Eight Tips to Help Fearful Dogs Feel Safe (Guide)
If your dog is shy, fearful, or anxious, it's important to ignore outdated advice and recognize that they are not being disobedient: they are scared. These are the most important things to know if you have a fearful or reactive dog.
By Zazie Todd, PhD
If you know that already, well done for recognizing the signs. Hopefully you will find the following tips helpful.
If you aren’t sure, you might like to read how can I tell if my dog is afraid? If the answer is yes, come back here for some tips. It's important to know, because one study found that 72.5% of dogs have at least one form of canine anxiety.
Photo: Ramon Espelt Photography / Shutterstock |
By Zazie Todd, PhD
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Having a dog who is shy, anxious, fearful, or reactive is tough, but you've made the most important step in recognizing that that's the case. Now you can start to do something about it. While in some cases it can take a long time to resolve such issues, there is a lot you can do that will make a difference, and the sooner you start the sooner you will begin to see results.
The thing to focus on is helping your dog to feel safe. It doesn't matter if the things the dog is scared of don't make sense to you--it's how your dog feels that counts. Once they feel safe, they will learn to trust you and will begin to gain more confidence.
Here are 8 tips to help you to help your fearful or anxious dog.
1. Recognize that the dog is fearful
The first step is, of course, to recognize the dog is fearful in the first place.If you know that already, well done for recognizing the signs. Hopefully you will find the following tips helpful.
If you aren’t sure, you might like to read how can I tell if my dog is afraid? If the answer is yes, come back here for some tips. It's important to know, because one study found that 72.5% of dogs have at least one form of canine anxiety.
Sometimes people think that their dog is being disobedient, when actually they are scared. Fear and anxiety are behind many behaviour issues, but not all. For example, if your dog jumps on people to greet them, even if you'd rather they didn't, the dog is most likely just being friendly and wanting attention. The solution is to train them with positive reinforcement to do something else instead, like sit politely or just keep all four paws on the floor.
But if your dog is growling at people, if they start to shake or run to hide when there's a loud noise, or if they look away and lick their lips when someone approaches, it's important to ask yourself if your dog is afraid.
If they are, the most important tip is the next one on this list.
It can look different depending on what the issue is. Maybe the dog needs a space of their own (like a crate or bed) where they can choose to go if they don’t want to be around any children or strangers in the house.
Maybe it means telling other people they can’t pet your dog, because your dog wouldn’t like it.
Maybe it means walking your dog at certain times of day when you’re not likely to come across whatever it is the dog is afraid of (other dogs, strangers, bicycles, etc.).
Maybe it means having a predictable routine and giving your dog choices whenever possible.
It means devising a slow and gradual plan to help your dog learn not to be afraid. That might involve desensitization and counter-conditioning. You can read about how that is used to help dogs get over their fears of nail trims in my interview with Lori Nanan.
And maybe it involves finding a veterinarian who will work hard to help your dog have low stress visits. See my interview with Dr. Marty Becker for more on the Fear Free movement, and check out my resources on helping dogs (and cats) at the vet.
But if your dog is fearful, it is especially important to stop using punishment because the risk is your dog may become more fearful or even become afraid of you.
Your dog is already stressed by whatever they are afraid of. You don't want to add to that stress by using aversive methods like leash "corrections", prong collars, shock collars, making a pssst or tsssh noise, or yelling at your dog.
If there are behaviours you want to change, concentrate on using positive reinforcement to train your dog what you would like them to do instead. Use great dog training treats and do lots of repetitions of the behaviour to help it become strong.
But some dogs will approach their person and seem to be seeking comfort.
Unfortunately some dog trainers – including famous ones – have spread the idea that you should not comfort a fearful dog because it will reinforce the fear and make things worse. This is a myth.
In fact, you are a secure base for your dog – meaning your presence can help them in a stressful situation.
So if you think your dog would like to be comforted, go ahead. Pet them gently and talk to them nicely in a happy voice.
Some people think forcing your dog to face the thing they are afraid of will make them get used to it. But what can happen instead is they sensitize to it and get more and more afraid.
