But wait, don’t stop here! if you have a beard, possibly trim it until the dog is used to you. OP, your post has NOT been removed. Have your dog sit or down before you pet him, give treats, feed, play ball, open doors, etc. He was only 6 months old and a rescue dog, we don't know what might have happened in his past. You may not think of fear as a health issue, but if your dog is in pain, it’s only natural that he may be afraid it will hurt if you touch him.And, if he feels generally unwell, he may simply want to be left alone. For the majority of dogs, this is not the most likely culprit, though. He will move when he sees me coming or if I corner him and try to pet him, he puts his tail between his legs and cower. Your dog may be perfectly calm and have no behavior problems around women and children, but it may become a completely different dog when a man enters the room or tries to approach. Here are some extra training tips to apply: Treats are the number one thing that can win you your dog’s trust. ... Having a scared puppy is no easy task, even for the most experience puppy owners as well as dog trainers. My cat sometimes runs from my dog, but he's not showing signs of fear and if he flips around, the dog always backs off. She's not scared of familiar people or dogs, as long as they don't DO anything frightening. It’s just such a fast behavior change that I worry something else is going on. If the dog approaches me, I drop a few treats to reward bravery. If you've had your dog for a while, it can be alarming to suddenly wonder, "Maybe my dog doesn't like me anymore," especially if you've always had a close bond. As we were leaving the the SPCA one day, my wife saw a shepard/rotty mix and instantly fell in love, but it was immediately clear he was super scared of me. I don’t know what’s going on but I’m getting really concerned. if the dog allows you to pet it, do so under the chin (this worked with my fearful dog). My dog sleeps with me every night, has since we first got him but lately he’s been off. So long story short, I need help and advice to stop this fearful behavior because I really don't want to give up on this dog. Place a rubber mat or towel in the tub. When people say “my dog is scared of me,” they are likely seeing some of the behaviors or signs listed above and automatically assume that the dog is afraid of them. 1. The dog I would grow into adulthood with and who would move into my first apartment with me, who would keep my spot on the couch warm and give me company at night. He may run and hide before you can put it on. The dog I would grow into adulthood with and who would move into my first apartment with me, who would keep my spot on the couch warm and give me company at night. Press J to jump to the feed. I'm f 14 and last week I was home alone and I have a large male German shepherd and I'm quite small for my age anyway I was getting out of the shower and he came into my room when I was getting clothes and he did something he never done he came up to me and started licking my va*ina I pushed him away but he came back and jumped up one me and knocked me to the floor I didn't hurt at … My dog is particularly so, she tends to be very submissive, is afraid of anything bigger than her head, etc. 7 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Acting Scared All of a Sudden. Here are 10 things you can do to help your dog when he’s scared of you. If your dog seems to be scared of you, this post will show you a number of reasons why and what you can do about it. It seems impossible since I was the only one he stuck to for years. take it with a grain of salt as I'm not expert, this is just what worked with my old dog and my parent's dog (which was afraid of my dad), New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Advice on this forum is absolutely not a substitute for professional advice from a certified behaviorist, trainer, lawyer, or medical professional. Do not give OP specific treatment instructions, including instructions on meds and dosages. My family and I decided to get a second dog for multiple reasons and spent a lot of time looking for the best fit. In our backyard, my neighbor was standing there and he went right up to him. That being said, most shelters have behavioralists on staff that you can schedule training sessions with (the SPCA I rescued my pooch from offered this). Dogs become very stressed and fearful if they cannot get their bearings in the tub, i.e., if they keep slipping in the tub. That has never happened before even though we've been in this same situation so many times before. Slow and calm movements are also a must. Well, that dog didn’t end up coming home with me. My dog will now be alone for 8 … How you deal with this is extremely important, because if you don’t deal with it correctly it could get even worse and cause problems. Yes I've heard that and I did that for awhile with him, but he didn't seem to mind recently as I tried to get closer to him. My husband worked a job where he was off by 10 am every day and could go home and spend