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There’s a common accepted belief that asserts the best way to lose your fears is to face them head on. But is the same correct for our dogs and should we be making a fearful dog confront their fears?

If your dog is afraid of people as an example, should you be making sure they come across lots of people everyday in the hope they are going to get used to them or learn to be brave? How about a dog afraid of fireworks, should you take them to a display every year to get them use to very loud noises?

The way in which we tackle the issue of dog fears is essential, as we risk compounding the fears and making our dogs even more fearful if we take the incorrect approach.

A Productive Approach to Helping a Fearful Dog

All evidence indicates that encouraging or making a dog to tackle their fears isn’t a productive one, nor is it safe. Some dogs coming head to head with a fearful experience will lash out with fear aggression. Imagine the effects if that was a child they were afraid of. Infact repeated exposure to a fear is likelier to increase the stress each time they experience it.

Of course, we cannot protect our dogs from everything they’re worried about. We are not able to stop thunderstorms; or folk coming to the house or having to leave our dogs home alone now and then. Nor can we disregard the problem because that won’t make it disappear either, so what are we able to do?

The Best Way to Help When Your Dog is Fearful

When your dog is showing fear, the way in which you react is essential as they may frequently be looking to see what you do in the situation. If you show anxiousness, it’ll confirm they’re right to feel like this. So it is very important that you stay calm and show your dog that this is nothing to worry about.

Avoid comforting your dog a lot or making a big fuss of them when they show fear as this is not very helpful for your dog. Either your dog could see this as a reward for their anxious behavior and it will encourage them to behave in this way; or it will confirm that they’re right to be afraid.

Now that doesn’t suggest if your dog wants to snuggle up with you during a thunderstorm that you shouldn’t let them, just that you should stay calm, not make a big fuss of them and act like there is nothing for them to be afraid of.

How to Help Your Dog Get Over Their Fears

There are 3 ways in which you can help in cutting dog fears. The 1st is to use desensitisation training which involves exposing your dog to their fear at an intensity they can deal with and in little incremental steps gradually increase their exposure, using treats and praise to help the technique.

The 2nd is for you to learn how to show your dog that you’re the pack leader as this is thought to be very beneficial for anxious dogs, especially for those with separation anxiety. The 3rd is to ask your vet about the use of medication for very extreme cases, but you’ll still have to use training alongside it.

Author Venice Marriott is a writer, dog owner and runs a website which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with dog anxiety. Get more information about helping a fearful dog face fears when you visit the site.

When a dog is feeling anxious they’re predicting that something is going to happen that they’re scared of. That may be a direct threat like another dog coming up to them, or it may be something that is associated with the fear, for example their owner picking up the car keys. The keys are not the threat, but they associate them with their owner leaving them home alone.

Anxiety in dogs usually comes from their social learning (or the lack of it) and their prior experiences, but some dogs are just a little anxious by character. Often a dog’s anxieties are difficult to understand, but the good new is that whatever the reason for their fears, there are several ways in which you can help lower your dog’s anxiety levels.

1. Do Not Make Them Face Their Fears

Avoiding circumstances that are scary for your dog is the simplest way to immediately reduce a dog’s anxiety. As an example, if your dog is fearful of vacuum cleaners, don’t vacuum while they’re close by till you have done some desensitisation training with them and they are relaxed about it.

Contrary to popular belief, getting a dog to face their fears head on is not going to help, and is likely to result in heightening the anxiety. On the other hand, ignoring anxiety in dogs in the hope it’ll go, sadly won’t help either and the anxiousness will most likely increase over a period of time as the dog learns to be a little more scared from each experience that compounds the fear.

2. Use Desensitization Behavior Training

Desensitisation training can slowly help your dog overcome fears, so taking one fear at a time, put aside some regular time and make a step-by-step plan to desensitize him.

Using the example of a dog afraid of a vacuum cleaner, you might start by getting the vacuum out but not putting it on, and then putting a treat in the same room as the vacuum, or playing a game in the same room, steadily getting the dog closer to the vacuum. Carry on doing this till they relax and take no notice of it.
Your next step is to have someone put the vacuum on while you are in another room with the dog. Again use the method of treats and play (whatever they enjoy best) till they relax while they can hear the noise. Gradually move them closer every few sessions, observing your dog all the time. If they start showing they are scared, back up a little and progress slower.

3. Be Calm and Positive With Your dog

Staying calm yourself is exceedingly important for an anxious dog because if you are feeling anxious too , they are going to pick up on those feelings and become even more worried.