Dogs can turn to aggression to make the fearful thing go away. In some cases, your dog may panic or become ‘shut down’ (immobile due to fear). It is also possible your dog will start to react to other things in the environment because they are highly aroused. (If your dog is afraid of thunder and you've noticed them start to react to other sounds during a thunderstorm, like doors closing or noises from outside, you've seen this at work).
Sometimes people suggest you hand-feed a fearful dog all their meals to make them learn to like you. The thing to bear in mind is whether or not the dog is comfortable enough to approach you.
If they are afraid to approach, it’s not very nice to force them to come near you in order to get food. After all, they have to eat. If you want to hand-feed them, check they are comfortable being that close to you. If you see signs of fear, including a lowered body posture and trembling, put the food at a distance from you instead so the dog is not afraid. Sometimes you can sit and toss treats and give the dog a choice of whether to come and get them while you are there.
Similarly, don’t tether a fearful dog to you in the hope it will make them get used to you. Using a leash like this makes it impossible for the dog to get to what they feel is a safe distance.
Remember, your aim is to make the dog feel safe.
Instead of forcing the dog to face their fears, work out a plan to help them to not be afraid. Which leads to the next point.
It’s important to choose dog trainers with care, because unfortunately some still use outdated methods that risk making fear and reactivity worse. I have a post with tips on how to choose a dog trainer.
And don’t forget to consult your veterinarian too and find out if medication can help your dog. Your vet can check if there is an underlying medical issue that is contributing to the fear. They will also know whether or not your dog is likely to benefit from psychoactive medications.
What have you found helps your fearful dog?
2. Help the dog feel safe
Your first priority with a fearful dog is to help him or her feel safe. This often involves management for fearful dogs.It can look different depending on what the issue is. Maybe the dog needs a space of their own (like a crate or bed) where they can choose to go if they don’t want to be around any children or strangers in the house.
Maybe it means telling other people they can’t pet your dog, because your dog wouldn’t like it.
Maybe it means walking your dog at certain times of day when you’re not likely to come across whatever it is the dog is afraid of (other dogs, strangers, bicycles, etc.).
Maybe it means having a predictable routine and giving your dog choices whenever possible.
It means devising a slow and gradual plan to help your dog learn not to be afraid. That might involve desensitization and counter-conditioning. You can read about how that is used to help dogs get over their fears of nail trims in my interview with Lori Nanan.
And maybe it involves finding a veterinarian who will work hard to help your dog have low stress visits. See my interview with Dr. Marty Becker for more on the Fear Free movement, and check out my resources on helping dogs (and cats) at the vet.
3. Don’t use punishment
If your dog is fearful or reactive, make sure you are using the right dog training methods. Maybe you already don’t use punishment, since people are increasingly aware that positive reinforcement is the best way to train.But if your dog is fearful, it is especially important to stop using punishment because the risk is your dog may become more fearful or even become afraid of you.
Your dog is already stressed by whatever they are afraid of. You don't want to add to that stress by using aversive methods like leash "corrections", prong collars, shock collars, making a pssst or tsssh noise, or yelling at your dog.
If there are behaviours you want to change, concentrate on using positive reinforcement to train your dog what you would like them to do instead. Use great dog training treats and do lots of repetitions of the behaviour to help it become strong.
As far as the fear is concerned, you can use training to help with that too. Since fear is an emotion, we can use counter-conditioning as a powerful technique to change it. The basic principle is that whenever your dog sees something scary (from a safe distance, because you have to prioritize that feeling of safety), you'll give them an amazing treat to teach them that it is something to love instead.
You'll find a detailed description of how to do this, along with treat suggestions and lots of tips on technique, in my book Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog.
Get Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog |
4. It’s okay to comfort your dog
It’s okay to comfort a fearful dog if you think the dog would like it. Not all dogs do; some dogs prefer to run and hide in some circumstances, and that’s okay too.But some dogs will approach their person and seem to be seeking comfort.
Unfortunately some dog trainers – including famous ones – have spread the idea that you should not comfort a fearful dog because it will reinforce the fear and make things worse. This is a myth.
In fact, you are a secure base for your dog – meaning your presence can help them in a stressful situation.
So if you think your dog would like to be comforted, go ahead. Pet them gently and talk to them nicely in a happy voice.
