Dogs and Fear: The Signs, Triggers, and More

It’s the spooky season! And what’s scarier than the thought of your dog accidentally wolfing down a Hershey’s bar?

While we obviously think you should do your best to keep Halloween candy away from your pets — and fake spider webs, and other decorations — accidents happen. And while Halloween can be a fun time to indulge in our very human fears by watching Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers go on a rampage for the umpteenth time, or visiting a haunted house attraction, what about our dogs? What are they scared of?  

Some dogs have various obvious fears. Some dogs are afraid of ordinary things, like blenders, vacuum cleaners, or fireworks. Some are scared of strangers, and will lose their minds every time a package is delivered, or a pizza is dropped off at the front door. So, yes, dogs do have fears and phobias, just like people do. 

But it’s a bit different, even if how they express that fear is somewhat similar.

Common fears and phobias for dogs

Before getting into the specifics, it’s good to know what fear actually is as it pertains to animals (and humans). Fear is a natural reaction, and it’s an evolutionary trait that helps keep things alive. If you’re scared of something, there’s probably a good reason, and that fear might keep you out of some bad situations. The same goes for animals.

How dogs express fear is usually easy to pick up on. Dogs might shake or shiver, pace around, whine and bark, hide, or even get aggressive. You’ve likely seen some of that behavior from your pets, and it’s a sign that they’re scared — even though each dog will likely exhibit a different combination of those behaviors. 

As for some of the common fears that dogs have, the American Kennel Club lists these among some of the most typical or universal fears:

  • Sounds: Loud sounds, such as fireworks, thunder, and even gunshots.

  • Needles: Just like people, dogs can be scared of needles, which makes it difficult to get them to the vet!

  • Situations: Dogs may become fearful when put in certain situations, such as in small spaces, or even if they’re separated from their owners, which is often called separation anxiety.

  • Strangers: Some dogs love everybody — others don’t!

What can make dogs fearful?

Why, exactly, are some dogs scared of some things, but not others? There isn’t a definitive answer, but there can be some things that can cause fear responses or related behaviors in dogs. 

For one, if they’re in pain, they might exhibit fearful responses. That may not mean that the dog is scared, exactly, but it’s a sign that they’re uncomfortable or that something is wrong. Further, traumatic experiences from the past may create fear responses in dogs. If they have previously suffered abuse, for instance, certain things might trigger fearful behavior.

But there are also some dogs and breeds that are simply genetically predisposed to being…scaredy cats. Some breeds are known for being shy, for example, so there may be some underlying genetic reasons that a dog is fearful.

Of course, there’s nothing scary about a trip to the vet. Right?

Contact us to make an appointment today!

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