How to train a dog to calm anxiety?

To begin with you may just need to reward your dog for any behaviour that doesn’t involve staring at you, pulling on the lead, or barking. Sit quietly on a chair with your dog on the lead and a blanket on the floor. Drop tiny bite-size treats to your dog as a reward for settling down on the blanket. Gradually reward more relaxed behaviours. Then move on to reward specific signs of relaxing like sighing, weight shifting and head resting. When your dog is relaxed, start increasing the time they must be settled before you reward them. Once your dog starts to get the hang of it and is shifting their weight so they’re comfortable and relaxed, you can start practising with them off lead. Add in distractions. If your dog becomes unsettled or gets up, ignore them and wait until they settle again before rewarding them. Try to resist telling your dog what to do during training, the aim is for them to learn for themselves to be calm and to relax.

Tire out your dog with long walks and puzzle treats. Tiring out your dog physically and mentally is the best tool you have for treating separation anxiety, says Lindsay Hamrick, a certified professional dog trainer and director of shelter outreach and engagement at Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States. Take your dog on a long walk—trying out new routes and allowing lots of sniffing—and then bring out puzzle toys, long-lasting treats or other enrichment before you leave. Establish a routine and keep it relaxed. Leave at the same time, come home at the same time. Eventually they develop a level of comfort with [the idea that] you’ve come back before, so you’re going to come back again. Try soothing music when you’re gone. Ditch the crates and create a safe space. Talk to a veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication. Try positive reinforcement training. Never punish your dog for separation anxiety behaviors; punishment isn't effective for treating separation anxiety and can instead increase anxiety.