Help! My Dog Is A Scaredy... Cat?

Have you noticed that your dog is quite timid and seemingly scared of everything? It’s normal to be scared of certain things, like new people, larger dogs, or thunder, but what if your dog gets into a fright or panic over most things?

Then, that’s certainly not normal. Let’s explore what you can do to help.

What causes fear in dogs?

Fear can be caused by any number of triggers in dogs. This is generally because they have had negative experiences with it in the past, or because the trigger is unfamiliar. Different dogs experience different levels of fear, and some may be braver or more cowardly than others, even of the same breed. To determine what causes fear in your dog, pay close attention to the next episode of fright.

Look and listen for anything that occurred during the moments and do a process of elimination until you get to a logical conclusion. Loud noises are common triggers for dogs, especially puppies. Remember that dogs have heightened audio senses, which means the sounds are even louder to them. Hearing fireworks or a heavy object fall has been known to terrify dogs.

How to calm your dog down

The easiest thing to do is remove the trigger. Your dog will begin to calm down once it is gone. If you have no control over the weather, for instance, over thunder, or lighting, you may use soothing strategies to help your dog ground him/herself. This can include petting or stroking, placing a blanket on him/her, or implementing crate training. There are also products you can buy for these moments such as weighted jackets that mimic hugs, lavender sprays which promote relaxation or chews, as a support toy.