How to Get Rid of Your Dog's Phobias: Three Main Problems and How to Solve Them

Dogs experience a variety of emotions, including fear.

Fear is a natural response to a potential threat that helps us survive in dangerous situations.

However, sometimes fear can be excessive, unreasonable or disproportionate to the actual danger. Then we talk about a phobia – a pathological fear of a certain object or situation.

Dogs can have many different phobias, but there are three that are the most common and serious.

Fear of thunder and fireworks

This is called astraphobia. Dogs are very sensitive to loud and unexpected sounds that they cannot explain or control. Therefore, they perceive them as a threat to their life and safety.

Dogs that are afraid of thunder or fireworks may tremble, hide, bark, howl, run away from their owner, panic, or even defecate out of fear.

To help your dog overcome this fear, you need to create a safe and comfortable place in the house for him to hide when there is noise.

You can also use special collars or vests to reduce stress, aromatherapy, or veterinary medications as recommended by your vet.

Separation anxiety

This is called anaphylaxis or fear of being alone. Dogs are social animals that become attached to their owners and do not like to be left alone.

If the owner leaves the house for a long time or rarely pays attention to his dog, the dog may feel anxious, sad or depressed.

Dogs with separation anxiety may exhibit behavioral problems, such as barking, howling, chewing on furniture or the owner's belongings, scratching doors or windows, or urinating or pooping in the house.

To help your dog overcome this fear, you need to gradually accustom it to the fact that it is not scary to be alone and that the owner will always return. You can also leave toys or treats for it to occupy it in the owner's absence.

Fear of people or other animals

This is called anthropophobia or zoophobia. Dogs can be afraid of people or other animals for various reasons: due to insufficient socialization as puppies, due to negative experiences in the past, due to genetic predisposition, or due to the nature of the breed.

Dogs that are afraid of people or other animals may exhibit aggression, submissiveness, avoidance, or freezing behavior. To help your dog overcome this fear, you should gradually and carefully introduce him to different people and animals, using positive reinforcement and avoiding punishment. You can also contact a dog trainer or animal psychologist for professional help.

In conclusion, it can be said that fears and phobias in dogs are a serious problem that can interfere with the normal life and well-being of both the dog and its owner. Therefore, it is important to know what dogs are afraid of, what are the causes and signs of these fears, and how to help them.

It is best to prevent fears in dogs from puppyhood, providing them with proper socialization and upbringing. But if fear has already arisen, then there is no need to despair or ignore it.

There are different methods and ways to work with fears in dogs that can help your pet become more confident and happier.

Previously, we reported on the best cat breeds for apartments .