FEAR IN DOGS

Fear is a normal response for dogs, and they can express it in a variety of ways.  The quality of life is significantly affected for a dog that experiences fear and anxiety as a regular part of their life.  

It is important to seek professional help as soon as possible when a dog shows signs of fear.  Addressing fear early on is much quicker and easier to handle than fear that the dog has been experiencing for an extended period of time.  A dog most often becomes more fearful of its triggers as time passes.  This can also result in the dog generalizing the fear to other associated triggers.  An example of this would be a dog that is fearful of balloons generalizing its fear to children that are carrying balloons.


What the behavior looks like

Dogs may avoid people, objects, or situations, or they may move away slowly or freeze. They may also tuck their tail, flatten their body, or avert eye contact. 

Vocalizations: Dogs may whine, bark, or yelp. 

Other signs: Dogs may pant, pace, lick their lips, drool, or tremble. They may also refuse food or treats, or become destructive. 

Fear reactivity: Dogs may act in a way that can be confused with aggression.  This is due to the fight or flight reaction when a dog is scared.  The goal of a fearful dog is to create distance between itself and what it fears.  If it is restricted from fleeing such as when on leash or backed into a corner it will often act aggressively or attack what it fears in an effort to get the trigger to go away or back off. 

Sensing fear in humans: dogs can also sense fear in humans through body language, facial expressions, or smell. When a dog perceives fear in a person, it may mirror that fear and show fear-based reactions. 

Some common fears and phobias in dogs include: 

Thunder

Fireworks

Strange dogs or people

Children

Unfamiliar situations or environments

Being left alone

Going to the veterinarian

Riding in a vehicle

Puppies experience two fear periods before reaching adulthood, each lasting about 2–3 weeks. During these periods, puppies become more aware of the world around them and may be unsure about new experiences. 

Here are some ways to help a fearful dog:

Provide a safe space: Create a soundproof hideaway for your dog to feel secure. 

Desensitize: Gradually expose your dog to their fear in small, non-scary doses. For example, if your dog is afraid of other dogs, introduce them from a distance where they feel safe. 

Avoid punishment: Punitive measures like scolding or physical correction can intensify a dog's fear. 

Be patient: Allow your dog to get away from the source of their fear until they calm down. 

Distract with treats: Once your dog is calm, try distracting them with treats and obedience cues.

Praise calm behavior: Reward your dog when they are calm. 

Stay calm: Try to remain calm yourself. 

Seek professional help: Jensen Canines specializes in handling the management and training of fear cases.

Socialize your puppy: Early, frequent, and pleasant encounters with people, sights, sounds, and environments can help prevent fears later in life. 

For more information or to request a Behavioral Assessment and Consultation contact us below or call (805) 978 6945.  

We provide your Behavioral Assessment and Consultation free of charge.  At the consultation we will discuss in detail with you what problem behaviors are occurring, what you would like to see happen for you and your dog as a result of training and will perform a Behavioral Assessment of your dog.  This will allow us to evaluate your needs, the current behavior of the dog, what you would like to see from the training and other variables in order to develop a Behavioral Training Plan specific to your dog and situation.