Do Border Collies suffer from anxiety? The behavior of Border Collies in particular is alarming to pet owners. An explanation of the possible causes and the most important principle to know in order to overcome this problem is provided in this article.
Border Collie has many anxiety issues according to various dog breeders.
There are many reasons for Border Collie anxiety. These include a lack of trust in her surroundings, being left alone too frequently, past trauma, anticipating daily events, or because of health issues.
Whenever your pet does something unusual, you should be concerned. We’ll look at some of the reasons for this, as well as some suggestions for how to make them feel better.
You may schedule an appointment with a veterinarian for your Border Collie’s anxiety medication. It’s important to rule out any medical conditions that could be causing your anxiety before making any other assumptions.
Infections in the ears or teeth could require antibiotics or even surgery for treatment.
These anxiety symptoms could be caused by anything from thyroid problems to metabolic disorders. Thus the vet will check for those as well.
A physical examination of your Border Collie puppy is only the first step in determining if they are suffering from a mental illness.
7 Causes of Border Collie Anxiety and Nervousness
You’ll have the best chance of helping your Border Collie if you know why she’s nervous, scared, or shaking.
1. Your dog’s surroundings made her nervous.
When it comes to Border Collies (and dogs in general), they can be extremely sensitive to their surroundings, which can lead to agitation.
Your Collie may be frightened by loud noises, construction work, busy roads, pedestrians, and even your neighbor’s pet.
Whether or not you can hear your new neighbors, your Collie is able to pick up on their distinct scents and noises, even if you can’t see them.
2. Anxious about being alone at home
It’s likely that your Border Collie is suffering more than you realize if you frequently leave the house for long periods of time.
Even when you’re at home, border collies can become extremely anxious and stressed if they’re left alone for long periods of time.
Collies have a keen sense of anticipation and will watch for cues that indicate your departure.
Even if you aren’t planning on going out, someone can spy on you by observing how you put your shoes on or how you touch your keys. She may become agitated if you use these cues.
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3. Anxious in the presence of a specific person
Anxiety in a dog around a particular member of the family is surprisingly common.
Your Collie may not be able to get along with that person because of their energy. Or it could be because he or she don’t communicate in a friendly or approachable manner with your dog.
It’s possible that one member of the family is more boisterous than the rest. Your Collie may perceive even the smallest of differences as a danger.
In some cases, female Collies, especially after giving birth to a litter of pups, may act anxiously around the men of the household and may only be calm around the women.
4. History of unpleasant encounters
Fear and anxiety can be triggered by past traumas like fearful events. A wide range of factors can contribute to this, including abuse, neglect, abandonment, and time in shelters.
Even a single event can have a long-term effect on a dog’s mental health and stability.
If your Border Collie has had traumatic experiences in the past, there are ways you can make them feel better right now. In the following sections, we’ll go over all of this.
This could be the reason why border collies are so nervous.
5. Anxiety over what will happen on a given day
Daily occurrences may also be the source of unwarranted anxiety or nervousness.
While waiting for the events to occur, this all builds up as anticipation. Things like mealtimes, potty breaks, waiting for the kids to get home from school, and the time your partner gets home from work all fall under this category.
Dogs are perfectly capable of anticipating daily events, and for some of them, this causes anxiety attacks that can be seen.
6. Afraid of strangers or other dogs
People and other dogs can be frightening to a Border Collie if she was not properly socialized as a puppy.
Puppies’ reactions to other dogs and strangers as they grow up are heavily influenced by their experiences being socialized as puppies.
Your Collie’s ability to remain calm when meeting a new dog or person can be improved by interacting, sniffing, playing, and even arguing with other dogs.
Take your Collie to a local park more frequently or attend a dog-friendly social meetup if you suspect this is the problem. Once you’ve established a good rapport with her, you can gradually increase the frequency of your visits.
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7. Concerns about your dog’s health
Anxiety and nervousness may be triggered by an underlying health issue in some cases. The only way to determine if this is the case is to visit your veterinarian for a full physical examination.
