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Download the Zigzag app today<\/a> to get your puppy training journey off to the best start you can have. You\u2019ll have access to specific lessons on habituating to get them used to noises like thunderstorms, fireworks\u2026and the dreaded vacuum cleaner. We\u2019ll also cover how to socialize them with people and other dogs to make their early life experiences as positive as possible. Hence, fears and phobias aren\u2019t even under the radar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs can be afraid of things due to different reasons. It could be a lack of early socialization, genetics, or prior negative experiences such as trauma, stress or pain. Puppy fear periods <\/a>and sudden changes in a dog’s daily routine can also trigger them to be scared of everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s take a look at why dogs can be scared:<\/p>\n\n\n\n During a puppy\u2019s socialization period<\/a> we expose to them all kinds of different people, animals, environments, and sounds to ensure they are well socialized. This period is when they are most receptive to having positive reactions to new experiences. You guessed it; this makes it the perfect time to wisely and gently introduce them to new things. When a dog misses out on early socialization, they can become fearful of these new experiences, and it can take a lot of time and work to help them overcome their fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s kind of when you find out about taxes when you\u2019re an adult. Would have been better to ease into them earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A traumatic experience doesn’t help anyone get less scared. For example, a bad grooming <\/a>experience, being forcefully shut in a crate<\/a> or left alone for too long,<\/a> can make your dog afraid of these things and become more scared of being repeatedly exposed to them. Contrary to what many people think, dogs don’t get used to scary things by just being more exposed to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pain or discomfort causes anxiety and confusion, which triggers a dog’s fight or flight response. Whether through injury, illness, dominance<\/a> aversive-based training methods or by associating pain with certain experiences, they can all contribute to a dog feeling scared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Often overlooked, fear periods<\/a> are those times when your puppy is suddenly afraid of that carrier bag dancing down the street or a rubbish bin clattering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fear periods<\/a> are actually quite interesting and worth learning about; our article here will explain it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs thrive on routines<\/a> and the dependability of knowing what will happen next. Therefore, sudden changes can cause fear and anxiety, causing your dog to become easily scared or worried. If you have a rescue dog<\/a>, you\u2019ll notice that being in a new home<\/a> will often be scary as everything has changed for them, and it takes time for them to adjust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Genetics can also play a role in the development of a dog\u2019s anxiety and fear. Some breeds are predisposed to being slightly more fearful or cautious due to their genetic makeup, like Chihuahuas<\/a> or German Shepherds<\/a>, for example. On top of that, certain lines within breeds can be more likely to be naturally more fearful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As you see, just like with humans, dogs carry (emotional) baggage. It doesn\u2019t make them less lovable, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are common things that dogs, puppies, and rescue dogs are typically afraid of. In general, these are things that jump up without warning, they are loud or erratic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fear is a response to something which might harm them and is an important means of survival, so when acting upon it, they\u2019re just doing what comes naturally. So at the end of the day, we could say kudos to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs have sensitive hearing and are often scared of loud noises because it activates their startle response. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Children can be scary for dogs, they are unpredictable, smell funny, often have sticky fingers and can move in strange ways. Dogs who are not socialized<\/a> to babies and children from a young age, or who have had a negative experience where a child has been allowed to over-handle or pick them up, can make them scared of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We don’t have anything against children, by the way. But everybody knows they can be a lot sometimes. Just ask your mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other dogs can scare your dog if they\u2019ve had limited or negative experiences with them in their socialization period. This fear can also extend to being scared of dogs who look very different to them. For example, wolf-shaped dogs like German Shepherds<\/a> to brachycephalic<\/a> (fancy word for apartment-faced) dogs may seem rather scary. It works the other way around too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs like familiarity, and it\u2019s for this reason that early socialization<\/a> with lots of different-looking people is important. People wearing hats, hi-viz jackets, bicycle helmets, or using a walking stick, can all seem very strange to a dog who has never experienced them before, so it\u2019s important you help them through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s quite natural for a dog to be cautious in a new environment. When they\u2019re young, you can introduce them to new surfaces, like shiny floors, grass and tiles shiny floors and help them feel less scared in case they\u2019re slippery or rough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s no surprise that most dogs don\u2019t like to be alone. They are social creatures, after all, and as puppies are almost programmed to want to be with people as we make them feel safe. Rescue dogs<\/a>, in particular, have had a lot of changes and can also struggle with separation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There could be several reasons why your dog is suddenly afraid of