More than 70% of domestic dogs display anxiety—if your dog is one of them, you’re not alone! Generally caused by separation, stressful events, travelling, or even aging, anxiety can cause real disruption to your pup's way of life and behavioral changes.

There are several symptoms to look out for:

• Aggression

• Urinating or defecating in the house

• Panting

• Destructive behavior

• Depression

• Excessive barking

• Pacing

• Restlessness

• Repetitive or compulsive behaviors

First things first, talk with your veterinarian - He or she can help identify the type of anxiety your dog suffers from, possible triggers, and next steps. Since excessive anxiety is often caused by a variety of factors, the best way to treat it is usually through a combination of training, preventive strategies and calming supplements and in some cases, medications.

There are several training strategies pup parents can practice to prevent dog anxiety. One way is counterconditioning. The purpose of counterconditioning is to change your dog’s response to the stimuli responsible for anxiety, by pairing the sight, sounds and approach of the trigger with one of your dog’s favorite rewards to change the emotional state to one that is calm and positive. This may be accomplished by recognizing potential problems and using a sit and focus command, a turn around or maintaining a relaxed walk past the stimulus.

Another training strategy is desensitization. slowly introduce your dog to the source of anxiety, preferably in small doses and at a decreased intensity. Repeated exposure and rewarding positive behavior can go a long way toward managing anxiety.

A tired dog is a happy dog, and sometimes, the best home remedy for dog anxiety is getting them out of the house and letting them exercise. Even senior dogs need regular exercise, as long as it involves activities that are easier on their aging joints!

A change in busier routine, loneliness and the feeling of being cooped up are all possible contributors to stress that can be eliminated by simply taking your pup outside to stretch his legs and get some fresh air.

Playing your pet’s favorite music at a low volume can add another layer of calm to your pet’s environment while you are away from home. But first, make sure that your dog does indeed appreciate it by watching your dogs body language.

Fun fact: recent studies show dog's prefer soft rock & reggae over other genre's!

You can treat mild to moderate doggy stress with melatonin, a hormone that naturally rises in the bloodstream when animals sleep. Melatonin may help pets stay calm in the short-term (e.g., for a planned car trip or before a thunderstorm) or can help them sleep better!

CBD oil can be the solution for those looking for natural options to prescription anti-anxiety drugs and their potentially harmful side effects. CBD can help anxious dogs settle into happier routines both situationally and over the long term.

Anything that makes the body work better will make the brain work better. Some locations on a dog’s body—like the feet, the ears and the top of the head—are natural pressure points where as little as 15 minutes of massaging your pet will make a world of difference for their stress level.

Similarly, an acupuncturist can treat pet stress, sometimes as well or better than medication. The treatment stimulates the release of the body’s pain-relieving substances without any potentially adverse side effects.

Maybe therapy for your dog is as simple as 15 minutes of brushing every night. it not only will feel great for your pup, it’ll be more time he or she gets to spend with you! You will also have an opportunity to observe his skin for excessive licking, lesions or abrasions, which could be a sign of something more serious to get checked out.