<\/strong><\/p>\n Having an anxious dog can be very stressful for a dog owner. I\u2019ve had two: a neurotic Border Collie, and a Beagle\/Boston Terrier mix that just never stopped going. Anxious dogs get their anxiety from a variety of reasons, and they can act out in surprising and destructive ways. What do you need to know about keeping your anxious dog calm? \n<\/p> Causes for Canine Anxiety<\/strong><\/p>\n My Border Collie paces the floors when he\u2019s feeling anxious, barks at the neighbors every time they walk by, and every little thing startles him when we\u2019re out for a walk. What causes this anxiety? Some canine anxiety has its root in a medical issue. Anything from hyperthyroidism, encephalitis, thyrotoxicosis or even pre-diabetes can cause symptoms of anxiety in your dogs. Consult your veterinarian to rule out medical causes for anxiety.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> If the cause isn\u2019t medical, there are still a number of reasons your dog could suffer anxiety<\/a> . Some of the most popular causes of anxiety include: thunderstorms, loud noises, fireworks and separation anxiety. My Border Collie is a rescue, and he was poorly socialized as a puppy. A poorly socialized dog reacts to all new stimuli with anxiety, as the dog hasn\u2019t been given the tools to understand how to process new experiences. De-conditioning is one of the most popular tools to treat canine anxiety caused by thunderstorms, loud noises and fireworks \u2013 stimuli that a dog may not understand or may not have been exposed to as a puppy.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> How to Treat Canine Anxiety<\/strong><\/p>\n Depending on the root, you can treat canine anxiety<\/a> in different ways. If it\u2019s caused by an underlying medical problem, treating the medical problem often reduces or ends the anxiety. In the case of poor socialization, building your dog\u2019s confidence and working with a trainer to help improve your dog\u2019s coping skills can help reduce his anxiety levels.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> In the case of a phobia, such as thunderstorms or fireworks, gradually introducing your dog to the stimuli at a distance or in small doses and then increasing his tolerance level can go a long way toward eliminating his anxiety. For separation anxiety, you can practice leaving your dog alone in the next room for small periods of time and slowly build up his tolerance.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> Herbal Products Help Reduce Anxiety<\/strong><\/p>\n Some herbal products, such as Sleepytime Tonic<\/a> , can help calm your dog. You can use Sleepytime Tonic as a supplement to help reduce your dog\u2019s anxiety while you address the underlying causes for it, or you can use it as part of a long-term management system when you haven\u2019t had any luck reducing anxiety through training or de-conditioning scenarios.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> Herbal products make a great supplement to any anxiety-reduction program because they contain non-toxic ingredients and aren\u2019t at all harmful for your dog. Sleepytime Tonic<\/a> is great to help your dog calm down if confronted with a typically frightening stimulus, including general anxiety-boosters such as thunderstorms or fireworks, or phobias unique to your dog.<\/p>\n \n<\/p><\/p>\n