A dog that has a general fear of all strangers—rather than a specific fear of men or children, for example—may be genetically predisposed to being fearful. This may mean putting your dog in a different room when certain people visit. Discussing your pet's fear with your veterinarian is important as he or she can help guide you on tactics you can use at home and discuss if medication may be warranted. Never force your dog to accept handling by a stranger, especially a child. Socializing your dog to be calm and not anxious around … But he would bark … However, there are a variety of reasons why your dog may fear men in general or only those that are not part of its immediate family. By comforting a fearful dog… I guess my dog see’s me as his property and feels threatened by my husband when he comes into the room. A relationship with a dog owner is typically a package deal: Your boyfriend needs to understand that your attitude is love me, love my dog.. While it's not unheard of for dogs to be afraid of strangers, the ideal reaction is one of open friendliness, not hiding or running away. Some dogs are only mildly fearful, while others may be terrified. If a dog is pushed too far out of its comfort zone and not allowed to get away, it may resort to biting. Now I … 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. Removing your dog from potentially fearful situations is perfectly acceptable especially if it will help keep both visitors and your dog safe. If your dog's fear is especially pronounced, it's beneficial to have the help of an experienced dog trainer or behaviorist. It’s a normal behavior for puppies, and most of the time they grow out of it. Some dogs are more afraid of men than women. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. Another dog may react by growling or snapping. First of all, it's important that you don't force your dog beyond its comfort zone. Because dogs that are afraid of strangers may bite out of fear, it's your job to make sure that everyone stays safe around your dog. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. If your dog needs to wear a muzzle, be sure it is big enough to allow for panting so your dog doesn't overheat. Dr. Tarantino is part of The Spruce Pets' veterinary review board. One possibility is its genetics. For more details, see our, How to Stop Your Dog From Peeing in the House, How to Stop Your Dog From Fearing the Veterinarian, How to Solve Your Dog's Fear of Car Rides, The 8 Best Online Dog Training Certification Programs of 2021, How to Handle Your Dog Being Aggressive During Nail Clippings, How to Train an Older Dog to Do New Tricks. When people discover that a dog is afraid of men, they often attribute the fear to a bad experience. This constant anticipation of future unknowns is … Finding a certified dog trainer to work with you and your fearful pet is helpful at any stage. All dogs react differently when they're afraid. ... while nervous dogs would swish it to the left. Instead, try to keep your dog a safe distance from the man, while you give it treats and praise. Allow your dog to approach men on its own. Whether your dog is simply generally jumpy, or has a particular phobia about some … Have some treats on hand for your visitor to gently toss on the floor close to your dog during the visit. It's a very nervous … Hi recently my dog has been starting to lunge at my partners 9 year old brother when he comes into our room. If you're aware of a history of abuse, then you can better understand why your dog fears strangers. Allow your dog to decide how close it wants to get to any man. Reasons for Fear . Depending on your dog's reaction, working with a certified dog behaviorist to help identify cues and management strategies to practice is be very helpful. The thing is, whenever he hears me coming, I can hear him squealing with anticipation and when I open the door he's very excited, jumping and bouncing around… Thanks for the article. Now, the second he opens his bedroom door to come downstairs, she growls and sometimes barks. You can opt-out at any time. A professional will be able to gauge your dog's comfort level to the proximity of men and can help you move ahead safely in the process of desensitization. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help your dog overcome its fear and learn to accept the men it encounters. Do not force your fearful dog to meet people or accept pets if it does not want them as this can sometimes lead to fear biting. The difficulty of correcting this behavior depends on the severity of your dog's fear. 1. Amy is a dog trainer with more than a decade of experience. 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. This may be hard for a man who loves dogs, but the best thing he can do is ignore the fearful dog. Just be gradual. In the meantime, keep things as positive as possible and try a few things to help ease your dog's anxiety. 2. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. Vanessa Van Ryzin, Mindful Motion Photography / Getty Images. Give your dog a space of its own. Others become anxious or show signs of aggression, like growling or baring their teeth. If your dog is excessively fearful around strangers, it's a good idea to understand the reasons why so you can help it get past its fear. Whenever the fearful dog gets even a little closer than usual, the man can very gently toss a couple of treats in the dog's direction. Get your dog used to spending some solo time, Baugh says, and he won’t go crazy when you tell him to scram before sex. You may expect your dog to react fearfully toward strangers. Trying to force friendship on the dog may have the opposite effect and intensify the dog's fear. now every time my boyfriend coughs or makes a noise the dog yelps and the dog wont go anywhere around him unless i am around … I pick at my nails when I’m uncomfortable. For others, they may determine that the best way to keep a pet and others safe is to remove them from potential fear-inducing situations. Men can be more intimidating in a dog's eyes. This process can take weeks, months, or even longer. Like people, nervous dogs can feel a sudden urge to go to the bathroom. For instance, if your dog is scared of men with beards or baseball caps, your boyfriend can easily put your