If your dog is showing signs of anxiety, you may be wondering how to best help them through their fears. The problem is, many owner’s instinctual reactions to their dog’s behavior may do more harm than good – and no one wants to cause their furry best friend any additional stress.

Here are a few ideas of what to do – and what not to do – when helping your dog to cope with those situations which scare him.

Here’s What to Do:

  • Remain calm yourself. Your soothing voice and assuring demeanor will help your pet to learn that the situation is not as fearful as they may perceive.
  • Learn how your dog signals his fear. Some dogs may bark, others may try to escape into another room, or perhaps they will lay down and act submissive. Understanding when your dog is fearful (as opposed to aggressive or misbehaving) is important to recognize events which trigger his fear in order to best deal with them.
  • Expose them to their trigger in small doses. If they are afraid of people, for instance, control situations in which people are allowed in their proximity, but with rules. For instance, let the dog initiate any contact once they grow comfortable with the situation.
  • Offer rewards when they bravely face their fear. As you know, dogs learn best when they begin to associate their actions with their favorite rewards.
  • Change their perceptions of the situation. If you can teach your pet that the situation is positive, not negative, they will begin not to avoid it but to anticipate it.
    For example, if your dog is afraid of other dogs, carry some treats with you when out walking. As soon as you see another dog in the distance, act excited or happy, and give your pooch a treat. As the other dog gets closer, keep up the enthusiasm and give another treat. Soon, your dog will be excited to see other dogs.

But Don’t Do This:

  • Never punish your pet for their fear. This will only exacerbate the problem – not only is the situation scaring them, but their favorite human is angry as well.
  • Don’t avoid the situation in order to deal with the fear. Except in extreme circumstances, your dog is afraid of something irrational – although they have no way of understanding that. You can’t avoid people forever, or never vacuum again. Instead, put them in a crate so they are “safe” when the stressful situation is occurring, but don’t completely remove them from it.
  • This may seem a bit cruel, but don’t comfort your dog when they are afraid. Because their favorite response to any situation will always be attention from you, your dog will learn that fear is “good”, because it causes you to love on them.

It is important to remember how dogs learn. If you give them attention and love – two things they crave – in response to their fear, they will only continue the behavior. But through your calm words and consistent actions, you can teach your best furry friend that the situation is safe, and that they can navigate their fears without avoiding them.

If you have a dog who seems abnormally fearful or anxious, you may wish to consult an expert.

The professionals at Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training are here to help you to teach him that life with you is exciting, not scary.