Is your dog afraid of other dogs? When he sees others of his species, does he put his ears down? Does he put his tail between his legs? Does he hide and want to run away? Does he growl at the other dog to try to intimidate him?
All of these signs are symptoms of fear, a necessary emotion. Fear allows animals to react to danger, but if it becomes a phobia it can become a big problem, and walks can be very stressful for both you and your animal. In this post, we are going to see what this is due to and how to avoid a dog’s suspicion of another dog.
Possible causes of dogs’ fear of other dogs
Before taking action, it is good to know how to locate where the core of the problem is. Next, we will tell you where the most frequent reasons may be.
Fear due to lack of socialization
Your dog may feel fearful due to a lack of early socialization. In other words, your dog didn’t have enough contact with other dogs when he was a puppy.
This case is common in dogs that were separated from their litter very early and do not live with another in their adoptive family.
Fear derived from a traumatic experience
If your dog is scared quite easily, it may be because he had a traumatic experience in the past. For example, if you have had an experience where you encountered large dogs with a lot of energy that wanted to play with you roughly and you got scared. Of course, it can also be due to actual attacks from other dogs.
It is likely that in the future, every time he comes across a dog larger than him, he will become aggressive or distrustful.
Fear reinforced by owners
A very common response from owners to a scared dog is to pet it and speak softly to calm it down. However, that makes the situation worse. Doing so is only giving the dog confirmation that it is okay to behave this way.
Forcing him to be among other dogs is also not a good idea, and can even worsen the quality of the relationship with your animal.
What do I do if my dog is afraid of other dogs?
To help a dog that is scared in the presence of other animals, the first thing is to accept how he is and not try to force him to overcome that feeling in a single day. It will be important to reinforce the dog’s confidence and security. Load up on patience and love!
Steps to follow to remove that fear
At first, the simplest thing for your four-legged friend is to avoid encounters with other dogs, but we are going to tell you three different techniques to try to reduce your dog’s distrust.
- Desensitization. It consists of progressively exposing your dog to the problem until it no longer stresses him. You can start by keeping your dog away from other dogs, and gradually reduce this distance during walks according to the dog’s evolution and improvement. You can also arrange meetings with very friendly and calm dogs, before gradually exposing him to more energetic or imposing dogs.
- Familiarization. It consists of teaching the dog not to react to the stressful situation. By taking him on more walks in areas where he will encounter other dogs, you will allow your dog to get used to them and realize that they are not a threat. If you use this method, be careful not to subject your dog to a situation that is too stressful for him, as this will make the situation worse.
- Counter-conditioning. This method allows you to associate the stressful situation with a positive experience. For example, by playing with your dog when other dogs are around, he will associate this time with play time and relax in the presence of other dogs.
You can apply these three methods, however, the most important thing is that you respect your dog’s learning speed. It is a process that can take time, and each case is different. If you think you cannot deal with this situation alone, always consult a dog behavior expert who can advise you on the best steps to take for your specific dog.
