15 Dog Breeds Prone to Anxiety – Is Yours on the List?

June 23, 2026 · Dogs

An alert black-and-white Border Collie sitting indoors by a window, bathed in warm afternoon sunlight. — An alert Border Collie sits on the wooden floor, staring anxiously toward a living room window.

15 Dog Breeds Highly Prone to Anxiety

1. Border Collie

The Border Collie is a masterpiece of selective breeding, designed to problem-solve and run across rough terrain for days at a time. Because of this intense genetic drive, they are extraordinarily sensitive to their environment. When a Border Collie lacks a “job,” their immense physical and mental energy turns inward, manifesting as obsessive-compulsive behaviors, pacing, and excessive barking.

A bored Border Collie is an anxious Border Collie. To support this breed, you need to provide more than just a neighborhood walk. Structured agility training, advanced trick learning, and complex puzzle toys give their restless minds a task to focus on, draining the mental energy that fuels their anxiety.