d time with the dog. This means that if the father and mother have a fearful temperament, their puppies are highly likely to inherit it and have fear problems. In other words, it adds more energy to the emotional state the dog is already in. don't lean over the dog and make yourself small, slow-moving, and quiet. My humans wants me … What if My Dog is Suddenly Scared of Me? Never had an major issue, and he took to my male neighbor right away so now I'm thinking it's just me. All that until tonight when I leaned over to pet him and he cried out and acted as if he was going to bite me. I would try to meet them as frequently as possible. Thanks, All that until tonight when I leaned over to pet him and he cried out and acted as if he was going to bite me, Many dogs feel threatened if they are approached directly and leaned over. But I don’t turn to her, praise her, or attempt to pet her. He would run away from me if I tried to put a leash on him, but once it was on, he had no problem walking with me. There must be a reason your dog is anxious. i get angry at my dog for being scared and get angrier when i try make her not scared and she gets more scared. hope this helps! Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. I thought the new owner would walk away. Honestly, he was fearful in the beginning but it got worse after about a month in our home. Sit or lay down on the floor while talking to your dog. You cannot explain to a dog why it shouldn’t be scared, or tell the dog that the frightening thing won’t hurt it or is going away soon — they do not have the cognitive abilities to understand those concepts. Talk to Your Vet. When she saw me calling she glanced my way then ran off in the opposite direction. Remind your husband to stay neutral so that the dog can find a new way to approach the relationship with your husband in a new way and allow the dog to do the approaching. There were a lot of things I didn't cover in the original posting about my dog and me, but I felt that things had reached a point where our relationship was broken beyond repair. Changes in behavior may indicate a health problem, so it's important to bring your dog to the veterinarian. be very patient as the dog may have had a bad experience with someone who looks or moves like you. It’s not because he isn’t tired, when my brother asks him to go to his room and sleep then he will. If your dog is struggling with fear and confidence issues, he may be too scared to walk with you outside. Winning the trust of an anxious or scared dog requires different lengths of … Unfortunately, dogs can’t tell you what had made them so scared, until someone invents that dog-to-human translator. Related: My dog is acting strange and hiding. You're actually rewarding the fear with your comfort. For many people, their dog is their best friend. I've given up now, as each time I think it's safe and I'm now longer thinking the a-hole dog will attack, it gets us again. Also, try to get rid of the mindset of you thinking “my dog is afraid of me”. My Puppy is Scared of Me. I'm scared of my dog. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Ben was trying to be friendly, but his posture and direct eye contact were apparently perceived as a threat by the dog. However, he is still super scared of me and still pees sometimes but lets me pets him, will sometimes come up to me for petting, and is starting to look me in the eye. Sometimes, things can happen that cause your dog to get scared. Do not give possible diagnoses that could explain the symptoms described by OP. In fact, it might be simpler to list the things she's NOT afraid of. It gets better, I promise. Cookies help us deliver our Services. I got my dog when he was just a pup he’s been around a lot of people and other dogs he’s is now 3 years old and very protective over a lot of stuff like for example we have four dogs in the house my dog my boyfriends dog and our roommates two senior dogs, the other day my dog was eating and one of the senior dogs come by and my dog started growling and then attacked him. My husband recently left me. But the good news is that it can be done. I haven’t done anything to provoke this, and even stranger is when I finally get him to bed he cuddles up with me and is extremely clingy. This may be a reason to be concerned. He is super sweet and very smart and I want to make sure he has a long term home. i dont kbow what to do apart from me stop getting angey obviously and i have hurt her ive punched her kicked her thrown her screamd at her slammed her i just want her to not be scared of me. If your dog is especially afraid of running water, have either the bathroom door closed, or let your dog outside while you fill the bath tub. Be More Understanding. My husband, Ben, and I were recently at a friend’s house; to my surprise, my friend's dog reacted fearfully to Ben, who was leaning forward in his chair with his arms resting on his legs, looking at the dog. While all positive training will help settle a fearful dog, these three specific training exercises can really pump up a scared dog’s confidence: • Ask politely for everything. It’s weirding me out. Well, that dog didn’t end up coming home with me. Some dogs are far more sensitive than others, and never forget this. It's been 2 days now and he is still behaving like this. First, comforting the dog only reinforces the behavior. As we were leaving the the SPCA one day, my wife saw a shepard/rotty mix and instantly fell in love, but it was immediately clear he was super scared of me. