Fears and Phobia’s in Dogs

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/LBqf3)

Most fears and phobia’s arise in dogs that have not been sufficiently socialised during puppy-hood.



The major socialisation period is between 3-12 weeks of age, but can go up to 16 weeks of age. During this period of time a puppy should be exposed to as many noises and situations as is possible, and these experiences should always be positive ones.



If a puppy is bought up in the country and re-homed to a city the traffic, noise and volume of people will be scary and an adjustment period and learning curve is needed.



Habituation occurs after positive responses to things such as living near a train line - after a period of time you are habituated to the noise of trains running past and so you do not hear them.



Anxiety is caused due to a fear of something or anticipation of what will happen. This is also known as deprivation syndrome (animals deprived of environmental stimulation.)



If a dog is fearful of strangers, you will have an undesired response which needs to be replaced with a desired response. This can take months to achieve and must be done at a speed which the dog is comfortable with.



At the moment you have stranger = fear = freeze or flight



Introduce a stranger at a distance to where the dog is comfortable and feels safe. The stranger should sit down, so the dog does not feel threatened or intimidated and make no noise or eye contact with the dog, but read a book or just sit quietly.



This should be done for a period of time so that the dog gets used to the stranger and realised that nothing will happen. Step by step the dog should be moved closer towards the stranger using food to reward all behaviour.



Once the dog is nearer and excepting of the stranger, the stranger should toss some food for the dog and again step by step the dog should be bought closer, rewarding good behaviour at all times. This is continued until the dog takes food from the strangers hand.



Instead of stranger = fear = freeze or flight



You now have stranger = positive experience = food



The anticipation and fear has been exchanged to the reward of food.



This must be repeated by 6-10 other people, male and female, fat or thin with different looks each time.



After a period of time your dog will be desensitized/habituated into thinking that all strangers will provide food.



Noise is also treated by desensitizing your dog to the noise that produces a fear response. Again this takes time but can be done 2-3 times a day for 5 minute periods.



Get a tape recording of the noise which induces the fear response and play it at a very low level, one which produces no reaction from the dog for a week. Whilst the noise is playing, continue with you daily chores as usual.



As the dog gets used to this noise, increase the volume until the volume is very loud and there is no reaction from the dog.



Your dog should now be habituated to the noise which used to cause fear.



Make all learning experiences positive ones!