things. This can be due to medical issues (hormone, pain, or injury), developmental issues (in the case of puppy fear periods), or because the problem is brewing inside, and they\u2019ve become sensitized through repeated exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs communicate with their body language<\/a>. This can be subtle or very obvious, depending on the dog\u2019s personality and the severity of their fear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some signs to look out for if you think your dog might be suddenly scared of something:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our full guides to puppy body language<\/a> and puppy behavior: an overview<\/a> will help you learn more about this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A training plan is key to making your dog feel safe and confident when exposing them to new experiences and environments. Your training plan should involve management<\/a>, positive reinforcement training<\/a> with desensitization, and counter-conditioning. This might sound tricky, but our guides will help you through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppy socialization classes are great for teaching your puppy that being in a strange place with strange things happening means wonderful things. Puppy classes have the advantage that everything is done in a managed way – some even offer off-lead puppy play, which is fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using reward-based training methods<\/a> gives dogs confidence and enhances their optimism. You know, \u2018always look at the bright side of life\u2019 kind of thing. Old-fashioned and aversive techniques that use punishments can make their fears get worse. They never work, so it\u2019s better to stay away from them entirely. Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, teaches them what we want them to do, and strengthens the trust between you since they\u2019ll know they won’t put them in scary situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a dog who is hesitant or reluctant to go into an environment, don\u2019t force them in. Let them take their time, be patient with yourself and reward them with treats for being brave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It will work differently if you\u2019re introducing them to other pets they might run into, for which you’re welcome to read our full guides on how to introduce a puppy to a dog<\/a> and how to introduce a puppy to a cat.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alright. You\u2019ve almost made it to the end of the article, so if there’s anything you should remember, here are a couple of summarised points: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Well done! Hope we haven\u2019t scared you away from dealing with your puppy. We\u2019re sure you\u2019ll do just fine. To know much more, download a trial of the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a> and teach your puppy to be confident and well-socialized from the start. We also have a team of professional dog trainers<\/a> on hand seven days a week to discuss your worries. We\u2019ll take a wild guess that you might have a few. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the app, you\u2019ll also have access to a wonderful team of professional dog trainers<\/a> who will be delighted to talk to you 24\/7 about any worries, struggles or questions about your puppy. Just reach out to them via the phone or chat – they\u2019ll pick up no matter what.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"dog](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/affraid-1-1.png\")
What makes my dog afraid of things? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lack of socialization <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A traumatic experience <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fear periods <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Changes in routine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Genetics <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"dog](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/affraid-2.png\")
Common things that dogs are scared of <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Loud noises <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A common fear in dogs is fireworks<\/a>, but other loud noises they can be scared of are thunderstorms, gunshots, and even cars backfiring. Quite frankly, gunshots should startle everybody.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChildren <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Other dogs <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The body language<\/a> of different dogs can also seem scary. Some breeds are more likely to stare or hold their tail<\/a> up in a way that can seem threatening to your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStrangers or people who look different <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
New environments and surfaces <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Separation and being alone <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We love our dogs and want them to feel as happy as they can be, so we recommend our articles on teaching your puppy to be home alone<\/a> and separation anxiety in dogs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"dog](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/affraid-3.png\")
Why is my dog scared of everything all of a sudden?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How can I help my dog become less scared of everything?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Socialization classes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Read our guide to finding a good puppy socialization class<\/a> to learn more about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPositive reinforcement training <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your dog is scared or has a phobia, you\u2019ll need to do some desensitization and counter-conditioning work to change how they feel. This is often best done with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist<\/a>, so don’t hesitate to contact them if you need to.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSlow and calm introductions <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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