My 5-year-old red heeler has severe anxiety. How can I calm her down?

First of all, Daisy is adorable! Daisy may be pacing as a result of her anxiety, or as a result of boredom. Australian Cattle Dogs are a fairly high energy breed and need a good bit of exercise every day to burn off this energy. Without this, they can become more anxious, bored, and even destructive. You can try taking Daisy out for more walks, to parks, play fetch, or even hire a dog walker if your schedule does not permit for this extra time. If the pacing continues in the house despite an increase in her exercise routine, consider using a calming pheromone collar or diffuser ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=33000 ) in an attempt to mediate her anxiety. You can also discuss anti-anxiety medications with her vet if all else fails. I hope that all goes well!

Hello. Much depends on what is the underlying cause of your pets anxiety. Noise phobias can sometimes respond to gradual conditioning to that noise. Training & training tools & toys can sometimes help with separation anxiety. Often, we turn to pharmaceuticals & supplements. I always recommend OTC products like Zylkene or Composure. These are natural supplements that contain ingredients that are not harsh or dangerous. CBD may help with anxiety, but you need to be sure the company you use has scientifically formulated their products to be sound. Canopy Growth seems to be one doing so for pets (https://canopy animal health.com ) & yes, this is the one associated with Martha Stewart. Prescription medications are often used, as needed or for help with behavior modification. Sileo, Trazodone, acepromazine & anti-anxiety medications like Prozac have all been utilized, but you will need to work with your veterinarian on these. Start with some of the supplements, like Zylkene & go from there until you find the right fit for your pet. Thanks for contacting PetCoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These types of behavior can improve though this does require in person training with the help of a qualified dog trainer. I would encourage you to contact a dog trainer that can work with you and her in person to really take care of this behavior. The sooner these behaviors are dealt with, the more likely it is that you can improve and resolve them. Good luck and have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There are medications for anxiety that can work in these cases that can be used on an as needed basis such as Trazodone. This is something her veterinarian could prescribe. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Separation anxiety can be difficult to address but with patience and persistence training can help. Rather than starting on anti-anxiety medications right away, I typically recommend trying products such as NaturVet Quiet Moments Calm Chews with Melatonin and an Adaptil collar, which can both be found online or at your local pet store quite easily. I would also recommend using a Thundershirt, which can be found online or at the pet store. It would also help if you began feeding Sienna breakfast and dinner in the kennel so that she becomes used to being inside the cage for positive things. I would move all of her toys to the inside of the kennel and whenever she goes inside the kennel, reward her with her favorite treat. If this does not help, I would recommend speaking with her veterinarian and discuss anti-anxiety medications as these may be beneficial in deterring this separation anxiety she suffers from. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. At 2 years of age, Jalen is still at a good age to train. I would recommend behavioral training with a certified trainer / behaviorist. If that is not an option, I would recommend using a pinch collar or gentle leader collar to help train. If she is anxious and high strung, I would also recommend using NaturVet Quiet Moments Calm Chews with Melatonin, which can be found online or at your local pet store. You can also use a spray bottle filled with water and whenever she barks or begins to become aggressive, you can spritz her in the face and say "off" or "down" and when she follows the command, reward her with a treat. A trainer is most likely your best option though for faster results. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like Camellia may have generalized anxiety, or separation anxiety. This can cause dogs to have destructive behaviors, such as chewing excessively, tearing up furniture or clothes, etc. I recommend consulting with your veterinarian about medications that can be given to help reduce anxiety at home, and make dogs much more calm at home. These can include Trazodone, Prozac, Clomicalm, etc. Many dogs tolerate these medications very well and can save them from being relinquished to shelters. I hope this is helpful! Please consider there before rehoming Camellia, as her underlying problems will not go away on their own, and changing homes can actually worsen her signs.