It can at times be difficult to stay calm yourself if you’re worrying about how your dog is going to react, for example coming face to face with another dog on a walk when you know it will cause them a lot of worry. If possible, it is smart to avoid those situations altogether, but if faced with a fearful situation, your dog may look to you for a reaction first, so be sure you act as if it is nothing for your dog to stress about. That doesn’t mean you have to carry on and ‘brave out ‘ any frightening situations, you could similarly decide to turn and walk off.

Reward your dog for being brave and showing confidence whenever it’s possible to show they are doing the right thing. On the other hand, never scold or punish them for showing fear. Shouting at them or shocking them may get you the desired reaction like stopping them from doing something (like barking forcefully), nonetheless it won’t make a difference to the underlying problem that causes the anxiety in the first place.

It might take a little time for your dog to start responding positively, but keep it up because your dog really needs you to have patience with them while they cope with the anxiety. Eventually they should be able to deal with a load more stimulus and lead a much happier life.

Author Venice Marriott is a writer and dog owner and runs a website, which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with dog anxiety. Get more information about the ways you can reduce anxiety in dogs, when you visit the site.

Dogs are fearful of all sorts of bizarre and wonderful things from the sound of falling leaves to people wearing hats or men with beards.

But as amusing as some of their fears seem, living alongside a fearful dog isn’t very easy. While many people spend our time trying to calm our dogs over exhuberance down, owners of fearful dogs spend their time trying to coax their dog out from under the furniture and build their confidence.

Some owners can only walk their dog after it’s dark because their dog is scared of seeing other dogs; other owners can’t invite friends and family into their home as the dog is so frightened of folk and yet others owners who can’t get their dog to go out of the house without shaking with fear.

The things that make your dog afraid can also lead to other behaviour problems like fear aggression, too much barking, destructive behavior and other conditions like separation anxiety in dogs.

Top Dog Fears

Noises seem to lead to the most fears and there are many dogs who are afraid of thunder, typhoons and fireworks. Loud noises are perhaps most understandable to us, but equally you’ll find dogs who are afraid of noises like the telphone ringing, the vacuum cleaner, or the door chime.

People can also be a big source of fear amongst dogs, with some dogs focusing on men or youngsters to be scared of, and others being fearful of particlular things about folks, like beards or hats or particular voices. I heard about a dog that started barking ferociously at the sound of a popular newsreaders voice, but at no others.

Places can also make dogs scared, ranging from wide open spaces right down to developing fears about peeing in their own favourite rear yard spot.

Some of their fears are difficult to understand, especially when a dog suddenly is scared of a place they have used for years without worry. On a forum just recently a dog owner was saying how her dog was suddenly fearful of being downstairs and would rush upstairs at each opportunity and spend her time looking anxiously back down the stairway. She would only come down when desperate to toilet or when offered a walk and then would run down the stairs and out the door as quick as she could.

3 things That Help a Fearful Dog

It’s important to stay calm yourself when handling a dogs fears because if they pick up on our own worries it’ll give them more reason to be afraid.

Don’t make too much fuss of your dog while they’re in a panic state either as it can increase their feelings. Treat them in a friendly but straightforward way like there isn’t anything for them to worry about at all.

Learn how to use desenstisation training to gently introduce them to the things they fear in a controlled way and use lots of treats and praise.

Author Venice Marriott is a writer, dog owner and runs a website which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with dog anxiety. Get more information about dog fears and the symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs when you visit the site.

Do you have a shy or fearful dog?  He’s probably very attached to you, but is leery of strangers.  Your pet may even go so far as to growl and snap at unfamiliar people or dogs who get too close.  People may say he’s a “one-person dog.”

It’s important to work on training your shy dog before his behavior escalates to fear aggression in dogs.  This type of aggressive dog behavior is characterized at first by growling at people he doesn’t know, and can quickly progress to snapping and biting.

Why Is My Dog Shy?

Sometimes a dog is shy or fearful of strangers due to a bad experience somewhere along the line.  Some cases are due to genetics.  But most cases of shyness in dogs are caused by one thing; neglecting to socialize a puppy in his first few months of life.  It’s also very important not to stop socializing your dog too soon, as many dogs go through a shy period around six months of age.

Are You Teaching Your Dog To Be Shy?

Speaking softly and reassuringly to your fearful dog in an attempt to calm him down is a mistake.First, you’re teaching him that hiding, growling, and even snapping at someone will be rewarded with your attention and praise.

Second, listen to the sound of your voice when you’re reassuring your dog.To your canine, the tone of your voice makes him think it’s a dog whimpering.  Your dog doesn’t understand your words, but he does understand the sound.Because your dog interprets your voice as a whimper, he’ll become even more nervous about the stranger.