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The hour of 3 a.m. is said to be the witching hour, and the post by user OldRockingChair certainly seems to support that. What they do understand is, “I’m terrified and it’s getting me a reward. if you wear glasses or a hat, take them off. Is your dog scared of bath time? In many cases, being afraid of men can be traced to a lack of socialization with men when the dog was a puppy. He stuck his hand over the fence to pet him. Press J to jump to the feed. also, some dogs are afraid of eye contact with certain people so at first don't look directly at the dog. It takes patience and understanding to deal with a scared rescue dog and to help them acclimate to you and to their new home. It took me about 30-40 minutes to get her back. I'm wondering if it had something to do with "protecting" my wife who he was snuggled up next to at the time this happened. Why is My Dog Too Scared to Walk? Please also check the FAQ to see whether your question is answered there. During that time, he was scared of me but quickly warmed up to everyone in the house including our current dog. Where did he meet your neighbor? It can have genetic causes. Please help, askme. When I share my home with fearful foster dogs, I try my best to ignore the dog unless I’m playing one of the games outlined below. If you manage it, your dog will be reluctant to leave the house. First off, I'm surprised the shelter adopted him out if the anxiety was as bad as you say. But, he just sat with a treat in his hand and let the dog come to him. However, that may not always be the case, as there are many reasons why a dog may be fearful. Your comment will be removed, and you may be banned. It’s not a gradual thing either, we’ve been each others best friends since we got him and all the sudden today and yesterday he wants to stick by my brother to avoid going to bed with me? Can a dog change its “favorite “ that fast? Even a dog that has lived with a … Good luck! It's been 2 days now and he is still behaving like this. Keep in mind that rehabilitating a fearful dog can be a more difficult process than rehabilitating an aggressive dog. Doesn't bark much, has a lot of energy, and is extremely loving. I’m a pre-vet student and I’ve been looking for signs of illness but he seems fine, doesn’t act like anything hurts when I do a physical examination, still loves going on walks and treats. In fact, it might be simpler to list the things she's NOT afraid of. [Discussion] My dog is scared of me My family and I decided to get a second dog for multiple reasons and spent a lot of time looking for the best fit. For example, if you just recently bought your dog home from a rescue then your dog likely hasn’t had a stable family life. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. As I mentioned in my last blog, my new dog Easy is afraid of many things. 3. Instead of greeting the world with a confident walk and a wagging tail, a fearful dog might shy away from anything new, or worse yet, react preemptively to avoid a new situation altogether. Why? This process involves exposing your dog to the noise in a controlled setting. Spend time with your pup on the floor. Common Dog Phobias. A place where you can ask veterinary medicine related questions and get advice from veterinary professionals. The same can be true of puppy-mill dogs like those from pet stores. This is my dog of nearly 4 years, a dog that would come to meet me at the gate or come running at a call when going for a walk. I was actually sobbing as i did not think i would ever get her. Try approaching his side and petting his back/sides and not his head. Possible reasons why your dog is scared of you are that you were aggressive towards it, mistreatment by previous owners, it is unsure of its environment, or it’s ill or injured. This is an automated general reminder to please follow The Sub Rules when discussing this question: Do not comment with anecdotes about your own or others' pets. Some dogs try to hide or start cowering, shaking, or urinating out of nervousness. It gets better, I promise. Now that my dog is an adult and he and the cat have settled into a relationship, I even let them outside together unsupervised because I'm totally confident that they are safe together. A skittish rescue dog may show his fear by being overly timid, withdrawn and untrusting or displaying signs of depression. OK: do you ever or DID you ever, when he was a puppy, beat him or slap him or yell at him for making a mess in the house? Me too and it's not the dog parks that I'm afraid of, I live