Fear and Anxiety in Dogs
Do you have an anxious dog?
There can be a number of reasons why your dog is so anxious. There can be many influences causing fear and anxiety in dogs, from what they’ve experienced, such as past trauma, painful experiences or a lack of socialisation, and even influences from before your dog was born, such as intergenerational trauma (e.g. from a mother during pregnancy) and genetics. These can all play a part in determining who they are. Many fearful and anxious dogs are born with these behavioural tendencies as they are highly heritable.
I really want to help my dog, he is so shut down and scared of everything.
My dog has suddenly become scared and fearful and I don't know what happened.
I'm struggling to walk my dog, I can't even get a lead on her to get outside.
Would you like to understand the root cause of your dog’s fear based behaviour?
Understanding what your dog is afraid of and how it affects them, is highly beneficial in positively helping your dog manage their fears.
It’s all about perception…
Did you know your dog is affected by anxiety in the same way we are?
It too can make them feel and act very differently.
An anxious dog is not just acting out or misbehaving. Fear is an emotion, not a behaviour – the behaviour we see is a symptom. When fear and anxiety in dogs takes a hold, they are in an internal state of emergency, full on survival mode preparing to fight, flee or freeze.
This causes real, physical changes and has an effect on virtually every system in their body, and while their body has a natural ability to heal physical wounds, a dog’s nervous system stores trauma for survival purposes. This can cause discomfort, feed anxiety and make them even more distrustful.
They become very sensitive to subtle energy changes that go against survival.mi
Your dog’s perception IS their reality and it will act upon that whether a threat is “real” or not – the fear response is the same and is reflected in the outwardly behaviour that we may be label “inappropriate.” This can lead to a lot of misunderstanding and misinterpretation on what’s really happening with that dog.
There is however some degree of guesswork or assumption involved in how an anxious dog feels, what they need or why they behave that way, even with the most well informed and knowledgeable decisions. No two dogs are the same and although their behaviour may look similar, the reasons behind them can be very different. There are also a whole number of trigger points all at varying degrees on the scale of fear, and this fear response (freeze, fight, flight) produces real, physical changes in your dog’s system.
A dog will base their reaction on the conditions in the environment and their history with them, so we need to ensure we also care for the environment they are in – so that it can support the dog as they heal.
When I connect to a dog during a communication session, they have the freedom to express exactly how they feel, share their view of the world and their emotions and behaviour – all based on their own individual perspective and self-expression. This removes our own assumptions – as we hear directly from dog! You will find out exactly what your anxious dog wishes you knew
How to help a shy, fearful or anxious dog
Help them feel safe. Allow a safe space in a quiet corner of your home so they can decompress. Avoid staring at that beautiful face (as much as you want to!), don’t hover over them and use slow, gentle movements around your dog. Go at their pace, let them guide you on what they’re ready for. With patience, encourage them to move on their own terms, do not lure or drag them into situations they are fearful of.
Keeping a consistent routine is also important, make their environment predictable, it’s reassuring and allows your dog to feel more calm and secure knowing what will happen in their day and when.
Ultimately trust is your best friend here. Helping your anxious dog feel safe whilst partnering alongside them with patience, understanding and consistency, can help you encourage them, build their skills and confidence as well as create positive associations with objects, people and environments.
You’re not alone
It can become really quite isolating and physically and emotionally draining caring for a dog that’s overwhelmed by everyday life, the vigilant management of their environment and who or what they come in contact with, so please make sure to look after yourself too.
I give both you and your dog a safe, loving space to confide in, to openly share thoughts, opinions and worries without fear of judgement. To feel heard, accepted and understood. To share your truth. That in itself can be very healing
