• Dog Training Tips

Helping Your Dog Deal with Common Fears

Life is full of unknowns — not only for you, but for your dog as well. You know the signs — the tucked tail, the anxious eyes, the cringing posture — indications that your pet is afraid of something. Some dogs may be so terrified that they freeze up completely, wet the floor, or over-compensate with sudden, fierce aggression. Discover some common dog fears, along with practical ways that you can help your beloved pet overcome those fears and cope with the intimidating unknown.

Fireworks

Fireworks are loud, bright, and dramatic. They may seem like dangerous, threatening explosions to your dog, who can’t understand why you enjoy them. There’s a simple way to get your dog used to those sounds before the next Singapore holiday or event that involves fireworks. With a little dog training, your pet can handle fireworks, even if he still doesn’t like them.

Find an audio recording or a video of fireworks. Start by playing it very quietly on a computer or tablet, with your dog in the room. Play the video or recording two or three times each day for a few days; then turn up the volume a bit. While the louder fireworks recording is playing, spend some special time with your dog, offering a treat or playing a game of fetch. Keeping working on playing the fireworks and raising the volume slowly, always keeping an eye on your dog’s comfort level. Gradually, your dog becomes so accustomed to the sound, even at high volume, that he doesn’t mind it. He recognizes it as a normal sound that doesn’t involve pain or danger.

Thunderstorms

Dogs fear thunderstorms for the same reason that they hate fireworks — the noise. There’s also a change in the weather, which dogs can sense even before the storm begins. During a thunderstorm, don’t show too much extra attention to your dog. Your attempts to calm and comfort may actually feed into his fear and reinforce the behavior. Instead, have a safe spot, such as a bed or a crate, to which you can direct your dog during the storm. Sometimes playing a quick game of tug-of-war or fetch takes the dog’s mind off the storm as well. Is your dog still reacting in fear? Turn on some music to drown out some of the thunder. Usually, dogs respond well to these methods, but in cases of severe phobia, look to your local dog training facility or your veterinarian for help with the behavior.

Separation Anxiety

Some dogs are nervous about being left alone at home, even for a short period of time. This separation anxiety is tough for you as the owner, since you have work to do and errands to run. Some dogs go further than barking and whining, escalating their behavior to destructive or aggressive actions. Often, the dog’s anxiety stems from the boredom that he feels while home alone. Invent puzzles for your dog so that he will have something to work on while you are gone. Though you may want to show affection to your pet right before you leave and right after you get back, restrain yourself during the minutes before you walk out and when you come back. Ignoring your dog during those brief moments right before going or arriving actually sends a signal to the dog that your departure or arrival is simply a matter of course, nothing to get excited over. With time and patience, your pet should learn to accept the process more readily.