Help! Why is my dog suddenly afraid and trembling?
Your dog suddenly tucks its tail, is trembling, and doesn't want to walk any further. Such a reaction to fear can occur in dogs in the most diverse situations. Fear of people, noises, objects, or even other dogs is not automatically a bad thing. Much more, your dog's reaction is normal and useful in critical situations.
However, as with most things, it depends on the degree. On →New Year's Eve, for example, many dogs are afraid. But if you have trouble leaving the apartment, house, or car with your dog because he panics in everyday situations, it significantly affects both of your quality of life. In this case, you should try to help your dog overcome the fear.
There can be many different reasons for fear. Find out now why your dog may be afraid.
Experiences as a Puppy
The experiences a dog makes as a puppy are formative for it. In the puppy nursery, the little furballs already observe how their mother reacts to stimuli. Fear in certain situations or towards certain people can be quickly picked up. The early →socialization of puppies, which starts with the breeders, is therefore particularly important for further development. Reputable breeders ensure that they pair environmentally secure dogs that are not overly fearful. Difficult experiences in the so-called sensitive, early life phase of a dog can influence the entire life of a four-legged friend. Leaving the mother too early can be a bad experience, for example.
But lack of experiences or environmental stimuli also affect a dog's state of mind. For instance, adopted dogs that have been rescued from the street often have had bad experiences. Additionally, in animal shelters, due to the many dogs, there can be little to no socialization. Also, low environmental stimuli in rural street dogs can lead to problems when moving to a loud, hectic city. You should be aware of this when you want to adopt a dog, but it should not deter you from wanting to give a →furry friend from animal protection a loving home! The right training and a good dose of patience are paramount here.
Traumatic experiences as a puppy and also in adulthood can lead to anxious behavior in dogs. In →puppy training, it is important to not be rough or even violent. Therefore, engage early with →how your dog tries to communicate with you to avoid misunderstandings.
Genetic Prerequisites
Whether your dog is more anxious or not also has to do with its genetic predisposition. Among the various →dog breeds, there are some furballs that are much calmer and →more relaxed than others. The →Australian Cattle Dog, for example, is a herding dog that is exposed to many stimuli while working. This makes him a rather insensitive four-legged friend. The →Border Collie, as a classic herding dog, is more sensitive. He can be traumatized much faster by sensory overload due to his inherited predispositions than a more robust character.
Physiological Impairments
Physiological impairments in your dog can also lead to fear. These can include hormonal disorders, pain, or poisoning. Also, emerging health impairments such as hearing or vision loss or deterioration can unsettle your four-legged friend and cause fears. Therefore, you should first visit your veterinarian and have your dog checked. A veterinary examination is particularly important when the fear behavior seems hard to explain. An examination of the thyroid and blood count can quickly lead to an explanation.
What symptoms does my dog show when afraid?
If your dog is in a very stressful or intimidating situation, various fear symptoms can occur. These are individually expressed from dog to dog. The signs can vary greatly in their intensity and frequency and can be both behaviorally and physically manifested.
Behavioral Symptoms
In a fearful situation, behavioral symptoms manifest, which can occur in combination or individually. Also known as the four "F's of fear, they are:
- Freezing (Freeze)
- Fleeing (Flight)
- Becoming aggressive (Fight)
- Fooling around (Fool around)
Other coping mechanisms:
- Inner restlessness, which manifests in increased water and food intake
- Licking wounds on the body
- Circling
- Mounting/"humping"
Physical Symptoms
The body posture of your dog reveals a lot about its condition. You can observe the following physical symptoms in an anxious dog:
- Tucking the tail, possibly tucked under the belly
- Frozen, crouched body posture
- Ears pinned back
- Wide-open eyes and dilated pupils
- Heavy panting and rapid breathing
- Trembling
- Sweaty paws
- Increased blood pressure and rapid heart rate
If your dog suffers from fear and stress over a longer period, scaling and hair loss can also become noticeable.
What to do in case of panic attacks in dogs?
In cases of very strong fear or depending on the situation, your dog can suddenly experience a panic attack that lasts up to 30 minutes. Your dog is then in a state of emergency, which is particularly intense and should not be underestimated. Physical symptoms such as trembling, drooling, and panting as well as wide-open eyes quickly become apparent.
In such a situation, your dog is not receptive to your comforting words or soothing petting. Therefore, you should, if possible, remove your four-legged friend from the situation, so he can recover from the frightening stimuli at a distance. If this is not possible, it is best to wait and be there for your dog, so that your dog does not injure himself or others. A safety harness is very important in such a situation, so your dog cannot break free and run away.
Do I have a fear dog?
If there is recurring, strong fear behavior that negatively affects your dog's quality of life, a certain stage of fear has been reached. Such a fear disorder is triggered in dogs by bad experiences and makes them fear dogs. Finding the exact trigger of fear in your dog is often not so easy. Unfortunately, there is no ultimate method that frees your dog from its fear at the push of a button. A professional dog trainer is advisable in this case to help your dog as best as possible with a well-structured training program to overcome its fear.
Exercises for anxious dogs
If you know what triggers fear in your dog and feel confident in training, you can practice dealing with the stimulus. Here are some helpful tips:
- You and your dog should only approach the fear-triggering stimulus as far as your dog notices it but can still focus on you.
- Playing in close proximity to the stimulus can calm your four-legged friend. A familiar and popular toy of your dog should not be missing. New things could irritate him even more in such a situation.
- Knowledge and understanding of your dog's body language are particularly important in such exercises to ensure sufficient breaks during training.
- The presence of a socially secure, adult dog during training can serve as a guide for your insecure dog.
- →Nutritional supplements can promote more calmness: The administration of the amino acid L-Tryptophan or the milk protein product Zylkene.
- Longer chewing is suitable as a distraction and calming in stressful situations, as your dog is in a "relaxation mode" with it. Our →delicious snacks provide a long-lasting chewing experience and simultaneously care for the teeth.
Gesund snacken war nie so lecker!
A trusting relationship between four-legged friend and human is the basis for a harmonious life together. Affection, petting, and love are undoubtedly important. However, especially for an anxious dog, clear rules and structures as well as predictable, confident actions provide more support than if everything is decided according to the whims of the furry friend. Your dog should be aware that you as the owner make the decisions and he submits to you. Then your four-legged friend can orient himself to you and your reactions in difficult situations and calm down more quickly.
