12 best dogs for anxiety: These comforting canines can help anxious owners

At first glance, it might feel like a list of the best dogs for anxiety is just another gimmick, but a wide variety of studies have long shown that having a canine companion can help give our mental health a much needed boost.

While a small amount of anxiety can be beneficial and protective, anxiety disorders are on the rise and are characterised by feelings of worry or fear that don't go away. These feelings can cause a range of stressful symptoms that can make living our day to day lives difficult - and that's where man's best friend can come in handy.

Playing with a dog or petting one has been shown to elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which have a calming and relaxing effecting on the body, and owning a dog also encourage us to exercise more, which has also been proven to help ease anxiety.

Dogs can actually help with a wide variety of health issues in humans including lowering blood pressure and stress and some are even capable of treating depression, anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. These are generally referred to as being dogs for emotional support (or ESA, emotional support animal). 

Here, you'll find our top picks of the best dogs for anxiety and we've made sure to include a mix of both large and small breeds so no matter whether you're after a gentle giant or a compact canine, we've got you covered.

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