How to Help Your Dog With Common Dog Fears
Nearly everyone has his fears and phobias, including your dog. To change your dog’s behavior around common dog fears, it’s important to pair good things with those scary things. If, at anytime, a dog panics around these stimuli, partner with an experienced dog trainer and/or a veterinary behaviorist.
1. Sounds
Fear of certain sounds is pretty common among dogs, but most dogs recover quickly after their initial startle. Unfortunately, some dogs don’t recover as quickly and become incredibly fearful of sounds.
Sounds that can be scary to your dog may include:
- Fireworks
- Thunder
- Lightning crackles
- Sirens
- Loud booms
- Screaming children
- Smoke alarms
- Loudly shut doors
Personally, I live with a dog terrified of food sizzling in a pan. Scary sounds can be anything.
Usually, dogs with a noise phobia have underlying anxiety issues, so these issues should be approached from many different directions. Pairing good things with scary things works extremely well, but only if a dog is kept below threshold (i.e. kept calm around the stimulus).
Giving bits of super yummy food when a dog hears a sound, or playing a fun game while food sizzles in the background, will teach your dog that scary sounds make fun happen. If it rained $100 bills when an old house creaked spooky sounds at night (a fear of mine), I would look forward to that sound.
Now, if a dog panics around certain sounds, using medications can certainly help the learning process, but partner with a veterinary behaviorist first.
2. Fast Movement
No one likes fast movements, not even humans, so it’s understandable why this is a common dog fear. While fast moving objects are unsettling, it’s even scarier when fast moving objects are moving toward you.
Examples of fast moving objects include:
- Dogs
- People
- Bicycles
- Joggers
- Skateboarders
- Loud trucks
Most dogs will ignore, or try to ignore, something moving in the background, but they become really stressed when these things move closer. Most dogs learn that approaching people will try to touch them, a strange dog will try to sniff them (or attack them), and bicycles will get too close during walks in the park. Eventually, dogs will start to bark at these fast moving objects to keep them away.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]If someone asks to pet your dog, allow your dog to make the decision.[/perfectpullquote]
Teaching dogs that fast moving objects are normal parts of the environment is key. When a dog looks at something moving past, click and treat as she’s looking at it. She will learn that fast moving things make treats appear.
Also, it’s important to keep your dog safe. Never allow strange dogs to approach your dog. Most dogs strongly dislike meeting other dogs. The same applies to humans. If someone asks to pet your dog, allow your dog to make the decision. If your dog moves forward and happily greets that person, that’s great. But if your dog hides behind you, listen to your dog and explain that your dog is just not a big greeter.
RELATED: Dog Socialization Tips
3. New Situations
New situations can be super scary to dogs. People don’t like them either. One place most dogs fear is the vet’s office. Sitting and waiting in a vet’s office can freak most dogs out.
When bringing your dog into a new situation, be prepared. Before leaving, pack lots of super yummy treats, fill Kongs with peanut butter and teach your dog the “touch” cue. In the new environment, play “touch” with your dog and reward with yummy treats or a food stuffed Kong to enjoy. Pairing good things with stressful situations works. Think about it this way: What if it rained $100 bills every time you were in gridlock? You would probably look forward to seeing a sea of red brake lights!
Make it rain $100 bills for you and your dog today!
