84% of Dogs Show Anxiety or Fear
That's a huge number!
Texas A&M reported on a 2026 study using Dog Aging Project data from 43,517 dogs. Across all nine fear/anxiety questions, 91% of dogs had at least one mild-to-moderate fear rating or higher. When grooming-related fears like nail trims and baths were removed, the number was still 84%. The most common categories included fear of unfamiliar dogs, unfamiliar people, sudden/loud noises, and unfamiliar situations.
Are We Missing Anxiety in Our Dogs?
A new study using data from the Dog Aging Project looked at more than 43,000 dogs across the United States and found that fear and anxiety-related behaviors are far more common than many pet parents realize.
Not rare.
Not “just your dog.”
Not something only rescue dogs, abused dogs, tiny dogs, or “nervous breeds” deal with.
According to the study, more than 84% of dogs showed at least mild signs of fear or anxiety in everyday situations when grooming-related fears were excluded. Across all nine fear-related questions, that number was even higher.
So I have to ask…
Are we not noticing anxiety anymore?
Are we so used to seeing dogs bark, tremble, pace, hide, react, cling, lunge, shut down, refuse food, or panic during storms that we’ve started treating it like normal dog behavior?
Or have we noticed it, tried a thing or three, and then quietly gave up because it didn’t “fix” the problem fast enough?
That happens more often than people want to admit.
A calming chew didn’t work.
The thunder shirt didn’t work.
The trainer said “just expose him more.”
The vet said “he’s fine” or “here are some meds”.
The internet said “ignore it.”
The neighbor said “he needs more discipline.”
And somewhere along the way, the dog is still anxious… and the pet parent is exhausted.
Anxiety Is Not Just a Behavior Problem
This is where I want pet parents to slow down.
Anxiety is seldom disobedience. It is not stubbornness. It is not poor training. And it is definitely not something we should ignore just because the dog is still eating, still wagging sometimes, or still “mostly fine.”
Fear and anxiety affect the whole dog, including their health.
When a dog is repeatedly stressed, the nervous system stays on alert. Cortisol and stress hormones can stay elevated. Sleep can be disrupted. Digestion can change. The immune system can take a hit. Pain can feel worse. Reactivity can increase. Recovery from illness or injury can become harder.
And behavior can escalate.
That sweet dog who used to hide may start growling.
The dog who barked at strangers may begin lunging.
The dog who trembled during storms may start trying to escape.
The dog who followed you room to room may panic when left alone.
The dog who seemed “a little nervous” may eventually live in a body that never fully relaxes.
That is not dramatic. That is biology.
We Need to Stop Waiting Until It Gets Worse
One of the biggest mistakes I see is waiting until anxiety becomes unmanageable before asking for help.
Pet parents often reach out when the dog is already biting, destroying the house, refusing walks, panicking in the car, reacting to every sound, or spiraling during storms and fireworks.
I understand why. Life is busy. Dogs have quirks. Nobody wants to overreact. And let’s be honest, a lot of pet parents have been made to feel silly for noticing subtle things.
But subtle things matter.
The dog who startles easily is communicating.
The dog who cannot settle is communicating.
The dog who overreacts to dogs, people, sounds, touch, grooming, car rides, visitors, or being left alone is communicating.
The question is whether we are listening early enough. It’s not going to get better on it’s own. In fact, your dog will get just become more deeply rooted in the anxious state of mind.
Trying One Thing Usually Isn’t Enough
This is the part people do not always want to hear, but it matters.
Anxiety rarely improves because you tried one calming product for three days.
It usually requires a layered approach.
That does not mean complicated. It means thoughtful.
For many dogs, we need to look at:
• nervous system regulation
• nutrition and blood sugar stability
• gut health and inflammation
• pain or discomfort
• thyroid, adrenal, or hormonal stress
• mineral balance
• sleep quality
• household stress and routine
• past trauma or lack of confidence
• appropriate decompression
• behavior modification that actually matches the dog in front of us
This is why I do not separate behavior from wellness.
