Why Is My Australian Shepherd So Anxious
Anxiety is one of the most common behavioral issues seen in dogs. Australian shepherds are particularly prone to developing anxiety disorders.
There are many possible causes of anxiety in dogs, and the root cause must be determined before an effective treatment plan can be put into place.
In this post, we will explore your question “why is my Australian shepherd so anxious?”. Some of the most common causes of anxiety in Australian shepherds and offer tips for how to calm an anxious Aussie.
Why is my Australian shepherd so anxious?
Your Australian shepherd will get anxious if you don’t engage him in a lot of stimulating activities. Your Aussie will get anxious if it’s having issues with someone in the family, health issues, noise, smells, and nervous vibes from you can make the Aussie anxious.
Asides from the above-listed things, genetics, environment, nutrition, socialization, and exercise will play a significant role in deciding if your Aussie will get anxious, stay anxious or calm down.
Genetics
One of the most common causes of anxiety in Australian shepherds is genetics. The fear of noise, strangers e.t.c. has been linked to specific dog breeds over time.
A canine geneticist, Lohi, at the University of Helsinki, carried out a study using dog breed clubs and data inputs from people around the world.
The experiment included questionnaires for people to reply to how their dogs react on 7 different traits of anxiety: fear of heights, general fear, noise, lack of attention, compulsive acts, sensitivity, aggression, and separation anxiety.
From the reports received, the shepherds were noted to be sociable generally, and particularly sensitive to noise. This means they could get anxious about noise from thunder claps, children, and appliances alike.
A study published in the journal BMC Genetics found that anxiety-related behaviors are largely inherited. The study looked at over 1,000 Australian shepherds and their offspring and found that the genetic risk for developing anxiety was high in both the dogs and their offspring.
This means that if your Australian shepherd is anxious, it’s quite likely that the cause is genetic. However, it’s important to note that genetics is only one factor, and there are many things you can do to help your dog calm down.
Environment
Australian Shepherds are bred to be working dogs. This means that they need plenty of exercises and a job to do in order to be content. Without this, they may become anxious or destructive.
In addition, Aussies can be sensitive to environmental changes. Loud noises, unfamiliar environments, and changes in routine can all cause them anxiety.
If your Aussie is demonstrating signs of anxiety, take him for a walk, give him a task to do (like bringing in the mail or watering the plants) or play soothing music to calm him down.
Socialization
One of the most common reasons for anxiety in Australian shepherds is a lack of socialization. Without enough exposure to people and other animals, they can become anxious and fearful.
It’s important to start socializing your Australian shepherd puppy as early as possible. Introduce them to a variety of different environments, noises, and animals. This will help them feel comfortable in different situations and minimize their anxiety.
If you’ve already adopted an adult Australian shepherd, don’t worry – there’s still hope! Start by taking them on short walks to different places, introduce them to new people (slowly, of course), and behavior modification can also be very helpful.
Go where other dogs are, if you’ll be too busy for this, get your dog enrolled in classes close to your areas. They will help socialize your dogs with other dogs and breeds. Your dog will get to interact, play and learn sociable skills. You can do this yourself by taking them to parks.
If your Australian shepherd is particularly anxious, there are a few calming supplements available on the market that can help. Talk to your veterinarian about what might be best for your dog.
Nutrition
There are a few things that can cause your Australian shepherd to become anxious. One of the most common reasons is nutrition. Dogs that are deficient in certain vitamins and minerals are more likely to suffer from anxiety.
Anxiety can be heightened by the unsuitable intake of carbohydrates. A dog’s stress and anxiety level could spike in response to an increase in sugar in its body. Feeding a dog a high glycemic index(simple carbohydrates) will lead to a fast introduction of sugar into the dog’s body.
Inappropriate protein amounts included in a dog’s diet could lead to anxiety. For E.g. low protein levels will eventually lead to the breakdown of body muscles to make sure your dog’s blood has the adequate amount of protein it needs as your dog loses the muscle mass, weakness sets in, which leads to anxiety as your dog can exercise or play.
Australian shepherds require a certain amount of dietary fats. You need to be precise when administering these fats so as to advert a bodily inflammation response for your Aussie. Also, excessive fats in the dog’s body can lead to obesity which causes diabetes and osteoarthritis which can both impact anxiety and stress levels in an Aussie.
Finally, ensure you’re providing plenty of stimulation and positive reinforcement for your dog. A lack of attention can also lead to anxiety in dogs.
Exercise
A lack of exercise is one of the top reasons why dogs can become anxious. Australian shepherds need a good amount of exercise each day to stay healthy and happy. Without enough exercise, they can become restless and develop behavioral problems.
