Anxiety disorders are among the most common welfare problems in companion dogs, and many cases can be prevented through early socialization and management.
Anxiety disorder prevention is one of the highest-leverage welfare interventions in companion dog care. The window of primary prevention — the critical socialization period before 12 weeks — is short and often mismanaged due to confusion about disease risk versus socialization risk. Puppies kept isolated during this period to prevent infection are at high risk of lifelong anxiety that causes chronic suffering far exceeding the risk of the diseases that isolation was meant to prevent. Evidence-based guidance from organizations including the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends that socialization should begin as early as 7-8 weeks, before the primary vaccination series is complete, in environments where disease risk is managed rather than avoided entirely.