My dog Frosty had a serious fear of loud noises. She was most terrified when it stormed, when there were fireworks or when guns were being shot. She would salivate, pace and hide. Once we were able to understand what she was afraid of, it made it easier to help her when she was faced with the things that scared her.
Fear can be a crippling emotion and when it comes to your dog, fear can drive his actions and lead to bad and even dangerous behavior. Understanding the fears that your dog experiences can help you, as a responsible pet owner, better help your canine companion.
Things that scare your dog may seem silly or inconsequential, but to your pooch they are monumental. What are some common fears that dogs exhibit?
Noises
The noise created by vacuum cleaners, certain appliances and even lawnmowers have been known to scare some dogs. In the house, sudden loud noises like those from a mixer, a blender or some other small appliance can startle and upset any dog.
Often, the reverberation of loud sounds off the walls of an enclosed room can frighten your dog. In the great outdoors, though, dogs can react poorly to the lawnmower. In all cases, a dog is simply unable to make sense of the movement and the noise, and it results in fear.
In the same way, some dogs may be frightened by thunder, lightning or fireworks. It is possible to rehabilitate some dogs from such fears through therapy, positive encouragement and even medications. However, avoiding the things that frighten your dog, if feasible, may be the best way to deal with their fears.
Floors
Some dogs may be frightened of slick floors or even an unfamiliar floor. Slick floors can cause your dog to become unsteady and clumsy on her feet, which can scare her.
Some dogs may fear stepping from one type of flooring onto another such as going from carpet to vinyl flooring or vice versa. My neighbors dog will not walk on hardwood floors. She has little carpeted paths through the rooms in her house that have hardwoods.
People
People are also a common fear for dogs. Some dogs may fear men specifically, or people in uniforms. If you have a dog that is fearful of people, always make strangers aware of this and discourage them from approaching your dog.
Recognize the Signs
Knowing your dogs triggers and the signs that he is becoming afraid is a must. Once you discover your dogs fears, pay close attention to how he acts. A tail tucked between the legs, ears laid back, whimpering, whining, cowering, barking, salivating and other behaviors can indicate fear.
A scared dog can even become aggressive, so it is especially important to understand your dogs fears and recognize the signs of fear. Understanding when your dog is becoming frightened and needs your intervention is imperative.
Soothing Fears
With my dog Frosty, I would crate her when I knew a storm was moving in. If a storm sneaked up on us or I wasted time with getting her into the crate, she would run and hide underneath the bed.
Being aware and observant of your dogs behavior can save you from frustration and save your dog from stress. Be ready to take action when your dog is faced with a fear.
While our first instinct with a frightened dog is to pet her and talk soothingly, much like we would do with a child, the best course of action is always removal from the situation. At some point, you may have the opportunity to introduce your dog to the source of fear under better circumstances. That would be the time to try to lessen the fear through positive reinforcement with CANIDAE TidNips treats and perhaps eventually allowing your dog to examine the source of the fear (if possible).
Ultimately, though, be ready to remove and contain your dog when she is frightened. This is the best option for her safety and the safety of those around her.
Top photo by Carterse
Bottom photo by Gareth Williams
Read more articles by Langley Cornwell
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