Dogs can be frightened for a number of reasons. It is important as an owner to pick up on the signs that your pet isn’t happy in a situation so you can then learn how to help them. Over the past few years, with the change of dynamics due to Covid 19 many dogs were seen following the lockdowns with anxiety, fear and generally being frightened of many things. Knowing to seek veterinary advice early on can make a big difference to helping your dog in the long run. Loud noises, sudden unusual movements, changes in the household or visiting somewhere new can all be frightening for a dog.
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How do dogs show they are frightened?
Dogs may tremble, shake or hide away in fear. Some may vocalise or make an unusual noise for them. And in severe cases dogs may even urinate or defecate because of being frightened. Every dog is different in how they may show they are frightened. And it is important to understand your dog. This may allow you to pick up on signs much earlier, such as reluctance to go towards things or ears becoming low.
What can cause a dog to be frightened?
Being frightened of things, or fear anxiety, can have numerous causes, even genetics can play a role in how anxious your dog is. A big part of being frightened is lack of experience. So, in the case of dogs, it can be a lack of socialisation when young. Dogs have a socialisation window that is often discussed, referring to the key time for dogs to learn things which lasts up until 16 weeks of age. However, this does not mean that after this time they cannot learn and adapt; it is just simply an important time for new things.
Socialisation means the experiences, sights, smells, noises and environment your dog is in. So even simple things such as getting your dog used to the hoover and washing machine are vital to allow them to not see these things as scary. Puppy classes are very useful for allowing interactions and training to help accept new things. Your Vet will be able to give you a list of recommendations for puppy classes nearby.
Lockdown due to Covid 19 meant a lack of socialisation for puppies due to being kept inside and missing out contact with other people and dogs etc. Due to this, the rate of increase Vets have seen in behavioural problems stemming from being frightened was huge. It highlighted the need for good socialisation outside of the home as well.
Some dogs will become more frightened if changes happen in the home such as new children or other animals which they are not used to, triggering fear and anxiety. The environment which your dog is in is very important too. If there is constant anxiety in the house your dog will start to pick up on this.
What can I do about it?
The first thing is to ask your Veterinary practice for advice as they will have lots of tips to start with. It is important to make small changes first to avoid any fear induced by the change.
There are various synthetic pheromone or calming products including sprays, tablets, wipes and plug-ins that aim to mimic the calming effect a dog’s brain would have to the natural pheromones. These, in conjunction with creating a safe den or hiding place away from noises and lights, can be really helpful to calm dogs and provide an area for them to hide away if feeling frightened.
It is important to not use punishment when your dog is frightened as that can make the situation much worse. It is about creating a positive influence for them to be able to deal with the frightening environment.
If your dog suddenly becomes frightened, then always get an examination and health check by your Vet to check their hearing, eyesight and for any signs of infections which may be making things frightening for them. They can then help with any medication required and advise on how to improve things.
If your Vet finds nothing on an examination, they may refer you to a registered trained veterinary behaviourist. A behaviourist will be able to deal with very tricky problems. They often ask lots of questions initially, before seeing the dog, to get a background on the frightened dog.
Many things can cause a dog to be frightened. It is important to ask your Vet for advice as soon as possible, so that your dog can be examined. And then a plan can be put in place to try to help them overcome being frightened.
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