{"id":3849,"date":"2022-03-11T10:09:33","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T16:09:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usserviceanimals.org\/blog\/?p=3849"},"modified":"2025-10-24T15:08:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T20:08:31","slug":"best-dog-breeds-for-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usserviceanimals.org\/blog\/best-dog-breeds-for-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Best Dog Breeds for Anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Everyone feels anxiety at one point or another in their life, but for some, anxiety is like an invisible, debilitating disease. It keeps people from maintaining relationships, pursuing careers, traveling, and so much more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though there is no cure for anxiety, many treatments help one cope with and manage it. One such treatment is the love of a dog. Believe it or not, dogs can positively impact anxiety symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

This article will teach you everything you need to know about dogs for anxiety, including how they can help, the different types of support dogs, and the qualities to look for when considering adopting a dog for anxiety. Finally, we\u2019ll share our top picks of dog breeds that can help soothe one\u2019s anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are There Dogs That Help With Anxiety?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Yes, there are dogs that can help with anxiety. In fact, just about any dog breed can help with anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, there are a lot of factors you need to consider before adopting a dog to help with anxiety based on the setting, how many people need assistance, and much more. Plus, even the specific breed can have an impact, though most dogs can help with anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, most dogs can help with anxiety (even without training) because sometimes the presence of the dog is enough to get the job done.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Do Dogs Help With Anxiety?<\/h2>\n

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If you\u2019ve ever owned a dog, then you can already attest to the wonderful sense of companionship and unconditional love they offer. What\u2019s more, there are a number of scientific studies that prove dogs can benefit those suffering from anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scientific Findings<\/b><\/h3>\n

Some of the most notable include<\/span> stress tests<\/span><\/a> where participants were accompanied by a friend, a spouse, or their dog. Those accompanied by dogs had the lowest heart rate and blood pressure before the test, less reaction to the test, and a faster recovery than participants who were not accompanied by dogs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another<\/span> study<\/span><\/a> from 2015 found that 21% of children in dog-free households met the criteria for anxiety. Comparatively, only 12% of children in households with dogs met the criteria for anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

One<\/span> study<\/span><\/a> found that simply petting a dog for 10 minutes can reduce cortisol levels. Since cortisol is a stress hormone, it wouldn\u2019t be inaccurate to say that petting a dog can reduce stress!<\/span><\/p>\n

As you can see, there is plenty of research that supports dogs as an effective method of coping with anxiety symptoms. Though their presence alone can be comforting, dogs can be used in multiple ways to help with anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dogs as Anxiety-Management Tools<\/b><\/h3>\n

Some dogs can be trained as psychiatric service dogs. These dogs are trained to perform tasks to help reduce anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

Such tasks may include:<\/span><\/p>\n