Training Your Shy Dog

Socializing your dog when he’s a puppy is the best way to prevent your canine from becoming a shy dog.  He needs to be exposed to a wide variety of people, places, and dogs so that he can learn through experience that there’s nothing to be scared of.

If your canine friend is already a shy adult, socializing your dog is still possible.  It takes longer, and you’ll need lots of patience, but  it can be done.

The important thing to remember with training your shy dog is not to rush him.  If you try to force him into socializing with unfamiliar people or dogs, all you’ll do is reinforce his belief that these things are scary.  Plus he may feel that he has no choice but to defend himself, which leads to aggressive dog behavior.

Don’t allow a stranger to approach your dog and try to pet him.Your dog should be the one to make the first move.  If he doesn’t want to, that’s fine.  If he’s hiding, don’t try to coax him out, as he’ll think you’re praising him for hiding out.

Ignore your dog when he acts shy or scared around strange people or dogs.  Keep him on his leash, and don’t let him get close enough to start displaying fear aggression in dogs.  Let him hang back and check out the situation from a distance.  When he’s ready, he’ll get closer on his own to the stranger.  This is when you praise him lavishly.

A Good Dog Training Course Can Work Wonders With A Shy Dog

You can see how easy it is to give your dog the wrong idea.  The fact is that dogs just don’t think like people do.  Understanding how your dog thinks is crucial to training shy dog properly.

Investing in a good dog training course is essential.  You’ll want to find out what other dog owners who have used the course think of it.Learn if other dog owners who have used the course are satisfied with it by reading testimonials.

If you’re struggling with a shy or fearful dog, just click on any link in this article to learn more about a dog training course that includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.

Tell me, does this describe your dog?  He’s very attached to you, but is leery of strangers,  He may go as far as growling and snapping at unfamiliar people or dogs who get too close.  Friends say he’s a “one-person dog,” but actually he’s a shy or fearful dog.

It’s important to work on training shy dog before his behavior escalates to fear aggression in dogs.  This type of aggressive dog behavior is characterized at first by growling at people he doesn’t know, and can quickly progress to snapping and biting.

Why Is My Dog Shy?

Sometimes a dog is shy or fearful of strangers due to a bad experience somewhere along the line.  Some cases are due to genetics.  But most cases of shyness in dogs are caused by one thing; neglecting to socialize a puppy in his first few months of life.  It’s also very important not to stop socializing your dog too soon, as many dogs go through a shy period around six months of age.

Are You Teaching Your Dog To Be Shy?

Speaking softly and reassuringly to your fearful dog in an attempt to calm him down is a mistake.First, you’re training him to hide, growl, or snap because you’re rewarding his behavior with your attention and praise. 

Second, listen to how your voice sounds when reassuring your pooch.Instead, it sounds like a dog’s whimper to your canine.  Your dog doesn’t understand your words, but he does understand the sound.He’ll become even more anxious about the stranger because he thinks you’re whimpering at him.

Training Your Shy Dog

Socializing your dog when he’s a puppy is the best way to prevent your canine from becoming a shy dog.  He needs to be exposed to a wide variety of people, places, and dogs so that he can learn through experience that there’s nothing to be scared of.

If your canine friend is already a shy adult, it’s still possible to socialize your dog.  It takes longer, and you’ll need lots of patience, but  it can be done. 

The important thing to remember with training shy dog is not to rush him.  If you try to force him into socializing with unfamiliar people or dogs, all you’ll do is reinforce his belief that these things are scary.  Plus he may feel that he has no choice but to defend himself, which leads to aggressive dog behavior.

Avoid allowing a stranger to approach your dog and attempt to pet him.  Let your dog make the first move.  If he doesn’t want to, that’s fine.  If he’s hiding, don’t try to coax him out, as he’ll think you’re praising him for hiding out.

Ignore your dog when he acts shy or scared around strange people or dogs.  Keep him on his leash, and don’t let him get close enough to start displaying fear aggression in dogs.  Let him hang back and check out the situation from a distance.  When he’s ready, he’ll get closer on his own to the stranger.  This is when you praise him lavishly.

A Good Dog Training Course Can Work Wonders With A Shy Dog

You can see how easy it is to give your dog the wrong idea.  The fact is that dogs just don’t think like people do.  Understanding how your dog thinks is crucial to training shy dog properly. 

Investing in a good dog training course is essential.  You’ll want to find out what other dog owners who have used the course think of it.Learn if other dog owners who have used the course are satisfied with it by reading testimonials. 

You’ll also want to look for a course than includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.  This benefit alone may pay for the cost of the course. 

Believe me, once your start to apply this advice, your problem with your fearful dog will be solved.

Visit No More Bad Dogs for resources to help your fearful dog.