Your veterinarian should be contacted if you notice any other symptoms. They could be vomiting, diarrhea or a general feeling of “disappointment.”
In addition, a veterinary behaviorist can help. Their suggestions, along with a thorough physical examination, will be extremely beneficial for your Border Collie’s anxiety treatment.
The Most Crucial Principle: Calming Your Collie’s Nervous System
There are many ways to help your Border Collie learn to cope with his or her fears and anxieties.
Whenever your Border Collie shows signs of anxiety, we instinctively want to reassure her in a calm voice.
Quite unexpectedly, this is a terrible response. Such an answer confirms to your Collie that something is wrong. And your reassurance confirms her initial nervousness and anxiety.
She’ll be able to repeat the same behavior when she’s nervous if you follow the same routine. So the first step is to stop reinforcing the anxiety, no matter what the cause is.
This does not imply that you should disregard her. In other words, to refrain from reassuring and soothing her when she’s nervous.
What do you need to do next? Distracting her attention from her anxiety is a better strategy. Playing tug of war or fetch with her is the best way to get her attention. Play a game she enjoys, and gradually distract her from her nervousness.
This video shows a dog training session helping a five years old Border Collie stop his separation anxiety.
How to Make Collies Less Nervous by Dealing with Specific Problems
Despite the fact that some of the causes are beyond your control, such as the fact that she was abused in the past, there are some that you can influence.
• Her surroundings were making her nervous.
• Anxious about being left alone too frequently.
• Feeling uneasy in the presence of a specific individual
All of these factors are within your control. Here take a look:
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• Addressing her surroundings
The best way to get to know your new neighbors is to invite them over and get to know each other. Your Border Collie will finally be able to make sense of the strange new smells that have been perplexing her for so long if you follow this advice.
Allow your Collie to get to know her new neighbors on her own time and in her own way. Your Collie will no longer be afraid of the neighbors after a few visits.
You can either move your Collie to a quieter part of the house or keep the windows closed during the day if there are extra noises like traffic or people walking by.
Dogs can detect odors up to 100,000 times better than humans. Collie dogs are always on the lookout for new animals in their neighborhood.
Try using home diffusers to give your Collie something other than the scary animals outside to smell. Both humans and dogs benefit from the calming effects of lavender.
• Lessen the time your dog spends by herself
This has become a major issue in modern society as we are forced to work longer hours and manage increasingly hectic schedules.
Get a dog sitter or ask friends and family for help with caring for your Collie if he or she spends more than three hours a day alone.
She’ll feel better about herself and her life as a whole if she spends less time alone.
• Having a hard time coping with one person.
Change is needed if your Collie is afraid of one member of the family.
Advice similar to that given previously follows. People who know you and your Collie should try to get to know each other better by throwing her a ball or attempting to start some sort of game with her.
Make positive associations by giving her treats, being the one to prepare and serve her meals, and giving her attention.
If you interact with your Border Collie too much or get too close to that person could lead your Border Collie into anxiety aggression.
The presence of a person who is overly loud or intimidating is detrimental to her well-being. Ask that person to be quieter and calmer in the presence of your Collie in a respectful manner.
Adjust Your Border Collie’s Workout Schedule
Border Collies are a high-energy breed that should have plenty of opportunities for play. A herding dog’s daily exercise routine should include at least one hour of intense exercise.
In the event that her current exercise regimen isn’t cutting it, it’s possible that this is contributing to her overall anxiety.
A well-exercised dog is calmer and more content than one that is under-exercised. Pent-up energy and exercise are essential parts of every dog’s day.
It becomes even more important when you have to leave her home alone. Before you leave your Collie home alone, make sure she gets plenty of exercise. While you’re away, she’ll have the best chance of remaining calm and sleeping peacefully.
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Anxiety Due to Mental Stimulation
While the importance of physical exercise for dogs cannot be overstated, it is often overlooked when it comes to mental stimulation.
Stimulation of the mind is as essential to good mental health as physical exercise. Keeping one’s mind active and engaged can help alleviate feelings of stress, contentment, and satisfaction.