dog at ease by tweaking his appearance until the dog is more comfortable. Over time, you may be able to slowly close the distance between the dog and the man without the dog succumbing to its fear. If you see someone approaching that you know your dog will not react well to, inform them of the situation and try to avoid further contact. Some dogs with very severe behavior may need to go to a comfortable place in the home away from visitors where they can rest and not be anxious when visitors come. Get our FREE training guide when you sign up for the Spruce Pets newsletter! A crate makes a perfect place for your dog to escape to when it gets too anxious. My dog is very anxious around my boyfriend. My dog is more aggressive towards my boyfriend. When the owner was releasing his dog I calmly called my dog to my side, he came but so did one of the other dogs. She has written more than 100 articles on dogs. Your attempts can backfire and actually strengthen the fear. However, a fear of men is not an uncommon phobia in dogs, and some very well-behaved and well-adjusted dogs share this fear. He tries to lick his face and than bite it. No matter what, remember to be patient with your dog, because it can take a lot of time for any dog to overcome any phobia. If your dog is of a nervous disposition, it can have a wide reaching effect on a variety of factors in both of your lives. We have tried having the stranger give him treats but that doesn’t work and he won’t let anyone touch him either. Teaching a dog not to be afraid usually takes lots of time and consistent training. My boyfriend and I own a cute male pomeranian, about 9 months old now. Make sure no one goes in this area without checking first; the dog must feel like it won't be interrupted or surprised to feel safe. While your dog may never feel completely comfortable around men, it may develop the ability to be in the same room without showing aggression. Every dog learns and adjusts at its own pace. My dog licks his lips when he’s nervous. If you typically encounter men when you're walking your dog, a muzzle might be a good idea. The better trained your dog is, the more likely you'll be able to get it to focus on you in stressful situations. Veterinarians may even recommend a consult with a boarded veterinarian behaviorist who specializes in dogs with behavioral problems such as fear. Rather than escalate your dog's fear-based aggression, your best bet is to take precautions to prevent that first bite. Work on being relaxed and powerful when greeting guests so your dog can feel secure and understand that you are in control. To our dogs, affection is a reward. My dog is very nervous around anyone, and will not turn his back on anyone. He is fine when others are around, but when I'm alone he gets really aggressive towards me. This can result in your tensing up or tightening your hold on its leash. In many cases, being afraid of men can be traced to a lack of. In the worst-case scenario, your efforts may lead the dog to bite either you or the man if it's prevented from escaping. I was fortunate in this respect: My Pugs liked my … Some dogs try to hide or start cowering, shaking, or urinating out of nervousness. Counter-conditioning is training the dog to perform a positive behavior in place of fear or anxiety. 3. If your pet is in a safe spot, do not allow people to go in there and pull it out or even try to pet it as the dog must have an area where it can be left alone and unbothered. There are several reasons why your dog may be scared of people it doesn't know. How To Stop Dog Barking. Then I dated a guy who seemed like he was dating me despite my dog. It is also possible that a difference in the way you and your husband discipline your dog is affecting her interactions with him. Or he or she may recommend at-home training with a certified dog trainer (CDPDT). A shy or timid dog … Make obedience training part of your daily routine with your fearful dog and you should begin to see signs of progress. my dog has always loved my boyfriend he always chose to go to him instead of me. There are several reasons why your dog may be scared of people it doesn't know. And yet for other situations, a trainer may recommend a modality such as a wire basket muzzle that can help limit biting while still allowing a pet to pant and drink water. Most of the time she will calmly go to another room. Ellen Levy Finch / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0. The visitor should not attempt to pet or make eye contact with the dog. Dr. Anna O'Brien is a veterinarian and writer who has worked with animals ranging from horses, dogs, and cats to camels, cows, monkeys, and honeybees. Step #2: Get our dog to sit calmly around strangers . When your dog feels anxious around other dogs, walks to the park become more of a chore than the fun bonding exercise they were made to be. Then, when your dog … Being abused by a man may cause a lifelong fear of all men. ‘What dogs don’t like are the big bear hugs where you wrap your arms around them, as it makes them feel like they can’t escape,’ he says. A dog's fear of strangers should be managed very carefully. The trainer I consulted told me that it is a form of communication, and that Jude is letti… Dr. Monica Tarantino is a small animal veterinarian based in the Charlotte, NC area with five years of general practitioner experience. In some cases, a dog may unexpectedly attack or bite a man. When your dog is acting scared and clingy around strangers, it’s vital to show them that those you interact with are friendly and not to be feared. Some dogs never learn to fully accept strangers, but you may be able to alleviate your dog's fear to some extent. Don’t rush around, stress out and yell at the dog even if they’re playing up or you’ll most likely cause your dog … My dog acts afraid of my boyfriend. She actually goes and hides upstairs. Jude had been abandoned twice in less than a year, and he was visibly terrified when they brought him out to meet me. The reasons for submissive urination can be numerous. You never want to put visitors or your dog in a situation where someone may get bitten. We are afraid she will bite him and my partner said if it keeps up she will get rid of my dog … Communicating that your dog is afraid