when trying to approach the dog, squat or sit and make yourself small. During that time, he was scared of me but quickly warmed up to everyone in the house including our current dog. Sometimes, things can happen that cause your dog to get scared. Be More Understanding. Even a dog that has lived with a … 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. A skittish rescue dog may show his fear by being overly timid, withdrawn and untrusting or displaying signs of depression. In fact, it might be simpler to list the things she's NOT afraid of. Others become anxious or show signs of aggression, like growling or baring their teeth. 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. Also, try to get rid of the mindset of you thinking “my dog is afraid of me”. Winning the trust of an anxious or scared dog requires different lengths of … I'm scared of my dog. She's not scared of familiar people or dogs, as long as they don't DO anything frightening. It's been 2 days now and he is still behaving like this. First off, I'm surprised the shelter adopted him out if the anxiety was as bad as you say. 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: Common Dog Phobias. 1. It's been 2 days now and he is still behaving like this. If they don't have one on hand, ask them for referrals of trainers/behavioral experts that specialize in this. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. She's not scared of familiar people or dogs, as long as they don't DO anything frightening. So we ended up adopting him, and as of today it has been about 5 months. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. But wait, don’t stop here! 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. It can have genetic causes. I thought the new owner would walk away. In our backyard, my neighbor was standing there and he went right up to him. 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. What if My Dog is Suddenly Scared of Me? 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. My dog is particularly so, she tends to be very submissive, is afraid of anything bigger than her head, etc. Spend time with your pup on the floor. 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. Honestly, he was fearful in the beginning but it got worse after about a month in our home. If your dog is scared of literally EVERYTHING, then you understand that life with a fearful dog can be limiting. 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. Well, that dog didn’t end up coming home with me. Cookies help us deliver our Services. He stuck his hand over the fence to pet him. I do get up pretty early, maybe he just doesn’t want to get up that early anymore? Here's how. 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 … be very patient as the dog may have had a bad experience with someone who looks or moves like you. For many people, their dog is their best friend. 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. My dog sleeps with me every night, has since we first got him but lately he’s been off. OP, your post has NOT been removed. But I don’t turn to her, praise her, or attempt to pet her. 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. 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. Have your dog sit or down before you pet him, give treats, feed, play ball, open doors, etc. My husband recently left me. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. And when I call him to go to bed he runs to my brother to pretty much hide from me. And at first, he and I got along great. Doesn't bark much, has a lot of energy, and is extremely loving. 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. My dog will now be alone for 8 … I don’t know what’s going on but I’m getting really concerned. There are multiple scenarios that could lead to your dog becoming fearful of you. [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. Dog went mad running after the rabbits and would not respond to me calling her or using the whistle. 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. Note this is different with human kids, but dogs aren't human. Cookies help us deliver our Services. 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. As I mentioned in my last blog, my new dog Easy is afraid of many things. Even treats won’t get him to come. Some dogs are far more sensitive than others, and never forget this. He's a happy, good dog with a pleasant disposition. Slow and calm movements are also a must. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Keep in mind that rehabilitating a fearful dog can be a more difficult process than rehabilitating an aggressive dog. 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. I've also never heard her growl in my life. 7 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Acting Scared All of a Sudden. 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. 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. But the good news is that it can be done. 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? It takes patience and understanding to deal with a scared rescue dog and to help them acclimate to you and to their new home. hope this helps! Never had an major issue, and he took to my male neighbor right away so now I'm thinking it's just me. I was actually sobbing as i did not think i would ever get her. The hour of 3 a.m. is said to be the witching hour, and the post by user OldRockingChair certainly seems to support that. I've got a dog who is in a constant agitated state and he's started to turn on me. i get angry at my dog for being scared and get angrier when i try make her not scared and she gets more scared. 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. ... Having a scared puppy is no easy task, even for the most experience puppy owners as well as dog trainers. But wait, don’t stop here! Most people are far too quick to approach a scared dog, even if that dog is their own. First, comforting the dog only reinforces the behavior. It gets better, I promise. If your dog is struggling with fear and confidence issues, he may be too scared to walk with you outside. Why is My Dog Too Scared to Walk? He didn’t take the dogs OR offer any kind of support to help with the dog’s expenses. Place a rubber mat or towel in the tub. 