Anxiety disorders are the most common behavioural welfare problem in dogs; evidence-based treatment combining behaviour modification and veterinary support achieves significant welfare improvement.
Canine anxiety disorders cause genuine suffering that persists and escalates without appropriate treatment. The wide range of anxiety presentations — from specific phobias to generalised anxiety to social anxiety — requires professional assessment to determine the appropriate treatment approach. Behaviour modification using systematic desensitisation and counter-conditioning addresses the psychological component; medication manages the physiological anxiety state that makes behaviour modification possible. Owner education about anxiety as a welfare problem rather than a training failure is the critical first step.