What should I do about my dog's anxiety?

Question

My dog gets very anxious when she is excited. She chews on rocks, destroys some of the living room, and she whines a lot. I've tried soothing her by petting her and forcing her to sit, but it doesn't work. Is there anything else I can try to calm her down?

Answer 1

How much do you exercise her?  That helps more than anything else I know of.  A dog that gets regular exercise and burns off their excess energy is just naturally calmer and happier.

If you're concerned about her weight too, getting her into a routine of regular exercise would help that as well.  Just take her for a long walk every day around the neighborhood.  She'll love it.