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What dogs are afraid of: darkness, travel, and 3 more major fears
Just think – pets have almost the same phobias as we do.
Once upon a time, dogs were real protectors, for this they were tamed by people. And now it’s rather the opposite: the owner is shaking over his pet – tiny, trembling, frightened. But dog handlers say that absolutely all dogs have fears, even the largest, most powerful and formidable in appearance.
President of the Russian Cynological Federation
“The main thing is that the owner does not try to make a fearless animal out of the dog, but tries to figure out the cause of the phobia. You can learn to cope with fears – usually switching to other activities, playing dog sports, working with a dog handler helps. It is not always possible to completely rid an animal of phobias, but you are quite capable of making your pet’s life more comfortable. “
So what are dogs most afraid of?
Harsh loud noises
Pops, shots, crashes – all this can easily cause panic, stress and alertness in the pet. Think about how dogs react to fireworks, gunfire, or thunderstorms. It is not necessary that the animal will be afraid of all these phenomena: for example, a dog may panic upon hearing fireworks, but at the same time look indifferently at a loud vacuum cleaner. Or vice versa.
How to help
One way is to include thunderstorms, fireworks, or other sounds at home that scare the dog. Start at a medium volume, gradually increasing it. The pet will get used to these sounds and will no longer panic. Buy blinking, squeaking, and clinking toys for your dog. It is best to teach your pet to them from puppyhood in order to exclude the development of a phobia.
Travel and travel
Many dogs love to ride in a car. And many are afraid of this in panic. The pet can resist and whine, flatly refuse to get into the car, but still, once inside, it trembles and cries.
How to help
The main thing is not to force the dog to get into the car. First you need to introduce her to the car, give her a good sniff of the car, both inside and out. Open the door – let the dog decide for himself if he wants to look inside. If so, you need to encourage your pet. Give him time, gradually your pet will get used to the car.
Darkness
Dogs in this sense are people too. They are very often afraid of the dark, especially puppies. In the dark, the dog begins to worry, look around, become alert, whine, bark at objects, sometimes refuses to move, or, conversely, pulls on the leash. This is because in the dark the dog does not understand what surrounds it and where it is: the outlines of objects seem alien and unfamiliar, noise and movement are frightening. This phobia can be caused by health problems or fearful experiences in the past.
How to help
Do not try to avoid the dark, exclude evening walks. It is better to take the dog out for a walk at dawn or at dusk, when it is dusk outside. The dog needs to see how the outlines of objects change depending on the lighting. Choose a quiet place for walking, and gradually the dog will get used to the dark. Over time, it will be possible to go out for a walk even earlier or later, so that the dog learns to perceive the darkness adequately.
Going to the vet
Nobody likes doctors – neither people nor animals. The dogs tremble, rest their paws, refuse to enter the office at all. Pets remember that usually different unpleasant things happened to them there: injections, brushing teeth, measuring temperature. And then there are the smells of other animals, often even more frightened.
How to help
Try to shorten the time of your visit to the clinic: come right on time, make a list of questions to the doctor in advance. Praise your dog for its courage and calm demeanor, even if it is obviously scared. Reward your pet with treats. And most importantly – stay calm yourself, because the dog can catch your mood and imbued with your confidence.
Loneliness
Why does a dog howl and bark when left alone at home? Precisely from fear. To prevent this from happening, the dog needs to be taught to be alone from a young age: first leave the puppy in a separate room for 5-10 minutes, and then bring the time to an hour or two. The dog will get used to waiting, and it will no longer be stressful for him.
How to help
In addition to cultivating the habit of loneliness, you can buy your pet a special cage or a spacious carrier in which the dog will feel comfortable being alone with him. Make sure that she has the opportunity to entertain herself on her own – buy toys. Give your pet enough attention, but do not pamper too much: communication should be dosed and regular, then loneliness will not cause discomfort.