How to Help Anxious Dogs Feel Safe: Behaviour Advice from Helen Motteram (PPN)

Originally published on Yappily — the UK’s ethical dog professional directory and official publisher of The Yappy Hour podcast: 👉 https://yappily.co.uk/ep-25-helen-motteram-from-pet-professional-network-ppn-on-how-to-help-anxious-and-nervous-dogs-thrive/

Anxiety in dogs is often misunderstood. Many guardians first notice subtle signs — freezing on walks, hesitation, lip-licking, yawning, excessive sniffing, or quiet avoidance. These early stress signals are frequently missed or mislabelled as “stubborn behaviour”, when in reality they’re signs that a dog is struggling emotionally.

In Episode 25 of The Yappy Hour, host Nathan Dunleavy speaks with Helen Motteram, canine behaviourist and founder of the Pet Professional Network (PPN), about how anxious and nervous dogs experience the world — and how guardians can support them in a way that is ethical, practical and emotionally safe.

Helen shares how her own rescue terrier, Sally, changed the direction of her life and career, shaping her approach to welfare-led behaviour support. Together, they explore why “pushing dogs through” fear often causes more harm, why some anxious dogs find daily walks overwhelming, and how choice, enrichment and consent can help rebuild confidence.

Key Topics Covered:

• Early and easily missed signs of anxiety in dogs
• Common environmental triggers for nervous dogs
• Why flooding and forced exposure increase fear
• How enrichment, sniffing and decompression lower stress
• Why choice and agency build confidence
• The emotional toll on guardians of anxious dogs
• Why early ethical support changes long-term outcomes

Anxious dogs are not being difficult — they are overwhelmed and doing their best to cope. With the right support, understanding and environmental changes, anxious dogs truly can thrive.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Yappily: 👉 https://yappily.co.uk/ep-25-helen-motteram-from-pet-professional-network-ppn-on-how-to-help-anxious-and-nervous-dogs-thrive/