Anxiety in dogs doesn't always look the way people expect. It's not always barking or destruction. Sometimes it's a dog who won't settle, who paces from room to room, who licks their paws raw, or who has accidents in the house despite years of reliable house training.
For owners, this can be bewildering. The dog seems healthy. Nothing obvious has changed. And yet, something is clearly wrong.
Recognition & Normalisation
It's easy to misinterpret anxiety-driven behaviours, especially when they involve house soiling. Many owners assume the dog is being defiant, or that they've somehow "forgotten" their training. But research in veterinary behaviour science tells a different story.
Stress-related accidents are not protests. They are physiological responses that the dog cannot control. And punishment—no matter how mild—only makes things worse.
If you're living with an anxious dog, you're likely navigating a mix of guilt, frustration, and uncertainty. You might feel like you're doing something wrong, or that you've somehow caused the problem. But anxiety in dogs is rarely about one single thing. It's often a combination of temperament, environment, and the dog's internal capacity to cope with stress.
Understanding this doesn't make the situation easier overnight. But it does shift the way you respond—from correction to care.
Understanding What's Happening
Anxiety is not a constant state. In most cases, it's triggered by specific environmental shifts or a lack of predictability. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, common signs include pacing, panting, excessive licking, and an inability to settle. These behaviours reflect a heightened stress response—specifically, the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which floods the body with cortisol and adrenaline.
One of the most misunderstood manifestations of anxiety is house soiling. Research shows that inappropriate urination in dogs with behavioural issues occurs in as many as 37% of cases. This isn't defiance. It's physiology.
The act of urination is controlled by a delicate balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Under normal conditions, a dog consciously inhibits this reflex until they're in an appropriate location. But acute fear or chronic stress can trigger a reflexive voiding that bypasses conscious control entirely.
There are several types of stress-related urination:
Submissive urination is an involuntary response intended to signal non-threatening status. It's most common in dogs with high social anxiety and is not something the dog can "learn" to stop through training.
Excitement urination occurs when emotional arousal during greetings causes a temporary loss of sphincter control.
Separation distress elimination happens when a dog panics at being left alone. The body enters a fight-or-flight response, and elimination is part of that physical reaction.
Urethral sphincter incompetence (USMI) involves weakened sphincters, often exacerbated by ageing or hormonal changes. While not purely behavioural, it is frequently accompanied by anxiety, creating a cycle of stress and leakage.
In all of these cases, the dog is not making a choice. They are responding to an internal state they cannot control.
Supportive Perspective
The most important thing to understand about anxiety is that punishment doesn't work. In fact, it worsens the problem.
Veterinary behaviorists are clear on this: punishment—including corrections, yelling, or physical deterrents—is not only ineffective but psychologically damaging to an anxious dog. It increases fear, raises cortisol levels, and makes the dog even less capable of learning or coping.
Similarly, traditional "obedience" training often misses the point. A dog can be trained to sit on command while still experiencing intense internal distress. If the dog is sitting but panting, salivating, and showing dilated pupils, they haven't learned to feel safe—they've simply frozen in fear.
True behaviour modification, according to veterinary sources, focuses on changing how the dog feels about a situation before asking for any specific behaviour. This is sometimes called the "gestalt of relaxation"—helping the dog reach a state of calm before expecting them to respond to cues.
The most effective approach is "management first." This means identifying triggers and modifying the environment to reduce the dog's overall stress load. Small changes in the home can have a profound impact on the dog's ability to remain calm and content.
Practical Takeaways
If you're supporting an anxious dog, here are some gentle, research-backed adjustments to consider:
Create a predictable safe space. Designate a quiet area where your dog is never disturbed. This space should have familiar scents, soft textures, and low lighting. It becomes a psychological anchor—a place the dog knows they can retreat to when the world feels overwhelming.
Manage sensory input. Pheromone diffusers, such as those that mimic calming canine pheromones, can help regulate the dog's autonomic nervous system. Maintaining consistent, low lighting and minimising sudden loud noises also reduce stress triggers.
Address flooring insecurity. Dogs who feel insecure on slippery surfaces experience real anxiety. Adding non-slip mats or runners can reduce the fear of losing their footing, which is a significant stressor for both anxious and senior dogs.
Support dignity, not shame. For dogs with stress-related incontinence or USMI, accidents are inevitable. Providing discreet, high-quality absorbent solutions within the home prevents the emotional toll of repeated "failures" and protects the bond between owner and dog.
Avoid retraining as a first step. If accidents are happening, consider whether the dog is physically or emotionally capable of "holding it." An anxious dog in a state of panic cannot access learned behaviours. Adaptation, not discipline, is the path forward.
Quiet Closing
Living with an anxious dog requires patience, but it also requires a shift in perspective. The behaviours that feel so difficult—pacing, accidents, clinginess—are not wilful. They are the dog's way of saying, "I am struggling."
The kindest response is not to correct, but to adapt. To create an environment where the dog feels safe enough to settle. To offer them the dignity of support rather than the weight of expectation.
Anxiety may not disappear overnight. But small changes—predictability, softness, space—can make a home feel like a refuge again. And for a dog who is trying so hard to cope, that can make all the difference.
References
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Dog behaviour problems and house soiling
- Veterinary Partner (VIN): House soiling causes and solutions in dogs
- DVM360: Canine housesoiling—medical vs. behavioural causes
- VIN: Relaxation and environmental management vs. obedience
- Frontiers in Physiology: Chronic stress and lower urinary tract dysfunction
This article was written by Liz, founder of Snr & Co, drawing on veterinary research and behavioural science to support thoughtful, compassionate dog care at home.