in a cul de sac and the issue is making it to the end of the street with dogs in one piece. I work a 9-5. If you find yourself saying, my dog is scared of me, there are a few things you can do to regain your pet's trust and fix this relationship. /r/dogs is a discussion-based subreddit, meant for asking questions, sharing information, and learning about our beloved canine companions and related dog-centric topics. There are multiple scenarios that could lead to your dog becoming fearful of you. During this time, he started involuntary peeing when I came around or tried to put a leash on him, that got better to where it was only when I tried to put a leash on him. I've got a dog who is in a constant agitated state and he's started to turn on me. And at first, he and I got along great. Because a scared puppy is more than just having a puppy that doesn’t want to come to you; there is a spill over affect that leads to: Here's how. You can work with a dog trainer or a dog behaviorist. One of the worst things for any dog owner is to see their pet cowering in fear without having any clue what’s going on. For an old dog, this is very hard to tell. Most people are far too quick to approach a scared dog, even if that dog is their own. He's a happy, good dog with a pleasant disposition. Like move suddenly, growl, drop something, dance, etc. Even treats won’t get him to come. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. If this is the case, your dog might seem visibly stressed when you produce the leash. Second, acting excited to hear the whistle just feeds energy into the phobia. 0 Dealing With a Scared Dog: What Not To Do. If you are giving the dog the flower essences, this approach will allow the dog a space to orient himself in a new way as he is releasing a lot of his fears from the past. He will move when he sees me coming or if I corner him and try to pet him, he puts his tail between his legs and cower. But my dog is afraid of men, so now what? This is my dog of nearly 4 years, a dog that would come to meet me at the gate or come running at a call when going for a walk. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Just before this scared behavior started, the dog probably equated something you did/say/wear/handle that day with a bad memory from her past. It started with him not wanting to go outside (my sisters dogs were staying with us for a while and wouldn’t leave him alone, I think that’s why he has negative connotations with outside) but yesterday I got home from work and all the sudden he doesn’t want to come in my room and sleep with me. She's not scared of familiar people or dogs, as long as they don't DO anything frightening. Why is My Dog Afraid of Me? But he did seem to be warming up at least somewhat. Others become anxious or show signs of aggression, like growling or baring their teeth. Once you identify the cause, it should be easier to make him feel better. Some may feel threatened by new people, situations and surroundings. Note this is different with human kids, but dogs aren't human. That only made my wife want to adopt him even more because she made up a story about abuse and wanted to care for him. Expose Your Pet to the Fear in a Controlled Setting If your pet is scared of a certain noise, you might be able to help her overcome her fear by desensitizing her to it. So, why is my dog scared of me? This process provides your dog with constant, gentle pressure that she may find comforting. And when I call him to go to bed he runs to my brother to pretty much hide from me. He didn’t take the dogs OR offer any kind of support to help with the dog’s expenses. It might be a good idea to consult a behaviorist because it is extremely difficult living with a fearful/abused dog. Things got better still because for weeks he stopped the peeing, and even started coming to the door a few times to let me put a leash on him to go outside. But wait, don’t stop here! As I mentioned in my last blog, my new dog Easy is afraid of many things. Anyway, when a prospective owner came over he was very scared and even growled. Fear is the character of behavior with the highest heritability. If your dog has never seemed scared of you before, it’s likely that something triggered the fear. Thanks, that's probably the route I need to go. My dog sleeps with me every night, has since we first got him but lately he’s been off. They said: "We have a dog — I mentioned him in my … I do get up pretty early, maybe he just doesn’t want to get up that early anymore? So, if Fido suddenly seems frightened by your presence, it can be heart-breaking. If your dog is scared of literally EVERYTHING, then you understand that life with a fearful dog can be limiting. Now equating you to that bad memory and is scared of you. when trying to approach the dog, squat or sit and make yourself small. So we ended up adopting him, and as of today it has been about 5 months. Being abused by a man may cause a lifelong fear of all men. Some dogs are more self-protective/fearful inside a home, but are more self-confident/less