An Australian Shepherd requires two hours of exercise daily to keep fit and stimulated. You need to be committed to providing your dog with exercise as this will go a long way in helping their body release endorphins which keeps anxiety away.
Exercise Ideas for an Australian shepherd.
Keeping your Aussie exercised is not just a way of burning up their energies, its also a way of keeping them mentally stimulated, since they are working dogs, they’ll need some work in form of exercise to undertake.
Below are interesting exercise you can use in preventing anxiety in your Aussie.
Herding balls
Herding ball presents a perfect way for herding dog breeds to use up their energy while also attending to their instinct of herding.
Since these breeds were selectively bred for herding, theyll have the urge to chase and control objects in motion. The desire for your Aussies to herd other dogs and people will drastically be reduced with this exercise.
Flirt Pole
Before you engage your Australian shepherd in this activity, be sure they have developed a strong obedience to the ” leave it” command, and ensure they don’t destroy their toy.
How does the flirt pole work? The flirt pole looks like a giant cat sticker. Coming with a long handle with an elastic type rope with a toy attached to the end. You have to move the toy in different directions or in circles, while your dog chases after it.
This is an ideal exercise type for your dog as it’ll aid it to burn energy. It also works out the whole body of your Aussie while strengthening their muscles.
Are Australian shepherds prone to anxiety?
Australian shepherds are the most common breed of dog to suffer from separation anxiety.
There are several reasons why your Australian shepherd might be anxious. Some common causes of anxiety in Australian shepherds include: being left alone, loud noises, new environments or people, and changes in routine.
If you think your Australian shepherd is suffering from anxiety, there are a few things you can do to help calm them down. First and foremost, it’s important to identify the cause of the anxiety. Once you know what’s triggering your dog’s anxiety, you can work on addressing that issue.
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How do I calm Australian shepherd down
Australian shepherds are prone to anxiety for a variety of reasons. It could be due to a traumatic event, such as being abandoned or being in a shelter. It could also be due to changes in their environment, such as moving or adding a new pet to the family.
If your Australian shepherd is anxious, the best thing you can do is start by trying to understand the root of the problem. Once you know what’s causing their anxiety, you can start working on a plan to help calm them down.
Some things that may help include: training your dog basic obedience commands, providing them with plenty of exercises, establishing rules and limits, and using positive reinforcement when they exhibit good behavior. If your dog is still struggling, you may want to consider seeking out professional help from a behaviorist or trainer.
3 ways you can do to calm your Australian Shepherd.
1. Try using CBD oil
CBD oil has proven to be effective on a great percentage of dogs as owners claimed in a poll.
In my own experience, CBD old really help in calming my dog down when she is stressed. Before you get CBD oil for your dog, ensure it’s safe for that particular breed by getting accurate information from your vet.
Be on the lookout for a certificate of analysis that proves the oil you are about to get is safe and pure for your dog.
2. For noise anxiety, try isolating your dog from the haunting noise and playing loud music.
This method is not to be used on dogs with separation anxiety. As it’ll regress any progress made in helping them out.
In absence of separation anxiety, daunting sounds like thunderclaps. Taking your dog to a soundproof room or a room where you can play loud music will help with its anxiety.
3. Try an Anti-Anxiety supplement.
An anti-anxiety supplement containing l-tryptophan, and L-Theanine have been reported to help calm a dog down in times of anxiety since they release serotonin which makes the dogs feel good
why is Australian shepherd scared of everything?
One of the most common reasons why Australian shepherds become anxious is due to their owners’ behavior. If an owner is constantly anxious or stressed, their dog will pick up on this and become anxious as well.
Other causes of anxiety in Australian shepherds can include changes in routine, loud noises, unfamiliar environment,s and being around other dogs or people.
If your Australian shepherd is scared of everything, it’s important to try and identify the cause of its anxiety. Once you know what’s causing them to be scared, you can start working on a solution.
If your dog is scared of loud noises, for example, you can try and desensitize them by playing recorded sounds of thunder or fireworks at a low volume. If your dog is scared of other dogs, try and take them to a dog park or introduce them to a friendly dog one-on-one.
The most important thing is to be patient and consistent with your Australian shepherd. With time and patience, you can help them overcome their fears and live a happy, anxiety-free life.
Final thoughts on
There are many potential reasons why an Australian shepherd might be anxious. Some of the most common causes include fear of loud noises, separation anxiety, and anxiety caused by changes in routine or environment. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help calm your Australian shepherd down.
Try establishing a routine for your dog, providing plenty of exercise and stimulation, and using positive reinforcement when your dog exhibits calming behaviors. If your Australian shepherd’s anxiety is severe or persistent, you may also need to seek professional help from a behaviorist or trainer.