Photo: SebiTian / Shutterstock |
5. Don’t force your dog to face their fears
Sometimes people recommend that you force your dog to face their fears. Unfortunately, this is not good advice.Some people think forcing your dog to face the thing they are afraid of will make them get used to it. But what can happen instead is they sensitize to it and get more and more afraid.
Dogs can turn to aggression to make the fearful thing go away. In some cases, your dog may panic or become ‘shut down’ (immobile due to fear). It is also possible your dog will start to react to other things in the environment because they are highly aroused. (If your dog is afraid of thunder and you've noticed them start to react to other sounds during a thunderstorm, like doors closing or noises from outside, you've seen this at work).
Sometimes people suggest you hand-feed a fearful dog all their meals to make them learn to like you. The thing to bear in mind is whether or not the dog is comfortable enough to approach you.
If they are afraid to approach, it’s not very nice to force them to come near you in order to get food. After all, they have to eat. If you want to hand-feed them, check they are comfortable being that close to you. If you see signs of fear, including a lowered body posture and trembling, put the food at a distance from you instead so the dog is not afraid. Sometimes you can sit and toss treats and give the dog a choice of whether to come and get them while you are there.
Similarly, don’t tether a fearful dog to you in the hope it will make them get used to you. Using a leash like this makes it impossible for the dog to get to what they feel is a safe distance.
Remember, your aim is to make the dog feel safe.
Instead of forcing the dog to face their fears, work out a plan to help them to not be afraid. Which leads to the next point.
6. Seek professional help
Any time you are struggling with your dog, it's a good idea to get help. In my interview with dog trainer Jane Sigsworth, who takes many fear and aggression cases, she said,“I would always recommend, if there’s fear and aggression there, for clients to get professional help because a professional is going to get them through the protocol so much faster and more efficiently than trying to do it themselves.”So don’t be embarrassed to seek help. The sooner you get started, the sooner you will make progress.
It’s important to choose dog trainers with care, because unfortunately some still use outdated methods that risk making fear and reactivity worse. I have a post with tips on how to choose a dog trainer.
And don’t forget to consult your veterinarian too and find out if medication can help your dog. Your vet can check if there is an underlying medical issue that is contributing to the fear. They will also know whether or not your dog is likely to benefit from psychoactive medications.
In some cases your vet may refer you to a veterinary behaviourist, a specialist vet who has done a lot of extra training and study who is able to help with even the most difficult cases.
So it’s important to understand that it may take a long time to help your pet, and that fearful dogs can still have a happy life.
And it’s important to celebrate the successes along the way. When we see gradual change happening before our eyes over time, it’s easy to forget what things were like when you started. Looking back can help you realize how far you and your dog have come.
Photo: Poprugin Aleksey / Shutterstock |
7. Be in it for the long haul
Fear and anxiety can take a long time to resolve, and in some cases may never fully resolve (even if great progress is made).So it’s important to understand that it may take a long time to help your pet, and that fearful dogs can still have a happy life.
And it’s important to celebrate the successes along the way. When we see gradual change happening before our eyes over time, it’s easy to forget what things were like when you started. Looking back can help you realize how far you and your dog have come.
8. Make the most of available resources
If you liked this post, you will love my new book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, which is available for pre-order now. Bark! will help you understand your fearful dog better and gives you lots of practical tips to help with daily life with your dog. Bark! will be published on 1st October 2024. Karen Fine DVM, author of NYT-bestseller The Other Family Doctor, says "Bark! cuts through the confusion and myths to provide clear-cut, well-researched assistance to those with 'difficult' dogs."You may also want to check out my first book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy which is full of tips on how best to train and care for your dog. It will help you understand how to prevent fears in the first place and resolve them if they occur. Gregory Berns, NYT-bestselling author of How Dogs Love Us says of Wag, “Using the latest canine science, Zazie Todd gives us a clear and compassionate guide to bringing out the best in your dog."
Other books you might like include From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias by Dr. Marty Becker et al (read my interview with Dr. Becker here); Decoding Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and Debra Horwitz (especially for a chapter on sound phobias in dogs); The Cautious Canine-How to Help Dogs Conquer Their Fears by Patricia McConnell; and A Guide to Living With and Training a Fearful Dog by Debbie Jacobs.
What have you found helps your fearful dog?
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