Anxious dog

[purplepigs]

We have a Male cavachon who suffers from anxiety - any ideas?

Any ideas how we could help him more

[FrannySalinger]

How does he demonstrate anxiety; ie is he nervous around other dogs, is it separation anxiety etc?

[MrsMozart]

Ditto Franny's questions.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Ditto the above, plus how old is he, what methods have you tried so far (if any), and when he's feeling anxious does he respond by walking away, aggression, cowering, or something else?

[purplepigs]

He is 3
Mainly it is separation anxiety
Tried leaving TV on, leaving radio on, giving him an item of my old clothing which he does love to sleep on

He becomes extremely clingy

[Fstar]

Thundershirt? fetch.co.uk/thundershirt-anxiety-dog-coat-heather-grey-medium-357867011?gclid=CjwKCAjw85zdBRB6EiwAov3Rivq22emZdAL8qWcfazHEFnlkuE8h3s_EkgpPH85k4eh3daRyzp2efBoC_kYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Cath2907]

I have a Bichon. They are known for being clingy and mine is clingy! It took us 3 months of very very gradually increasing his time alone from 30 seconds up to 30 minutes. He was very very distressed at being left but is now ok with it when it does happen (he is left roughly 2 hours on one of the weekend days whilst we take DD swimming).
I'd say if you can go back to not leaving the dog and the re-start trying to leave him for only a minute at a time then 2 minutes. Then 3. Always aim to go back before he gets really distressed and try to open the door to the room he is in whilst he is quiet - even if that is in the pause between howls - so that he doesn't think shouting brings you back quicker.

[Wolfiefan]

If it’s full on separation anxiety then the only way to solve it (and it’s not easy) is not to leave the dog any longer than they are happy with. That may not at all to start with.
You then slowly work towards being able to leave the dog. Never letting them get anxious. It may be touching your keys or just putting your shoes on. The group dog training advice and support on FB can explain it better.
If it’s not will blown SA then a thunder shirt or a radio on could help. Some dogs like a covered crate (if crate trained). Adaptil can help. Exercise before leaving. Training to tire them out.