FEAR RESPONSE IN DOGS

Dogs adopted from shelters may be stressed out from a kennel environment. They may
also have had bad experiences with people in the past. For this reason, they may act out
when they become over-stimulated or fearful. This is a normal behavior that takes just
time and patience to overcome.
Dogs are naturally social animals that truly want to be a part of your family. In some
cases, they need a little extra help from you to get to that point. The end result of teaching
your new dog that they are safe and can trust you is one of the most rewarding
experiences of adopting a dog from a rescue.

• Your new dog may be extremely fearful of new experiences because they have not yet
learned that they are safe. Eyes widened, tail tucked and a tense body stance are good
indicators of fear.
• Because they are so afraid, you must stay calm and confident. This is extremely
important. Any anxiety on your part will immediately be transmitted to the dog, making
his fear worse.
• Never attempt to pet or corner a frightened dog. They are not capable of understanding
that your actions are meant to help them. Also, petting a dog while it is scared is positive
reinforcement of that behavior. Reaching toward or cornering a frightened dog may be
interpreted as aggression on your part and the dog may respond by snapping at you.
• Keep the dog’s environment as calm and quiet as possible.
• Move slowly when dealing with your new dog. Make sure you do not put your face too
close to the dog’s face.
• Keep the dog on a leash with you throughout the house. Allowing him to cower in his
crate or under a bed will not help him overcome his fear. Pushing him to face unfamiliar
experiences
will also have a negative effect. Simply take him with you using the leash as you go
about your day in your home. Use as few words as possible. “Let’s go, Duke” said in a
calm voice works well.
• Take him for a walk. There’s nothing like a nice long walk to help drain excess nervous
energy. Avoid busy parks or other loud, stressful areas.
• If your dog snaps at you, stay calm. Firmly and calmly tell him “No,” stand, fold your
arms across your chest and hold still. Turn very slightly to the side, until you are at a
slight angle from the dog. Do not back away. This tells the dog that although you are not
afraid of him, you are not going to challenge him either. Backing away from him at this
point would be seen as submissive behavior. Move away only after he is calm and looks
or moves away from you.
• Decisions involving mealtimes and playtimes must be made by you, not the dog. At
mealtimes, have the dog sit or move away from where you will feed him. Place the bowl
of food on the ground, and give him 15 minutes to eat. If he has not eaten, pick up the
bowl and put it away until the next mealtime. This may seem harsh, but is normal canine
behavior from the dog’s point of view. The top dog always decides who eats and when
they eat. The same procedure should be followed for playtime. These actions signal to
your dog that you are the leader.
A dog with a calm, confident leader will develop into a calm, confident dog. If you do not
fill this role of leadership, he will attempt to. This can result in increased anxiety for the
dog and may lead to unacceptable behaviors.

Rescued dogs occasionally suffer from anxiety or fear due to a wide variety of reasons.
Past abuse, life as a stray or even the chaos of a kennel environment can turn a normally
stable dog into a very fearful one. Time, patience and an understanding of how the dog
interprets the world around him will make a huge difference in his behavior. There is
nothing quite like watching a dog change from a cowering, fearful dog into one full of
love, trust and playfulness. It may take some time, but the results are worth it!