Fear and Anxiety
Just like us, dogs can feel worried, scared, and anxious, and some even experience full-on panic attacks. In many cases, we have the ability to both help our dogs not become afraid in the first place, as well as help them overcome already existing fears. When given the choice, though, prevention is always the better option:
It’s a million times easier to teach a dog that something is safe, fun, and friendly than it is to help him overcome fears he already has.
Something important to note is that fearful dogs can become aggressive. As we discuss in our Response to Threat page, when dogs are scared of something, they will fight, flee, or freeze — the same ways people respond. But dogs have sharp teeth and incredibly strong jaws, so when a dog is so scared that he feels the need to “fight” and defend himself, people and other dogs around can get severely injured. The fearful dog who hurt them could then be impounded and ultimately euthanized, and the saddest part is that we could very well have prevented him from becoming scared in the first place.
So understanding fear is important for the welfare of everyone involved: dogs, people, and other animals alike.
It’s a million times easier to teach a dog that something is safe, fun, and friendly than it is to help him overcome fears he already has.
Something important to note is that fearful dogs can become aggressive. As we discuss in our Response to Threat page, when dogs are scared of something, they will fight, flee, or freeze — the same ways people respond. But dogs have sharp teeth and incredibly strong jaws, so when a dog is so scared that he feels the need to “fight” and defend himself, people and other dogs around can get severely injured. The fearful dog who hurt them could then be impounded and ultimately euthanized, and the saddest part is that we could very well have prevented him from becoming scared in the first place.
So understanding fear is important for the welfare of everyone involved: dogs, people, and other animals alike.
Causes, Prevention, and Treatments
As mentioned on our Puppies page, dogs go through a “socialization period” from approximately 3-weeks old to 12-18-weeks old — a critical time when dogs learn what is safe and friendly in their world and what is dangerous and scary. One bad experience with something (i.e. the vet) could sour the dog on it for life.
Conversely, if exposed to a slew of different things (people, cars, vets, other dogs, bikes, strollers, kids, baseball caps, sombreros, mustaches…) in a positive way (i.e. "There’s a skateboarder! Ooh! Let’s have a chicken and provolone cheese party until the skateboarder passes!"), the puppy will likely grow up with very few fears.
That said, fear can also be genetic. Again, just like people, some dogs are born with a tendency to feel anxious. And, interestingly, puppies born to a fearful mother may be more prone to being fearful throughout their lives.
Medications and behavior modification treatments are available to help fearful dogs, so be sure to talk to your veterinarian if you suspect your dog has any of the anxieties and disorders listed below. In some cases, you may be referred to work with a veterinary behaviorist or specialists who work with specific disorders.
Conversely, if exposed to a slew of different things (people, cars, vets, other dogs, bikes, strollers, kids, baseball caps, sombreros, mustaches…) in a positive way (i.e. "There’s a skateboarder! Ooh! Let’s have a chicken and provolone cheese party until the skateboarder passes!"), the puppy will likely grow up with very few fears.
That said, fear can also be genetic. Again, just like people, some dogs are born with a tendency to feel anxious. And, interestingly, puppies born to a fearful mother may be more prone to being fearful throughout their lives.
Medications and behavior modification treatments are available to help fearful dogs, so be sure to talk to your veterinarian if you suspect your dog has any of the anxieties and disorders listed below. In some cases, you may be referred to work with a veterinary behaviorist or specialists who work with specific disorders.
Types of Disorders
Fear can appear in many different forms: cowering, shaking, freezing, fleeing, and even fighting. Below are some of the more common fear- and anxiety-related disorders:
Fear of Strangers
It's pretty common for dogs to have some fears when meeting new people. Positive exposure to many new people during the socialization period is the best way to help dogs be comfortable with future people they encounter. You might see that your dog is uncomfortable with one type of person (men being a common example) or specific features and accessories, such as beards, sunglasses, hats, or people in wheelchairs.
It is important to note that the way this fear looks from dog to dog can really vary. Some may bark, growl, snap, and even bite, others may try to flee, and others may freeze, unsure whether it’s safer to warn the stranger to go away or run away himself.
It is important to note that the way this fear looks from dog to dog can really vary. Some may bark, growl, snap, and even bite, others may try to flee, and others may freeze, unsure whether it’s safer to warn the stranger to go away or run away himself.
Neophobia (Fear of New Things)
Neophobia is best described as fear of novelty. Dogs who suffer from this are often those who shake or cower when startled by a noise or object (think: vacuum), and they may take longer than other dogs to adjust to new environments.
Dogs who experience neophobia do often adjust given time and proper treatment, but (as is often the case) because of a lack of exposure during the critical socialization period, they may need longer adjustment periods and lack the resilience of other dogs
Dogs who experience neophobia do often adjust given time and proper treatment, but (as is often the case) because of a lack of exposure during the critical socialization period, they may need longer adjustment periods and lack the resilience of other dogs
Generalized Anxiety
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Dogs who suffer from generalized anxiety are those who appear hyper-vigilant at all times, who may react more intensely to something unexpected than other dogs do, may be in seemingly constant motion, and may alert more quickly to changes in the environment.
Because generalized anxiety can be diagnosable as a disorder, consulting with a veterinary behaviorist along with a program of behavior modification training may be in order. |
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Separation Anxiety
Have you seen the videos of “naughty” dogs chewing their way out of a crate, destroying the door frame, or even jumping through a glass window? The sad truth is that these dogs are not being bad — they’re terrified of being alone or even being separated from one specific person.
As we discuss in Dogs Being Dogs, our canine friends love to chew, dig, dissect, and bark, so it’s no surprise that there is confusion about whether a dog is destroying something because he is bored, just doing “doggie” things, or if he is panicking.
So how can you tell the difference? Video the dog when you leave the house to see how he behaves. If you see a cluster of some of the following, it's possible that your dog suffers from separation anxiety:
Dogs with separation anxiety get worse over time and risk damaging their homes and seriously injuring themselves. As such, this disorder can affect the quality of life for both dogs and the people who love them. So getting effective treatment going as soon as possible is important for the whole family. Click here for help.
As we discuss in Dogs Being Dogs, our canine friends love to chew, dig, dissect, and bark, so it’s no surprise that there is confusion about whether a dog is destroying something because he is bored, just doing “doggie” things, or if he is panicking.
So how can you tell the difference? Video the dog when you leave the house to see how he behaves. If you see a cluster of some of the following, it's possible that your dog suffers from separation anxiety:
- Barking and howling
- Chewing exits points such as door and window frames
- Indoor “accidents” — urinating or defecating in the house
- Excessive salivation, drooling, or panting
- Intense pacing
- Not eating when left alone
- If confined in a crate or something similar, prolonged attempts to escape, and injuring himself in the process. (Confinement phobic dogs commonly try to chew out of wire crates, injuring their teeth, gums, lips, and jaw in the process.)
Dogs with separation anxiety get worse over time and risk damaging their homes and seriously injuring themselves. As such, this disorder can affect the quality of life for both dogs and the people who love them. So getting effective treatment going as soon as possible is important for the whole family. Click here for help.
Separation Anxiety Before and After Desensitization Training
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Home alone "before":
Pacing, barking, howling, urinating on furniture |
Home alone "after":
Sleeping. |
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