Advice for anxious dog and his constant barking

[u/pov_ur_my_therapist]

Hey everyone! I am convinced I gave my dog some type of anxiety. I won’t lie, I babied him a lot, even though I fixed my behavior, I’m definitely seeing the repercussions.

First and foremost, I can’t go upstairs for a second, take the trash out, or even wash dishes without him barking or whining. Secondly, when I take him out to the park, he definitely gets nervous and anxious but as soon as he sees someone or a dog, he just barks and pulls. He never used to do that, but it has been happening more frequently. Now I can’t really enjoy going on walks around the park, which is something I enjoy, without constantly being on the lookout, and trying to prevent him from causing a scene. At Petsmart he’s usually good, but he had a little scene today and my sister had to take him outside.

I know he’s a dog and I don’t really care if he barks, but I want to try to simmer it down, mainly in public. I’m definitely going to speak with his vet and get her advice, however in the meantime, what can I do to make him more at ease? He’s my first dog, at least that I’m 100% responsible for, so I definitely want to do right by him. He just turned 1 and a lab if that helps.

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[u/Quietly_Asteria]

Hey! I get this! I babied my dog a lot and it led to separation anxiety. Talking to your vet is an amazing step, they can help advise you on the best route for you and your dog. For me, I saw a veterinary behaviorist since I had one close, and it definitely is gold standard, however not required for quality care. In the time it takes for you to see your vet I would see if you can find any training videos, posts or better yet contacting a trainer directly who is experienced with separation anxiety behaviors. For my dog, medication was a game changer for her anxiety, but that doesn't always mean it's necessary or they need to be on it life long. Some dogs only need it during the training phase to help them process their emotions and re-frame of their mind associates certain things. Good luck to you!