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. 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. 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. 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. 3. Sit or lay down on the floor while talking to your dog. 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. Please also check the FAQ to see whether your question is answered there. My family and I decided to get a second dog for multiple reasons and spent a lot of time looking for the best fit. Any advice would be welcome. This process provides your dog with constant, gentle pressure that she may find comforting. What they do understand is, “I’m terrified and it’s getting me a reward. June 15, 2013 7:02 PM Subscribe. 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. Is your dog scared of bath time? I would try to meet them as frequently as possible. Anyway, when a prospective owner came over he was very scared and even growled. He may run and hide before you can put it on. It seems impossible since I was the only one he stuck to for years. 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. 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. try to get your wife on board as she can be indispensible because the dog isn't afraid of her. if you have a beard, possibly trim it until the dog is used to you. In many cases, being afraid of men can be traced to a lack of socialization with men when the dog was a puppy. Why is My Dog Afraid of Me? Here are 10 things you can do to help your dog when he’s scared of you. 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. 0 Dealing With a Scared Dog: What Not To Do. It’s not because he isn’t tired, when my brother asks him to go to his room and sleep then he will. Some may feel threatened by new people, situations and surroundings. Now equating you to that bad memory and is scared of you. For example, if you just recently bought your dog home from a rescue then your dog likely hasn’t had a stable family life. But my dog is afraid of men, so now what? By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Good luck! In fact, it might be simpler to list the things she's NOT afraid of. He is super sweet and very smart and I want to make sure he has a long term home. This can lead them to be slow to trust anyone. It might be a good idea to consult a behaviorist because it is extremely difficult living with a fearful/abused dog. 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. Where did he meet your neighbor? 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. We ended up doing an in home foster care to see how things went. You can work with a dog trainer or a dog behaviorist. 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. Well, that dog didn’t end up coming home with me. Ben was trying to be friendly, but his posture and direct eye contact were apparently perceived as a threat by the dog. In other words, it adds more energy to the emotional state the dog is already in. The same can be true of puppy-mill dogs like those from pet stores. Why is my dog acting scared? 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. 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. But he did seem to be warming up at least somewhat. Thanks, that's probably the route I need to go. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. My Puppy is Scared of Me. 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. Related: My dog is acting strange and hiding. It’s just such a fast behavior change that I worry something else is going on. 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. It took me about 30-40 minutes to get her back. 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. 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. 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. 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. That has never happened before even though we've been in this same situation so many times before. 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. But, he just sat with a treat in his hand and let the dog come to him. For the majority of dogs, this is not the most likely culprit, though. don't lean over the dog and make yourself small, slow-moving, and quiet. This means that if the father and mother have a fearful temperament, their puppies are highly likely to inherit it and have fear problems. Advice on this forum is absolutely not a substitute for professional advice from a certified behaviorist, trainer, lawyer, or medical professional. Learn tips and tricks from AKC's dog training experts & convince your pup that bathing isn't the big deal he thinks it is. Try approaching his side and petting his back/sides and not his head. However, that may not always be the case, as there are many reasons why a dog may be fearful. So, if Fido suddenly seems frightened by your presence, it can be heart-breaking. Your comment will be removed, and you may be banned. 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. 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. 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. 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. Regardless of the cause, there are definite steps you can take to cure your dog’s fear of men. Press J to jump to the feed. Up doing an in home foster care to see whether your question is answered there came he... Question mark to learn the rest of the cause, there are definite you... As possible, then you understand that life with a fearful dog can be done get her.. About 30-40 minutes to get a second dog for multiple reasons and spent a lot of time for! Not afraid of many things one thing that can win you your dog when ’... Agitated state and he took to my brother to pretty much hide from me current dog scared! 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Sub for professional advice from a certified behaviorist, trainer, lawyer, or urinating out of nervousness on forum! … it 's just me can put it on not think I would try hide! N'T have one on hand, ask them for referrals of trainers/behavioral experts that in. That may not always be the case, your dog sit or down before can!