My dog was anxious before it was cool to have an anxious dog.

Thanks to our increased collective stress from the pandemic; more family members staying home during the week and then suddenly reporting back to offices and classrooms; and general household inconsistency over the past year and a half, everyone’s furry friends are feeling jittery and restless these days. But Lulu LeTigre, our 39-pound, black-and-brindle, 6-year-old fuzzchild, has always been a nervous little beast.

She’s always on guard duty, barking at anyone or anything that passes the house. She doesn’t have to see ’em, either; any noise might set her off. If she’s really nervous, maybe surrounded by too many people or distractions, she’ll hop up on my lap seeking some comfort. Even when Lulu’s at home hanging out with familiar friends, sudden movements or clamor can freak out this adorable little monster.

A lot of this stuff is out of our control, according to an expert. “People need to remember that breeding affects behavior, and dogs aren’t a blank slate,” says Eileen Koval, a Las Vegas-based dog expert and trainer certified through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. “They encounter certain situations, and genetics tell them what to do.

“Some dogs have that hyper-alertness and frantic energy, while others might hide or take a different route when they’re stressed, and happy behavior can be anxious, too,” she continues. “We can modify behaviors with training to some extent, but you get what you get, and we modify from there.”

We adopted Lulu as a pup and don’t know her breed, but she appears to be part Plott Hound, originally bred to help with hunting. She’s athletic, infinitely energetic and affectionate, but she’s always wary of her surroundings.

Over the pandemic, as many of her dog friends developed anxiety issues from ever-changing routines, Lulu became even more sensitive to different noises and less interested in going for morning coffee walks with mom and dad.

“We’ve seen a lot more dog behavior issues over this time, because their environments have changed and their routines have changed as we have had less predictability in our lives,” Koval says. “There are some positives, too, because people have been noticing more about their dogs and catching things as they’ve been home more.”

To get Lulu to enjoy walks again, we’re going to gradually expose her in a less intense way to all the exciting stuff happening outside, and praise her and give her treats when she notices something along the way in order to attach positive value to her natural reactions to new and different sights and sounds. “Hopefully when hearing noises, instead of wanting to flee or bark, she’ll turn to you to get a reward, and eventually she’ll know this is no big deal, just what we’re doing every day,” Koval says.

Then there’s a slightly more complicated challenge: Lulu is our stress barometer. If I’m upset, or my wife’s having a tough day, this little tigerhound catches the vibe, and it isn’t great. If we’re talking about something serious or expressing existential dread like any other perfectly normal, COVID-era couple, the tension overwhelms our darling Lulu, and she’ll leap onto the couch and cuddle close, shaking with angst.

“We’ve all encountered that during the pandemic … When there’s tension in the home, the dogs feel it,” Koval says. “It’s really hard, because you have stress in your life and you can’t control that. They pick up on body language, any arguments or raised voices, and even if it’s not directed at them they feel stressed by it.”

We realized early on that the best way to keep Lulu comfortable is to comfort each other and ourselves. And she needs the same things we do—different ways to cope with stress, exercise and healthy food and opportunities to socialize with friends both human and canine.

“I use licking mats and scavenging games and toys, things that help them calm down. And my dogs like to run, while others I’ve worked with really like play dates,” Koval says. “They have to have ways of channeling stress, otherwise it will come out in ugly ways just like it does in people.”

A lot of people don’t know that their dog is anxious, which is why it’s important to read the signs. And not every dog is as obvious as Lulu. Koval points out that some key signals could be hyper alertness and constantly scanning their environment, barking or pacing around, yawning, moving their ears to be pinned back to their neck, a tucked tail and overreactions to little noises or sudden movements.

Regular visits to a veterinarian are also important, especially if the anxiety seems extreme. Your dog doc might prescribe or recommend natural or prescription remedies like pheromone sprays or CBD treats that can help specific issues.

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