If you want your Border Collie to perform at his or her optimum level, give him or her plenty of mental stimulation.
These dogs are so clever that they need to be trained, practiced basic commands, and given interactive puzzle toys to keep their minds active.
Make sure your Border Collie has a variety of these types of toys to keep her mind occupied, rather than anxious.
Border Collie Anxiety: What Is It and How Does It Show Up in Dogs?
Anxiety can be caused by a variety of factors. boredom, stress, loneliness, and depression are all common afflictions among Border Collies. There are many ways in which Border Collie anxiety is expressed. These are some examples:
• When Collies are left alone, they engage in destructive behaviors such as chewing and digging.
Border Collies are known for their energetic self. As a result, they may spend some time trying to find new activities to keep themselves entertained. Boredom, in turn, can exacerbate their anxiety if they have no other options.
• It is possible that they will leave the house or even run away.
These behaviors are often the result of an overreaction to environmental stressors. Some breeds are thought to be more reactive due to a genetic predisposition. When it comes to change, your Border Collie is likely to be very distressed.
• Behaving erratically or irrationally when you first arrive home.
Anxiety and excitement from not seeing their owner all day may be the cause of this hyperactivity. It’s possible that they’ll be annoyed at the prospect of spending so much time alone.
• Shaking, panting and pacing are all signs of excessive drooling.
It’s common for people to suffer from high levels of anxiety because they are overstimulated or do not have enough to occupy them.
• When left alone, the dog starts barking excessively.
Border Collies may bark if they are startled by something they hear. Other times, it’s a sign of extreme anger or worry.
• Overindulgence in the act of licking or chewing on oneself, resulting in hair loss.
Stress or boredom can cause this. You must first rule out any medical causes for your Border Collie’s self-licking/chewing. For example, allergies or skin infections, before assuming it is a behavioral issue.
Signs That Your Border Collie Is in Trouble
• You may find it difficult for your Border Collie to keep their emotions in check if they are particularly anxious.
Even though they may appear to be doing well on the surface because of their brilliant nature, you’ll soon notice that something is amiss in their demeanor.
• Pacing up and down or being agitated.
It’s common for dogs to require constant exercise when they’re stressed or anxious.
• Eye contact or social interactions are avoided.
It’s common for Border Collies to become nervous when they see people or other dogs. It’s possible that they’re not hostile towards you or your dog, but rather that they’re trying to maintain their composure.
• No apparent reason for constantly barking.
Often, this is a sign that your Border Collie is in need of a way to vent their frustrations or anxieties. It’s possible that border collie dogs may suffer from separation anxiety, and their owners will be aware of this.
Steps You Can Take To Prevent Your Border Collie From Developing Anxiety Disorder
You can help your Border Collie dog recover from stress and anxiety, but there are some things you can do to prevent it from getting any worse.
Give them a goal to work towards. A favorite toy, food bowl, or chew toy could be found here. As long as you keep your dog engaged, they won’t have time to dwell on their negative thoughts.
If you have an anxious Border Collie, you may want to take him for a walk to burn off some of his pent-up energy, as they were traditionally used as working dogs.
Keep your cool as well. If you’re nervous or unsure about something, your Border Collie will pick up on it and mimic your demeanor. Those around you will feel better if you can maintain a positive attitude at all times.
When they need it, give them a break from each other. Regardless of whether or not your Border Collie prefers to be left alone, you should allow them to do so. Isn’t implying that they’re a bad person or don’t want to be in your life.
Final Thoughts
Breeders of Border Collies praise their dogs for their intelligence. But they should be aware that Border Collies can also be overly sensitive.
When they’re in strange environments, with strange people, or with unfamiliar dogs, they can get nervous or anxious.
Before taking any action, it’s critical to figure out what’s causing your Border Collie’s anxiety so that you can address it.
Your dog may just be overly sensitive to their surroundings. In which case giving them some space and providing mental stimulation, such as with a kong toy, can help alleviate their boredom.
If this isn’t the case, you may want to consult with a veterinarian or a behaviorist to look into the issue further and get additional medical advice for your pet.
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