not interested, don’t push it. A dog who would rather retreat somewhere quiet should be allowed to do just that.

 8. Plan ahead for things you know they find difficult

Fireworks, journeys, visitors and other predictable events give you time to prepare. Set up their safe space in advance and think about what has helped your dog before.

If you’re using YuMOVE Calming Support around fireworks, start at least 1–3 weeks before firework season. You can use it for ongoing support or during times you know your dog may find stressful.

 9. Try a calming supplement

 YuMOVE Calming Support for Dogs is a daily supplement with natural, scientifically backed ingredients that help reduce stress, ease anxiety and support calm behaviour. Dogs can take it from 8 weeks old.

 Its ingredients include:

• Lemon Balm to help with feelings of relaxation, soothe stress and encourage calmer behaviour.
• GABA and L-Arginine to help maintain calming pathways in the brain and support relaxation.
• L-Tryptophan to support the production of serotonin.
• B Vitamins to support healthy brain function and help maintain the production of calming signals.
• Fish Protein Hydrolysates to support your dog’s brain and help ease anxiety.

For best results, YuMOVE recommends using Calming Support for 4–6 weeks. If your dog takes medication, especially medication for their behaviour, speak to your vet before use. 

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Long term: Helping your dog feel less anxious

Finding the trigger is only the start. If your dog regularly struggles with anxiety, you’ll want to understand what’s behind it and work on how they respond over time.

Step 1: Work out what triggers their anxiety

Once you know what your dog looks like when they’re anxious, pay attention to what happened just before.

Was it another dog? The doorbell? Being left alone? Getting into the car? A loud noise?

It can help to keep a simple note of what happened, where you were and how your dog reacted. Patterns are often easier to spot when you have a few examples in front of you, and those notes can be useful if you speak to your vet or behaviourist.

Step 2: Talk to your vet

If anxiety is regularly affecting your dog’s day-to-day life, talk to your vet. They can check whether pain, illness or another physical issue could be contributing to the change in behaviour.

If your dog needs specialist behavioural support, your vet may be able to point you towards an appropriately qualified behaviourist.

Step 3: Give them time

Changing how a dog feels about something they find frightening takes time. Stick with the plan you’ve agreed with your vet or behaviourist and don’t rush them because you think they should be ready for the next step.

Progress won’t always look dramatic. Your dog might recover more quickly after a noise, stay in the room rather than hiding or cope with a trigger from a little closer than before. Those changes count too.

Can calming supplements help dogs with anxiety?

Calming supplements can support dogs who feel anxious or stressed, whether that’s part of everyday life or linked to something specific, such as fireworks, travelling or being left alone.

YuMOVE Calming Support for Dogs uses natural, scientifically backed ingredients to help reduce stress, ease anxiety and support calm behaviour. It can be used long term for everyday support or short term when you know a stressful event is coming up.However every pet is different, and some may need more support. If anxiety is having a significant effect on your dog’s everyday life, their behaviour has suddenly changed or you’re concerned about their wellbeing, speak to your vet.