Dog Anxiety Assessment

Anxiety is one of the most common but misunderstood dog behavior issues. This 10-question screening tool identifies anxiety type and severity, and gives you targeted next steps based on your dog's specific pattern.

Separation

1. When left alone, does your dog show any of the following: destructive behavior, excessive barking/howling, inappropriate elimination, or frantic attempts to escape?

Never Occasionally (1–2x/month) Often (weekly) Almost every time alone

Separation

2. Does your dog become overly clingy, pace, or whine in the 30 minutes before you leave?

No Mild — notices but settles Moderate — follows closely, distressed Severe — frantic, cannot settle

Noise Phobia

3. How does your dog react to loud noises (thunderstorms, fireworks, construction)?

No reaction Slightly startled, recovers quickly Trembling, hiding, panting Panic — destructive, self-injury risk

Social Anxiety

4. How does your dog react to strangers (new people entering your home or on walks)?

Friendly and relaxed Slightly cautious, warms up Fearful — retreats, won't approach Reactive — barking, lunging, growling

General Anxiety

5. Does your dog display repetitive behaviors like tail chasing, excessive licking, pacing, or other compulsive actions?

Never Rarely Regularly, especially when stressed Daily, causes harm (lick granuloma etc.)

Physical Signs

6. How often do you notice anxiety body language: yawning, lip licking, whale eye (whites showing), or crouching?

Rarely if ever In specific trigger situations only Multiple times daily Constantly, dog rarely seems relaxed

Reactivity

7. On leash, how does your dog react to other dogs?

Calm or friendly interest Pulls toward or minor alert Barking, lunging occasionally Consistently reactive — walk is unmanageable

Vet/Groomer

8. How does your dog behave at the vet or groomer?

Calm or mildly nervous, manageable Trembling or stress but compliant Needs muzzle or extra restraint Snapping, biting, or extreme panic

Recovery

9. After a stressful event, how long does it take your dog to return to normal behavior?

Minutes — resilient recovery Less than 1 hour Several hours The rest of the day or longer

Impact

10. How much does your dog's anxiety affect your daily life (walking schedule, visitors, travel, vet care)?

Minimal impact Moderate — requires some management Significant — changes daily decisions Severe — quality of life impacted for both