Can Your Anxiety Fuel Your Dog's Fear? Uncovering How Our Stress Impacts Our Dogs

For the audio version of these blog posts, tune into the USA Dog Behavior Podcast.

“A calm and confident dog often starts with a calm and confident owner. ”

— Scott Sheaffer

Dog owners often wonder if their own stress or anxiety might be affecting their dog's mood and behavior. After all, our pets are incredibly perceptive, and many people report that their dogs seem to pick up on their emotions. But just how much of an influence do our feelings have on them, especially when it comes to anxiety?

The answer isn't as simple as “yes” or “no,” but understanding the connection between human and canine anxiety can make a huge difference in creating a more relaxed environment for your pet.

The Sensitive Dog: Picking Up Our Vibes

Dogs are highly attuned to their owners and tend to mirror their emotions and body language. Research has shown that dogs can pick up on human emotional cues, like stress and fear, and may even reflect them. If you’ve ever had a rough day and noticed your dog behaving more clingy or cautious, you’ve likely seen this connection in action. Dogs, particularly anxious or reactive ones, may interpret our nervousness or tension as a signal that something is wrong.

So, if an owner is feeling tense or nervous about a situation—like an upcoming trip to the vet or an unfamiliar environment—it's very likely that their dog will pick up on this and respond accordingly.

How Your Anxiety Can Influence Your Dog’s Behavior

When we’re anxious, we might unknowingly send mixed signals to our dogs. For example, if you anticipate your dog barking at a stranger, you may tense up, tighten the leash, or change your tone of voice. This is an extremely important concept in dog behavior, and it’s called behavioral cueing. Your dog senses these subtle cues and may begin to feel anxious as well. In a way, our own anxiety can “teach” our dogs to associate certain situations with fear, which can create a feedback loop where both owner and dog become increasingly stressed over time.

Breaking the Cycle: Practical Tips for Calming Yourself and Your Dog

The good news is that you can break this cycle. Here are a few approaches to help both you and your dog stay calm and confident:

Awareness: Start by becoming aware of your own stress levels, especially around situations that trigger your dog’s anxiety. Recognizing when you're tense can help you avoid transferring that tension to your dog.
Practice Calm Behavior: Dogs watch everything we do. If you want to reassure your dog, practice calm and relaxed body language. Take slow breaths, keep your voice soft, and avoid sudden movements, especially in stressful situations.
Prepare and Rehearse: If certain situations, like meeting new people or hearing loud noises, make both you and your dog nervous, prepare for them in advance. This could include practicing commands in a safe environment, helping your dog focus on you, or even practicing deep breathing for yourself before heading out.
Reward Calm Behavior: Rewarding your dog for calm behavior during stressful situations can help build their confidence. Whether it’s with treats, praise, or a favorite toy, positively reinforcing calm behavior can encourage your dog to stay relaxed. But never punish your dog in any way, including yelling at them, when they are nervous.
Take Time for Self-Care: Finally, it’s important to take care of your own mental health. When we’re feeling balanced and relaxed, it’s easier to provide that same energy to our pets.

Final Thoughts

So, does your anxiety make your dog more anxious? In many cases, yes. But the good news is that by being mindful of your own reactions and working to create a calm environment, you can help both yourself and your dog feel more secure. Remember, a calm and confident dog often starts with a calm and confident owner.

If you’d like to learn more about this subject, I have a short paper I wrote on coping techniques when you and your dog are feeling anxious. If you’d like a copy of it, please send me a message here.

For the audio version of these blog posts, tune into the USA Dog Behavior Podcast.

Looking for hands-on training for your team? Explore Scott’s Training Workshops for dog clubs, municipal animal services and rescue organizations.