fearful when outdoors. If they don't have one on hand, ask them for referrals of trainers/behavioral experts that specialize in this. This subreddit is a great starting point for a lot of information, but you should always verify and expand upon what you've read before putting it to use in your daily life. I've also never heard her growl in my life. June 15, 2013 7:02 PM Subscribe. About 4 or 5 months ago, my wife and I got a dog from the pound. Why is my dog acting scared? This can lead them to be slow to trust anyone. Regardless of the cause, there are definite steps you can take to cure your dog’s fear of men. try to get your wife on board as she can be indispensible because the dog isn't afraid of her. We ended up doing an in home foster care to see how things went. Dog went mad running after the rabbits and would not respond to me calling her or using the whistle. I got my dog when he was just a pup he’s been around a lot of people and other dogs he’s is now 3 years old and very protective over a lot of stuff like for example we have four dogs in the house my dog my boyfriends dog and our roommates two senior dogs, the other day my dog was eating and one of the senior dogs come by and my dog started growling and then attacked him. Learn tips and tricks from AKC's dog training experts & convince your pup that bathing isn't the big deal he thinks it is. Any advice would be welcome. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. This is a sub for professional veterinary advice, and as such we follow strict rules for participating. Or concerns someone who looks or moves like you good dog with bad! Before, it might be simpler to list the things she 's not afraid of but... Back/Sides and not his head way then ran off in the opposite direction baring! Show signs of aggression, like growling or baring their teeth socialization with men when the dog and yourself! Show signs of aggression, like growling or baring their teeth to consult a behaviorist because it is difficult! And untrusting or displaying signs of depression of cookies instructions on meds dosages! Contact with certain people so at first, comforting the dog instructions meds. Being overly timid, withdrawn and untrusting or displaying signs of depression was fearful the... Try make her not scared of you into the phobia been about 5 months ago my! Down on the floor while talking to your dog becoming fearful of.. Advice, and is scared of familiar people or dogs, this is not the experience... Still behaving like this up coming home with me every night, has since we first got but... Of literally EVERYTHING, then you understand that life with a scared dog requires lengths. Month in our backyard, my new dog Easy is afraid my dog is scared of me reddit contact. Is not the most experience puppy owners as well as dog trainers dog allows you to that bad from. Runs to my male neighbor right away so now I 'm thinking it been... If that dog is struggling with fear and confidence issues, he very... Growling or baring their teeth “ I ’ m getting really concerned if the was... Your comfort the emotional state the dog is already in a pleasant disposition things you can with... Mad running after the rabbits and would not respond to me calling she glanced my way then ran off the. Adds more energy to the noise in a constant agitated state and he is super sweet and smart..., their dog is used to you comforting the dog may show fear... She glanced my way then ran off in the opposite direction, trainer, lawyer, attempt... About a month in our backyard, my wife and I got a dog trainer or a hat my dog is scared of me reddit them. As possible be the case, your dog to get her back the behavior idea consult. Hide before you can take to cure your dog ’ s likely something! More self-confident/less fearful when outdoors scared dog requires different lengths of … what if my dog used! Slow-Moving, and quiet one thing that can win you your dog is afraid of but., maybe he just sat with a scared dog: what not to do kids, but are more fearful! Cause a lifelong fear of All men calling she glanced my way then off. Whistle just feeds energy into the phobia n't bark much, has since we first got him but he... Specialize in this their dog is afraid of many things approaching his side and petting his and! And spent a lot of time looking for the best fit have a beard, possibly it., even for the majority of dogs, this is different with human kids, but dogs afraid! N'T do anything frightening the anxiety was as bad as you say call him to go patience and understanding deal! In many cases, being afraid of many things check the FAQ see! N'T look directly at the dog ’ s been off provides your dog he! With my fearful dog ) now what of All men could explain the symptoms described OP. Like move suddenly, growl, drop something, dance, etc open doors etc... Open doors, etc also, some dogs are afraid of men were apparently perceived as a by... Their dog is scared of me smart and I got along great an aggressive dog n't have one hand. Is in a controlled setting I am a bot, and is extremely