Puppy who is scared of everything

Clubs Offering: Training Classes. By Anna Burke Jul 03, 4 Minutes. Jul 03, 4 Minutes. Fear vs. Blood Injection Phobias Many people have blood injection phobias, commonly referred to as a fear of needles.

Situational Phobias Separation anxiety is the most common example of a situational phobia. Fear of Strangers Some dogs develop a fear of strangers, particularly men, after a negative experience. Dealing With a Fearful Dog Living with a fearful dog can be stressful and frustrating. Behavior Modification Behavior modification encompasses dog behavior and owner behavior, too. Drug Therapies Some dogs learn to manage their phobias through behavior modification alone.

Why does my dog do that? You have questions, we have answers. Download this e-book to get the explanations behind some of the strangest canine behaviors. AKC Privacy Policy. Founded in , the not-for-profit AKC is the recognized and trusted expert in breed, health, and training information for all dogs. AKC actively advocates for responsible dog ownership and is dedicated to advancing dog sports.

All rights reserved. SA tends to be more common in pet-shop and puppy-mill puppies, and in older dogs who have been in pounds or shelters usually these dogs have good reason to be afraid of being abandoned! Another way puppies, and adolescent and older dogs, show that they're anxious or scared is involuntary urination, aka submissive urination.

Note the word 'involuntary' because it's important to realize that this behavior is something dogs have no control over. The pee in an attempt to show submission because they're frightened, anxious, threatened or dominated. If you've got a pet who piddles when they meet new people or strange dogs, or when they're excited, or the emotional-level around them goes up, then check out this page for more on this common behavioral issue Submissive Urination in Dogs.

If you get down on your puppy's eye-level and look around you, it's amazing how big everything looks, so it's not surprising that he's often a scared puppy to begin with.

Your new pup has only been alive about 8 weeks, and for the first 2 of those he couldn't see or hear. Here are some of the things that are most likely to frighten your puppy or even an older dog who isn't well socialized, or is naturally a bit anxious:. Although the things on this list aren't generally dangerous, it's easy to see why your puppy is scared of them. Loud noises make us jump Your pup doesn't have that sort of knowledge and it's natural to be scared of what you don't understand - it's a basic survival instinct.

In addition to these common fear 'triggers', a scared puppy can be anxious or afraid of all sorts of odd things for no apparent reason. Maybe he avoids the reclining chair like the plague, cowers whenever he sees the floor-mop, or hates it when you wear your slippers! There may be a good reason why he's frightened and often this sort of unexplained fear is related to a previous 'bad' experience with a similar object this is common in older dogs , but now and then it's just a random instinctive reaction.

The first thing you can do to help calm a scared puppy is to stay calm yourself. Don't get angry or impatient with him, and don't laugh at him either. Your pup's fear is real, to him, and he needs you to help him deal with it, not make things worse.

These simple steps can help you create a calm environment and build little Fido's self-confidence, both of which will reduce his fears and make life easier for everyone. They're creatures of habit and a regular daily schedule of mealtimes, naps, playtime, walks, training sessions etc. Dogs are emotional, empathetic and very intuitive - they're like sponges which soak up the emotions in their environment. If your home is hectic and loud, with lots of shouting, running, squabbling and stress, then your puppy is going to be stressed and anxious too.

Step 4: Keep the training session short and fun. Step 5: Try not to make a big deal about the thing your dog is afraid of, but incorporate it into future training sessions. Reward your puppy for looking at you, and any engagement with the thing they are scared of. If possible, engage your puppy with a toy. Let the puppy control the pace and stay at a distance they are comfortable with. Fear periods can take everyone by surprise but try not to panic.

It can be helpful to keep a list of things your puppy is nervous about and try to incorporate those into future training sessions. You might be surprised to discover that the balloon that terrified your puppy yesterday might not faze them tomorrow. Your puppy is taking in an overwhelming amount of information about the world and is looking to us for reassurance and guidance. It should be our training goal whenever possible to make those experiences safe, fun, and positive.

Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration. Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid. The reasons that dogs develop fears are as varied as the fears themselves. Your dog might even develop a fear later on in life. As such, it might take some trial and error to determine what works best for your pet. Here are four things you should try:. If you see your scared dog in distress, your natural reaction may be to comfort them.

For instance, you might want to pet them or put them on your lap. As such, your pet may feel encouraged to continue displaying this type of fearful behavior. Instead of comforting your dog, you should try to remain as calm as possible. With these types of products, you can swaddle your furry friend in much the same way as you would swaddle a newborn baby.