Treatment of Fear in Dogs

by Robert Forto, PhD

In an article a few weeks back I discussed the causes of fear in dogs and why it manifests. This week I will discuss the treatments of fear and how to prevent your dog from becoming fear/anxiety-induced aggressive.

Fear is more common than most people think in dogs. Almost weekly someone will come into Denver Dog Works and state that their dog is fearful of this or that and that he is aggressive. I start off by evaluating their dog and begin to explain that fear is an emotional state of dread triggered by perceived danger. Anxiety, a fear based state of uneasiness and irritability, is the state of annoyed stimulation.

All three are unpleasant emotions that cause defensiveness in living things, often resulting in defense aggression, Therese states of emotion are usually fed by a number of contributing factors instead of just one, and just like us, dogs have a limit to what they can endure before feeling the need to defend themselves. Although some dogs have a lower threshold than others, if the stimulus persists and the emotion grows in intensity, sooner or later most of us will defend ourselves. Everything that creates a feeling of unease is a potential bite and every dog has the potential for defensive aggression.

Treatment for fear/irritability/anxiety induced aggression

• DO NOT punish the dog; the only way to eliminate fear is to raise confidence.
• All necessary reprimands must be verbal, and only severe enough to stop the unwanted behavior. The moment the dog acknowledges the verbal reprimand, the reprimand must stop.
• Interrupt and re-direct unwanted behaviors to teach the dog "don't do this, do that."
• Teach relaxation exercises.
• Carefully play games such as wrestling and tug-o-war to raise the dog's confidence, being careful to follow the rules for games and to never overwhelm or frighten the dog.
• Have the dog sleep in the same room as the owner to strengthen the trust and bond.
• List all the fear triggers.
• Systematically desensitize the dog to each fear trigger.
• Pair up food and games with what previously caused a fear reaction.
• Work at a pace that avoids putting the dog in a fearful situation, instead create a low level of arousal.
• Defuse a fearful reaction by using the jolly routine, reciting poetry or signing, to change the mood.
• Ignore fearful behaviors and reward non-fearful behavior.
• Start an obedience training program including positive reinforcement techniques to help raise the dog's confidence.
• Always reward correct responses, confidence and good behavior.
• Eliminate stress from your dog's life.
• Provide chew toys to eliminate stress and boredom.
• Never leave the dog unsupervised in the presence of anyone who is not a trained part of the rehabilitation program, especially children.
• Avoid close contact with strangers and especially children when not actively training the dog.

Please understand that this article is used as a guide in the treatment of fear in dogs and should in no means replace a behavior modification program under the direction of a canine behaviorist. Remember that most dog trainers do not understand the underlying causes of fear and the behavior behind it. While these trainers will be very good at teaching loose leash walking, sit, and other basic manners, I advise you to consult with a canine behaviorist if you suspect fear in your dog.

Denver Dog Works offers behavioral consultations to deal with a wide variety of behaviors including fear and aggression. All behavioral consultation are under the direction and supervision of Dr. Robert Forto, a certified canine behaviorist. If you would like to schedule an evaluation, Dr. Robert Forto can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com or by phone at 303-522-1727.

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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado and is a certified canine behaviorist. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com.