Why is My Dog Afraid?

Fear is a normal emotion that engages dogs to respond to what they perceive as a threat.  Some of these things can be certain people, other dogs, unusual looking items, as well as many other normal things in their lives. So why are dogs afraid of certain people and things?  Below are just a few reasons…

Re-enforcement of fearful behavior: As mentioned in another post, What Exactly is a Reward All About, affection and attention in the canine world are forms of reward just as food is. When we visit dogs who have fear issues and watch very closely what is going on, the fearful response is often being rewarded by praise.  Of course the owners of these dogs are not trying to intentionally make their dogs more fearful, by we have to remember to that dogs need Training Through the Dog’s Mentality, not ours.  Knowing what to do when your dog is showing signs of fear is crucial so that you do not reward the behavior.

Lack of Exposure: In most cases, you only get one chance to expose and socialize your puppy.  We say this all the time, “You can teach your dog to come and stay at any time, but you can’t go back in time and socialize your puppy.” This is where the socialization process comes in and should be started well before the age of about 17 weeks. The more places, people, and other well socialized dogs you can expose your dog to the better.  Many dog to dog aggression issues are based in fear due to improper socialization or a bad experience and in turn they become defensive or learn an inappropriate behavior.

Underlying Medical Conditions: If you have a middle aged dog who is just showing signs of increase fearful or aggressive behaviors, underlying medical conditions may be happening.  Hyperthyroidism, neck and back discomfort, joint issues, are just a few potential causes of fearful behavior in dogs.  Make sure you consult with your vet if nothing else, just to rule some of these things out.

Whatever the cause of your dog’s fears, make sure that you are doing something to help better the situation.  If you are not sure what you are looking at or how to rehab your dog, contact a professional dog trainer for help.

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