Is your dog always afraid of something? Loud sounds and unfamiliar places are merely the start.
Similar to humans, dogs also have their fears and anxieties. And similar to their human companions, dogs are not always scared for the obvious reasons. Although being afraid of something is not general, meaning that each individual, in this case, dog, can have their reasons, there are certain common things that trigger most dogs.
Knowing what these things are can give you a better idea on how to help your dog feel safe, protected and loved. If you want to improve your skills as a parent of a furry child, and help your pup navigate through all those fears and emotions, read on to find out 11 surprising things that might scare your dog, according to pet experts.
However, keep in mind that “no matter what a dog may be fearful of, if you approach the situation slowly and in steps, you will often see bigger progress,” explains dog behaviorist Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer and co-founder of Halo Collar.
Your energy
It’s incredible how dogs, just like children, feed off their “parents’ energy”. In other words, dogs can sense if you’re afraid, angry, annoyed or in a bad mood and their reactions will match your feelings. As explained by Cesar, when you meet your dog with calmness and positive energy, your dog will have no problem in following your instructions.
See also: 14 Emotional Support Dogs for People with Anxiety
Unfamiliar people
It’s natural for both humans and dogs to have a more restrained behavior towards strangers. “Dogs are often fearful of new people approaching who they aren’t familiar with,” Cesar explains. To prevent any unwanted or negative reactions, Cesar suggests dog owners to show a positive attitude towards other people, so that your dog can feel at ease and not in some sort of danger. Maintaining a positive body language will prevent your dog from becoming alert and even nervous when you both encounter an unfamiliar person.
According to Certified Animal Trainer & Pet Lifestyle Expert Nicole Ellis, CPDT-KA, FFCP-T, if your pup still displays a hesitant behavior when passing by unfamiliar people, it might be because of their upbringing. They might be fearful of people because of past experiences, natural wariness and even because some dogs become more alert and nervous due to bright colors worn by people.
New surroundings
Similar to unfamiliar people, unfamiliar surroundings can also be triggers for dogs. And not often, new surroundings can make dogs quite agitated and nervous. According to Cesar, “it’s best to create a distraction using the dog’s nose, rather than ears or eyes.” For instance, if you notice your dog becoming agitated and anxious when getting closer to a certain place, try to distract them somehow; either by offering them a treat or patting them etc. Rather than associating that place with feeling anxious and scared, your pup will associate it with a place where they can receive a treat.
New family members
When you become the “parents” of a new pup, you introduce the furry member to the other existing family members. In time, everyone gets used to everyone. Consequently, having a new family member in the picture, like a baby, can turn into a tricky situation. To make things easier for your furry friend, dog trainers such as Cesar suggest familiarizing your dog with your baby’s scent; this means bringing a clothing item with your baby’s scent before and letting your dog sniff it before bringing the baby from the hospital. Also, make sure you keep a small distance between the dog and the baby when introducing them for the first time, to avoid unwanted reactions. In time, they will become best friends.
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms are unpredictable and unpredictable things can give your dog quite a scare. Add the fact that smoke alarms make loud, high-pitched noises, designed to attract attention and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a disastrous situation. Given the fact that it is quite difficult to know when alarms go off, dog experts recommend having treats with you at all times to distract your dog in case an attention-grabbing sound startles you and your pup.
Falling
Falling is not something pleasant for anyone. Dogs make no exception. According to Nicole, many dogs are afraid of falling; this has to do with their self-preservation instinct. Due to this fear, many dogs will become reluctant when it comes to walking on certain surfaces such as hardwood, tile or laminate floors. If they feel their paws slipping in any way, they will become scared and anxious.
Another place where they get really scared is in vet offices, when put on metal tables in vet offices, also due to their slippery surfaces.
Stairs
Similar to the fear of falling, some people, or dogs, for that matter, are afraid of stairs. In the case of our furry friends, being used to walking on flat ground makes them uneasy when it comes to jutted surfaces.
Therefore, stairs can give dogs feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. To make sure your furry family member does not have any problems in climbing the stairs, give verbal praises and treats whenever possible.
Being handled
Generally, dogs get used to the people who take care of them and trust them no matter what. But trusting you does not mean liking being manhandled. “Many dogs fear being touched in certain ways or groomed, such as nail trimming, ear cleaning, or baths, often due to past negative experiences or a lack of habituation,” Nicole explains.
To help them get past this disliking and even fear in the case of some pups, handle them with care and gentleness and praise them along the way.
Check this out: Is Your Dog Acting Aggressive All of a Sudden? Here Are 7 Reasons Why
Traveling by car
It’s very common for our furry friends to be afraid of traveling by car. It’s the avalanche of sounds and scents, combined with the motion and not knowing where they’re going, that makes dogs fearful of riding in the car.
To help them feel more comfortable and relaxed while traveling by car, Cesar recommends constant exposure to your car. Play with them, make them hop inside the car, bring toys and treats, whatever it takes so that your pup knows that it is a safe space.
Being left alone
Fear of abandonment is not something that only people experience. Animals are also afraid of being left alone, and dogs make no exception. Given the amount of time spent together with humans, it’s no wonder that when they are left by themselves, they feel abandoned and sad. As explained by Cesar, your dog might suffer from separation anxiety and this is why you need to “train” them somehow to understand that when you are leaving the house, you are not abandoning them.
Also, when you return home, be excited to see your pup, give them hugs, treats and whatnot. This way, they will want to get that reaction from you and focus on that, instead of the fact that they were left alone.
Speaking of which, check out this article as well: Home Alone, Pup Edition! 6 Things to Do for Your Dog
Certain objects
This is something that may vary from one dog to another. As fear is a subjective feeling, some dogs may feel afraid upon seeing certain objects. Some dogs may be scared of umbrellas, bags and even certain clothing items, explains Nicole. If you do identify the object that scares your pup, try to accustom your dog with it progressively. Give treats throughout the entire process.
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