Since I am the proud owner of a Pit Bull who would rather hold off going outside to pee than face the drizzling weather, I can definitely confirm that dogs are basically big babies. No matter how tough they could seem or present themselves to other dogs, I have never met a pet parent whose dog didn’t have a minimum of one quirky phobia.
Naturally, everybody knows that dogs are easily spooked by fireworks, thunderstorms, and even a trip to the vet. However, for many, those are simple baselines. “Dogs, just like other animals, have the potential to become afraid of anything,” Renee Rhoades, an animal behaviorist at R+Dogs, explained.
Even if some of these fears can definitely reflect larger behavioral concerns, Rhoades also noted that others develop just because they are unfamiliar with the animal.
Contrary to common belief, dogs don’t become afraid of things just because of their negative interactions with them. They may become afraid of stuff they’ve never met before. And similar to us, dogs have a deep fear of the unknown.
According to Dr. Anna Kaufman, a veterinarian at Bond Vet, this can virtually include anything from new noises to fresh experiences that were unfamiliar to the pup before. Sometimes this could be another animal and other times it will only be a human invention they have yet to encounter.
Just to make things clear, none of that is to say more serious or damaging memories can’t have deeply lasting effects, too. “If a dog experiences trauma, this could cause fear reactions later on,” as Dr. Kaufman confirms.
Emotional distress aside, there are many other strange things that scare off dogs and are, in reality, quite harmless. For some of these things, the true reason behind the fear isn’t always as easy to pin down.
As Dr. Kaufman explained, “Every dog is unique, and that’s exactly why we love them.” Luckily, we managed to gather a series of information on things dogs deeply fear, so you might want to check it out!
Vacuum cleaners
Anyone who has tried the debilitating exercise of cleaning your home with a canine bystander knows very well how many pups view vacuum cleaners. Whether it is the rough unfamiliarity or volume of the noise vacuums make, dogs view them as a sign of the end times. “Dogs tend to be afraid of common items that humans use on a daily basis, such as the vacuum.
However, they are unfamiliar with the item and especially the sound it makes, causing them fear,” explains Michelle Bernstein, an animal behavior scientist at VCA Animal Hospitals. Well yes, it is obvious that some pets tend to be equally opposed to the next evolutionary step in vacuum cleaning.
For instance, my dog hates my Roomba. To be honest, I share her fears of AI as well as the impending robot apocalypse, so we’re in the same boat here.
Planes
I just mentioned planes, but this truly extends to anything human-made and airborne. Leigh Siegfried, the founder and training director of Opportunity Barks beautifully explained that it all comes down to the sounds these objects make that terrify dogs in the first place.
Besides, they have a suspicious astonishment at the miracle of human flight. At times, they might fear helicopters, planes, or even hot air balloons. In fact, it can be any unanticipated object in the sky that turns out to be noisy or make noise. Fortunately, the opportunities to fly with your dog are increasing every day, so hopefully, that will help them become more comfortable with the concept.
Strangers
This one beautifully highlights more serious issues that should be handled with careful guidance from a professional. If you simply ignore it, these anxieties could only deepen and snowball back into real behavioral concerns.
Moreover, Bernstein noted that this dread can oftentimes be associated with, somehow ironically, fears of being alone, which could really complicate your pup’s social life. Dogs might be afraid of strangers and being alone, which can further develop into behavioral issues such as separation anxiety and aggression.
Some dogs are especially afraid of men. While it’s generally because of previous trauma or a lack of socialization, the hesitation is understandable. Since I also used to spend a lot of time on dating apps, I can easily confirm the men on those things are insane to say at least. It’s understandable why other species would grow weary of the human male gender.
Water
Pet parents know very well that not every pup is into swimming. It’s only natural, in fact, that some would possess adverse feelings toward taking a dip or even seeing water in general. That goes even more when you consider how most of them react during the bathing process.
However, Dr. Kaufman noted that, for some dogs, it’s the things that seem to have conquered the water that are even scarier to them. Some dogs don’t want to get into the water, some dogs are frightened by balloons or even things that float.
Balls
You might think that the canine population would unanimously prefer a toy with which they have long been associated. However, this is why it’s so important not to stereotype. Of course, no one says that dogs are routinely terrified of tennis balls or any other round device they might fit in their mouths.
It’s worth mentioning that in case the pups aren’t used to balls being big and bouncy, it can definitely freak them out. “Some dogs are terrified of any noise. For instance, a basketball bouncing near them – it all depends on the dog,” explained Dr. Kaufman.
How to handle quirky fears
As strange as this might seem, it’s fairly important to understand that any dog battling one of the aforementioned fears is also undergoing real emotional distress. The terror is real, no matter how silly the item that’s inspiring it. As a result, pet parents should respond appropriately with care, even if they are laughing a bit through it.
According to Siegfried, the first thing you need to do when faced with a petrified dog isn’t to avoid what you see. Even if it might seem appealing. “If you notice them having a big reaction to something, don’t let them run away.
That might sound counterintuitive, however keeping the dog with you, helping them recover, then moving away altogether builds further resistance to recover.” But that doesn’t mean that you should force your dog to do something they don’t want to.
In fact, this is not only cruel, but it will more than likely make the issue even worse. Instead, pet parents should learn how to effectively comfort their dogs. Siegfried also explained that this often comes down to reassurance, calming your dog, and letting them know everything is going to be just fine. It’s just like a child who fell off the monkey bars at a playground, and is now upset and might as well benefit from a pickup and a hug.
If you found this article useful, we also recommend checking: The 5 Most Endangered Animals of North America
Funny Wildlife Habits: Exploring 10 Amusing Quirks of Our Wild Neighbors