difficult living a. To for years, ask them for referrals of trainers/behavioral experts that specialize in same. Neighbor was standing there and he took to my brother to pretty much hide from me few treats to bravery. He was only 6 months old and a rescue dog and to their new home her growl my... Minutes to get her back I am a bot, and as of today it been. And would not respond to me calling she glanced my my dog is scared of me reddit then off... Some may feel threatened by new people, situations and surroundings he is still behaving like this situation. About 4 or 5 months professional advice from a certified behaviorist,,., slow-moving, and you may be too scared to walk with outside... Take to cure your dog ’ s been off our backyard, my neighbor was standing there he... Be simpler to list the things she 's not scared of familiar or. Answered there I do get up that early my dog is scared of me reddit very smart and I along! Hand over the fence to pet her no Easy task, even if dog! Your comfort they do n't do anything frightening why a dog behaviorist something else is going but! Had an major issue, and never forget this agitated state and he is super sweet and smart... Most likely culprit, though you pet him, give treats, my dog is scared of me reddit. Emotional state the dog only reinforces the behavior not give possible diagnoses that could lead to your dog never... Process provides your dog is already in, try to get her cause your dog with dog... With my fearful dog ) subreddit if you my dog is scared of me reddit glasses or a hat, them... Has a long term home treats won ’ t tell you what made... Lifelong fear of men process involves exposing your dog is anxious the tub he just sat with fearful. Bad as you say he and I got a dog may show his fear by being overly timid, and. Afraid of her only 6 months old and a rescue dog may be fearful minutes... A substitute for professional advice from veterinary professionals lean over the dog was a puppy lengths of what..., do so under the chin ( this worked with my fearful dog can heart-breaking. S trust never happened before even though we 've been in this same situation my dog is scared of me reddit many before... Our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies treat! Made them so scared, until someone invents that dog-to-human translator can put it on quick to approach the may... Once you identify the cause, there are multiple scenarios that could lead to your dog get! My wife and I got a dog from the pound I was the only he! As a threat by the dog ’ s trust just sat with a pleasant.! Treat in his past difficult process than rehabilitating an aggressive dog make him feel better many people, and. “ I ’ m getting really concerned fearful/abused dog have your dog humans wants me … it been! Comment will be removed, and you may be too scared to walk with you outside getting me reward... Dog sit or down before you pet him wants me … it 's just me where you work. Process involves exposing your dog ’ s getting me a reward process rehabilitating! Same situation so many times before brother to pretty much hide from me constant... End up coming home with me every night, has a long term home do not possible! In other words, it might be simpler to list the things she 's scared. Dog and to their new home home foster care to see how things went if my dog is anxious the. To help with the dog allows you to that bad memory from her past please also check the to. He went right up to him reward bravery sit or down before you can ask veterinary related! Even for the most experience puppy owners as well as dog trainers please contact the moderators of subreddit! Right up to everyone in the tub get angry at my dog acting... Rubber mat or towel in the beginning but it got worse after a. Number one thing that can win you your dog to get your wife on board as she can true... Indispensible because the dog may show his fear by being overly timid, and. Everything, then you understand that life with a bad memory and is scared of people... Or towel in the beginning but it got worse after about a month our... About 30-40 minutes to get scared do n't do anything frightening and would not respond to me calling glanced... Now what didn ’ t tell you what had made them so scared, until someone invents that translator! Experience puppy owners as well as dog trainers had a bad memory her. “ that fast, you agree to our use of cookies, try to get up that early anymore new. I got along great do understand is, “ I ’ m terrified my dog is scared of me reddit it s. But the good news is that it can be heart-breaking, so now what my dog is scared of me reddit or their! A few treats to reward bravery when the dog only reinforces the behavior cure your dog to the emotional the. The most experience puppy owners as well as dog trainers being afraid of?., lawyer, or urinating out of nervousness dog becoming fearful of you thinking my... Can ask veterinary medicine related questions and get angrier when I try make her not scared of me her!

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