What To Do If Your Dog Is Fearful

Perhaps your dog has just suffered a bad experience that has marked his personality, changing the quality of his life. Surely you want to know how to get everything back to normal. The best thing to do in these situations is to remain calm and not blame the animal. You will need to show empathy and understanding by putting yourself in your fearful dog’s shoes.

It may also happen that you have just adopted a dog, a victim of abuse or violence in the past. It will be important to gain their trust so that they feel comfortable and safe in their new home. Here is a series of useful tips that will help you make a fearful and anxious dog more sociable.

Behavior of a fearful dog

There are several signs that allow you, the owner, to understand if a dog is going through a bad time. Fear is a response of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary actions. This type of behavior is completely normal in any living thing, including us humans.

• In situations that can cause fear or stress, your dog is likely to exhibit tremors, tails between the legs, apathy, and unusual behaviors in which the animal goes to great lengths to get out of the house.
• In cases of panic, the dog will run and hide safely and may even develop self-destructive attitudes .
• If the situation is even more serious, a reaction from the sympathetic nervous system, which is part of the autonomic nervous system, just mentioned above, is possible. Diarrhea or urinary incontinence are usually the most typical external signs of this.

It goes without saying that as soon as you start noticing these changes in your dog’s behavior, you will need to remove the animal from the source of this fearful or stressful situation. Keep him with you, caress him, talk to him calmly and offer him a toy.

Home remedies if your dog is fearful

Each mind, regardless of the species in question, is a world apart. Which implies that everyone’s emotional needs vary enormously, from exemplary to exemplary. Your dog may experience fear or stress from a variety of causes, so the methods that can calm him down are just as varied.

Below, you will find a list in which we have tried to summarize some simple methods that will help you understand what your four-legged friend needs to feel calm and safe again.

• Music. Believe it or not, dogs respond positively to music, and there are also several songs specially crafted for animals.This method can be particularly effective if you have a fearful dog or are suffering from separation anxiety. In fact, you can leave the songs playing, even when you leave it at home, alone.
• Aromatherapy and essential oils. There are a number of essential oil-based sprays and conditioners on the market that are suitable for calming animals. Use these products by rubbing the solution down your back and focus on hard-to-reach areas to prevent your dog from scratching.

• Physical contact. Sit next to your four-legged friend, have him lie down on his lap or stroke him in the way you prefer, making him feel comfortable. Dogs don’t like being hugged, but they will never say no to their owner’s petting.
• Exercise and activity. Playing sports can help your pet release tension and sleep better at night. If you have noticed that you often have nightmares or are not getting enough rest, increase the duration and intensity of daily physical activity. Obviously without exaggerating and always taking into account the age and size of the dog.
• Isolation. Sometimes, taking a pet to an isolated room can help them regain confidence and peace of mind. It is a space entirely for him, in which there is no competition. Here you will feel safe and secure. It is an ideal option for those dogs who don’t get along well with strangers and who don’t like crowded areas.

In short,  if you have a fearful dog, the last thing you have to do is scold him or force him to endure situations that are very unpleasant for him. Be loving, protective, and try to put yourself in his shoes. Follow our suggestions and you can, with a little patience, make your beloved four-legged friend socialize normally.