A dog’s brain lives in the body. We cannot pretend the gut, nervous system, hormones, pain level, diet, and environment have nothing to do with behavior. That would be convenient, but dogs are not vending machines. We do not insert “training” and receive “calm dog” in return.
Calm Does Not Always Look Exciting
Over the years, I have had people comment on Poppy at events and say, “She looks so sad.” Or “my dog could never”.
And I always have to smile a little because what they were actually seeing was a dog who was relaxed, settled, and calmly lying at my feet. Not performing. Not bouncing around. Not barking or even panting. Not pulling me toward every person, dog, smell, and crumb on the floor. Just resting, watching, or sleeping while life happened around her.
That is something I think we need to talk about more. A calm dog can be mistaken for a sad dog because so many people are used to seeing dogs in a constant state of stimulation. At pet-friendly restaurants, there were plenty of times people did not even realize Poppy was there until we stood up to leave. To me, that is not sadness. That is nervous system regulation. That is a dog who feels safe enough to settle in public. And honestly, that is the goal for many dogs — not constant excitement, not nonstop interaction, not being “on” all the time, but the ability to relax in the world without feeling like everything needs a reaction.
How I Help
When I work with anxious, fearful, reactive, or emotionally overwhelmed dogs, I look at the whole picture.
Not just the behavior.
Not just the food.
Not just the supplements.
Options other than meds — even if you’re already on them.
Not just the training.
The whole dog.
And your role in all of it.
We talk through what you are seeing, when it happens, what makes it better, what makes it worse, what your dog eats, what products are being used, what medical issues may be involved, what their daily routine looks like, and what kind of support makes sense for your actual life.
Depending on the dog, we will discuss nutrition changes, fresh food support, gut health, essential oils, herbs, homeopathy, calming supplements, environmental changes, decompression, confidence-building, conditioned relaxation, and behavior modification.
And no, that does not mean throwing twenty things at the dog and hoping one sticks.
It means building a plan with priorities.
What do we address first?
What can you start today?
What needs more time?
What should we avoid because your dog is already overwhelmed?
What support makes sense for a senior dog, seizure dog, allergy dog, rescue dog, trauma dog, or dog with chronic health issues?
That is where guidance matters.
Your Dog Is Not Being “Bad”
An anxious dog is not trying to ruin your day.
They are not embarrassing you on purpose.
They are not trying to be difficult.
They are showing you that something in their body, brain, environment, or emotional world does not feel safe or regulated.
That does not mean we excuse every behavior. It means we address the reason behind it instead of only reacting to the symptom.
Because when anxiety is ignored, dogs do not usually “just get over it.”
They adapt.
They suppress.
They escalate.
Or they shut down.
None of those are the goal.
There Is Help Beyond “Wait and See”
If your dog is fearful, anxious, reactive, clingy, noise-sensitive, easily startled, struggling with separation, or just not settling the way you think they should, it is worth looking deeper.
You do not have to wait until things are extreme.
You do not have to keep guessing.
And you do not have to be told your only options are “train harder” or “medicate forever.”
There is a lot we can do to support the nervous system, the body, and the behavior together.
That is the work I love.
Start with the dog in front of you. Look at the whole picture. Build the plan from there.
Need help sorting through your dog’s anxiety, fear, reactivity, or emotional overwhelm?
Visit welloiledk9.com to learn more (just search anxiety for lots of resources!) , schedule a consultation or follow along on Substack for deeper conversations about nutrition, natural wellness, behavior, and whole-dog support.
Substack paid subscribers and my active clients have access to my comprehensive anxiety troubleshooting guide.
Dana hits the nail on the head!
When you begin by stopping and reevaluate and talk with Dana she will “hear” you. She will talk to you. She genuinely cares and will give you a plan that does work not a Band-Aid..