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Dog Training Article's
Name: Fearful Dogs
By Leah Gangelhoff from Flint Hill K-9 Training
When afraid your dog may display certain body postures, including lowering his head, lowering his whole body, flattening his ears back against his head, and tucking his tail between his legs.
A frightened dog may also pant, salivate, tremble, pace, or try to escape. He may show submissive behaviors-avoiding eye contact, urinating submissively, or rolling over to expose his belly-or he may freeze and remain immobile. Some dogs will bark and/or growl at the object that is causing their fear and may appear to be confident in this display, but are really trying to create distance between themselves and whatever is causing them to be fearful. In extreme cases of fearfulness a dog may be destructive (out of general anxiety or in an attempt to escape), he may lose control of his bladder or bowels, or he may become aggressive.
Causes of Fearful Behavior
The reason for you dog's fear will dictate the relative success of the treatment, however determining what caused his fear may not always be possible and is not necessary in order to treat your dog. A dog who is genetically predisposed to general fearfulness, a dog who was improperly socialized during a critical stage in his development, or a dog whose fear has escalated into a phobia - extreme irrational fearful reactions to certain stimuli, will probably not respond as well to treatment as a dog who has developed a specific fear in response to a specific experience (for example, a dog who tumbled down some stairs the instant his owner was opening an umbrella - now the dog is showing fear towards umbrellas when he didn't before this incident). It's essential, however, to first rule out any medical causes for your dog's fearful behavior. Your first step - always - should be to take your dog to your veterinarian for a thorough medical evaluation.
What You Can Do
Most fears won't go away by themselves, and, if left untreated, may get worse. Some fears, when treated, will decrease in intensity or frequency but may not disappear entirely. After you've ruled out medical causes, your first step in dealing with your dog's fearful behavior is to identify what triggers his fear. Is he afraid of startling noises? Is he afraid of being left alone? Is he afraid of people in general? Most fears can be treated using desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques, which require time and patience. You may need help from a professional behavior specialist to help you with these techniques.
Realistic Expectations
Some of the things that frighten dogs can be difficult to reproduce and/or control. For example, if your dog is afraid of thunderstorms, he may be responding to other things that occur during the storm, such as smells, barometric pressure changes and/or changes in natural light. During the desensitization process, it is impossible for you to reproduce all of these factors. Another example would be if your dog is afraid of men. You may work at desensitizing him, but if a man lives in your household and your dog is constantly exposed to him, this can disrupt the gradual process of desensitization. You need to be patient with your dog and work hard not to become frustrated during the desensitization process.
Why You Should Get Help
Because desensitization and counter conditioning can be difficult techniques to master, and because behavior problems may increase if these techniques are done incorrectly, you may want to get professional, in-home help from a behavior specialist. It's important to keep in mind that a fearful dog who feels trapped or is pressured or even encouraged to interact with what he is afraid of may become aggressive. Some dogs will respond aggressively to whatever it is that frightens them. If your dog displays any aggressive behavior, such as growling, snarling, snapping, or baring his teeth, stop all behavior modification procedures and seek professional help from a behavior specialist as soon as possible.
Consult with Your Veterinarian
Medication may be available which can help reduce your dog's anxiety levels for short time periods. Your veterinarian is the only person who is qualified and licensed to determine if medication would be right for your dog and to prescribe medication for your dog. Don't attempt to give your dog any over-the-counter or prescription medication without consulting with your veterinarian. Animals don't respond to drugs the same way people do, and a medication that may be safe for humans could be fatal to your dog. Drug therapy alone won't reduce fears and phobias permanently, but in extreme cases, behavior modification and medication used together may be the best approach.
What NOT to Do
- Do not punish your dog for being afraid. Punishment will only make him more fearful.
- Do not reassure your dog by saying, "It's okay, you're fine…", etc. First, your dog hears this tone of voice as praise for the fearful behavior. Second, your dog hears you change your tone and believes, "Aha, there IS something to be afraid of, my owner just started behaving differently…"
- Do not try to force your dog to experience the object or situation that is causing him to be afraid. For example, if he is afraid of bicycles and you force him to stand in place while bicycles whiz by (this is called 'flooding'), he'll probably become more fearful of bicycles rather than less fearful.
- Even lovingly encouraging your dog to investigate the object or situation can sometimes be too much pressure for a fearful dog and can push them further into fear - if pushed too far, they may feel the need to either shut down, flee, or become aggressive.
- Never punish your dog after the fact for destruction or house soiling which might have been caused by anxiety or fear. Animals don't understand punishment after the fact, even if it's only 5 or 10 seconds later. This kind of destruction or house soiling is the result of panic, not misbehavior. Punishment will do more harm than good.
Leah Gangelhoff, owner of Flint Hill K-9 Training in Birmingham, Alabama, is a certified Canine Behavior & Training Specialist. She received her certification from Triple Crown Academy in Texas, hailed as one of the most comprehensive schools for dog trainers in the nation. She holds a degree in psychology and has an extensive background in psychological research in the areas of learning and developmental theory, both of which provide a very strong foundation for her work by significantly deepening her understanding of canine training methodologies. Leah's training philosophy incorporates positive reinforcement techniques with a focus on motivational learning.
Leah owned and operated her dog training business for 5 years in Los Angeles, CA and moved the business to Birmingham in December 2006 to be closer to family. Leah's training experience includes police service dog, clicker, tricks, schutzhund, assistance dog, all levels of obedience, behavior modification for serious behavior problems, and narcotics detection. She is twice certified by P.O.S.T. standards with two of her own dogs in narcotics detection. Leah also trains with her German Shepherd in schutzhund, a triathalon sport for working dogs and their handlers.
Leah works with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society conducting staff trainings on canine behavior, implementing training techniques to help dogs become more adoptable, and conducting canine temperament assessments.
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