Why do dogs freak me out

If your dog displays signs of separation anxiety, try adding an extra walk, playing games of fetch or tug-of-war, enrolling in obedience classes, or a providing your pet with a variety of safe dog toys. If boredom is the reason for the acting out, you should see a big change in your dog's behavior. If none of these things help, then you need to consider separation anxiety as a diagnosis. The good news is that if you determine your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, there are ways you can reduce your dog's anxiety.

One of the most effective methods is called systematic desensitization. It involves gradually allowing your dog to get used to being left home alone. It is not understood why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety.

There could be an underlying medical condition. Or it could be triggered by an environmental change, like the addition of a new baby, a move to a new home, or the death of an owner or another pet.

Other causes could be from a change in schedule the dog's owner is away more , or because the dog is spending more time in the crate, kennel, or vet's office.

Stopping separation anxiety in your dog takes patience and thoughtful work on your part. You'll need to spend time recognizing your routines and work to change them. A lot of the modification is based on the owner changing behaviors and working to de-sensitize the dog to triggers. Most people have a routine they follow before they leave the house: shower, dress, put on a coat, grab keys, walk out the door.

Once your canine has recognized your routine, its anxiety can start building from the first step. This means anxiety doesn't just begin when you walk out the door. Instead, it starts when your alarm clock goes off or you turn on the shower. The anxiety escalates as you engage in your typical routine.

By the time you leave the house, the dog may already be in a full-blown panic. To prevent this mounting anxiety, make some changes to your own behavior.

Pay attention to the things you do before you leave the house and begin doing them randomly throughout the day. For example, you can grab your keys and sit down to watch television or put on your coat and feed your dog.

Within a few weeks, your dog should no longer see these your activities as connected signs you're about to leave, and some of the anxiety should be eased. Many owners lavish their dogs with affection and attention right before you leave home and immediately when you walk in the door.

Unfortunately, this can contribute to your dog's anxiety. The less anxious they are, the less likely your dog is to run away from shock.

Use of this Site is subject to express terms of use. It can be heartbreaking and make a pet owner feel powerless. Recognizing when your dog is nervous or scared is very important.

If not addressed at the onset, a natural reaction to the unknown can turn into a phobia or general anxiety. Fears are typically short-term anxiety responses that dogs experience when they feel like they are in danger. Phobias are typically tied to a specific trigger.

For example, many dogs experience noise aversion , or a fear of loud noises, that is triggered by things like fireworks and thunderstorms, but can also include construction noise, lawn mowers and blowers and traffic sounds. This is considered a phobia. Veterinarians estimate that 50 percent of dogs and cats suffer from some form of fear, anxiety, or phobia, while noise aversion and separation anxiety conditions are prevalent among dogs.

These are serious medical issues that require consultation with your veterinarian to identify ways to alleviate stress in your pet.

Lifting a paw. Lowered body language. Goofy behaviour getting the zoomies, scratching etc. Loss of toilet training. Before the fireworks. During the fireworks.

Acclimatise your dog to firework noisesIf your dog is scared of loud noises, ask your vet if they can recommend a pet behaviourist. Training and acclimatisation, especially when young, can teach dogs that bangs and rumbles are nothing to worry about. You can also buy CDs designed to get your dog used to loud noises. Keep your dog in after nightfallWalk your dog during daylight hours and keep them inside after nightfall. There are a number of different commercial solutions available, such as pheromone sprays, that your vet can advise you about if your dog is scared of loud noises.

Be calm and reassuringYour dog takes their cues from you, their most trusted friend. Stay relaxed and calm and do not make more of a fuss of your dog than normal, even if they act distressed. If your dog is scared of fireworks, try to reassure them that everything is fine; carry on as normal and they will soon start to follow your lead.

Play music or turn on the TV to provide a constant, identifiable noise to mask infrequent, random bangs. Provide canine companyA problem shared is a problem halved. Attention seeking behaviours Attention seeking behaviour can take many forms and are exactly what the name says they are — your dog trying to get your attention. To prevent or stop attention seeking behaviours: Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise, stimulation and interaction with you — every single day.

Give them your attention when they are doing what you want them to. Reward good behaviour so they are very clear about the positive ways to get your attention. In general, if a dog is seeking your attention at the wrong time, it is because you are not giving them enough of it at the right time. Most attention seeking behaviours consist of barking, jumping up, scratching you with a paw, pestering you with toys — in fact doing anything to try and get you to interact.

When the behaviour stops you have to be very quick to reward its absence. If the behaviour is not safe to ignore nipping guests, jumping on children, terrorising visitors, scratching people, using teeth , make use of a training lead to attach them to your chair until they settle and then giving them a stuffed Kong or something to chew may help or use baby gates to separate the dog from your guests or the situation with minimal interaction from you.

Then contact an accredited behaviourist to help you with a behaviour modification programme to address the behaviours. Why does my dog fear other animals and people? What should you do instead? If your pet has extreme anxiety, is too anxious for dog walks, or you just could use our help, contact us to sign up for a Quirky K9s training class , private training for anxious dogs, or schedule a behavior consultation.

Symptoms of Anxiety When your dog is prone to anxiety , you may notice behaviors that accompany the anxiety. If your pet fears strangers, then walk somewhere that is private or without a lot of traffic or people. If they fear other animals, avoid busy parks or dog parks. Keep your pet close to you, crossing the street if people or animals that would trigger anxiety start to approach.

Routine is comforting to dogs. Choose a route that avoids their triggers as much as possible, then walk the same route every time. Keep walks brief at first. Treats are a great distraction, so buy some small treats for positive reinforcement.