will also help reduce unpleasant situations. If you want to teach a dog to “shake,” you have to associate that behavior with a reward until the dog instinctively knows, “If I do this with my paw, something good happens.” Affection is a Reward. Normally, Tenor was a quiet and friendly dog. From a dog's perspective, these things might be scary. Dr. O'Brien is part of The Spruce Pets' veterinary review board. Help Your Dog Get Over Its Fearing Strangers, How to Stop Your Dog From Peeing in the House, How to Handle Your Dog Being Aggressive During Nail Clippings, How to Stop Your Dog From Fearing the Veterinarian, How to Solve Your Dog's Fear of Car Rides, How to Train an Older Dog to Do New Tricks, How to Approach a Fearful, Shy, or Aggressive Dog. A shy or timid dog is more likely to produce skittish offspring. Some dogs try to … Situations that instill fear differ by dog. Dog Gone Problems: My dog is shy and nervous around my boyfriend Updated May 1, 2017 Dog Gone Problems: Nearly three weeks ago, I adopted Hailey, who is 9 months old and is my first female dog … When my boyfriend is working (he works really long days) I always come over after work to spend time with our pom. When you're trying to break your dog of this fear, be sure that any man you enlist to help you keeps treats handy while he's around your pet. If there are men in your household or men who visit frequently, avoid pushing your dog to accept their attention. But she only acts nervous around my boyfriend. Dogs with a history of abuse may also be afraid of strangers. Many dogs know we are expecting someone even before this. He can't even get near her. CDPDT trainers can approach situations objectively and teach you how to help your fearful pet safely interact in the environment. It could also stem from a lack of confidence, which was the cause of my little guy’s issue. In severe cases, don't start out with the dog and a man in the same room. Basket muzzles (or any muzzle) are best used as guided by a certified trainer or veterinarian who can assure they are only used for limited periods, in appropriate situations, and with a proper fit. He lives alone with my boyfriend. My boyfriend's dog hates me and I don't know why. One dog may simply cower in a corner in the presence of a stranger. — Pat. Some dogs suffer extreme fear of strangers. My dog will bark and growl if my husband even comes near the computer room, if I am in there! They may be taller and bigger than women and children, have deeper voices, and may have different types of features, such as facial hair. My husband is ready to get rid of my dog … We all have our own calming signals. Once your dog does approach, the person should continue to avoid eye contact and make slow, non-threatening movements. A dog with general anxiety is almost always walking around nervous like they are waiting for something to go wrong. She has written more than 100 articles on dogs. My husband is a “nervous” kind of person and gets “angered” very easily. Because a severe fear of strangers can lead to aggressive behavior, including growling, snapping, and biting, it can be useful to work with a dog trainer or behaviorist to come up with a plan to deal with your dog's fear of strangers. “There may be some dogs that are afraid or uncomfortable around water; some (like my dog) avoid sprinklers in an effort to stay dry,” Stelow says. One possibility is its genetics. Behavior management is one of the easiest, most immediate remedies to help calm an anxious dog . For example, you can teach your dog to sit and stay, and when your dog performs these tasks, you reward him. Try to stay friendly, relaxed, and upbeat when you and your dog meet new people. It helps if you have a spot, such as a quiet room, for the dog where it knows it will be left alone. Hope my … If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. Like, even my birthday gift was just stuff for my dog. With consistent application, your fearful dog may slowly begin to associate strangers with rewards. Changes in bodily functions. Safe spots for dogs do not need to be a large space; a corner of a comfortable, quiet room where your dog can curl up with its favorite toy or blanket will serve just fine. Get our FREE training guide when you sign up for the Spruce Pets newsletter! He didn't hate my dog, but he didn't really want him around. Typically the sooner a trainer is involved with a fearful pet, the better. Allow your dog to approach a stranger on its terms. She will be laying on the bed and when he goes to sit on the bed she lunges at him. For some pets, they may set up a specific desensitization and training plan. There could be a medical reason for it, such as a bladder infection or incontinence. It is important for your dog to have a positive relationship with your significant other. If your dog is excessively fearful around strangers, it's a good idea to understand the reasons why so you can help it get past its fear. Fearful pets can provide challenges for owners but practicing patience, smart management of your pet and seeking help from trainers and veterinarians can be instrumental in helping fearful pets manage their fears. If you notice your dog tensing up, whining, or growling around strangers of a particular gender, you can prepare your guests accordingly. There isn’t really a rhyme or reason to it. For the majority of dogs, this is not the most likely culprit, though. We've been dating for almost a year and she really liked him at first, but over the last 4-5 months, she runs from him when she sees him and won't … If a fearful dog is successful in chasing a man away by biting him, it's more likely to bite again. So, if your dog is panting even though she hasn’t jogged 10 miles in the heat of summer, she may be frazzled. Applying a thunder shirt or spraying calming doggy pheromones in its safe spot may also be helpful. Here is an example of his behaviour towards me this afternoon: He started scratching at my … Muzzles are never to be used for punishment and nylon or cloth muzzles are not recommended outside a veterinary office because dogs can not pant well through them, which can lead to emergent situations. Obedience training can be very helpful in managing fearful behavior and relieving some of your dog's stress. but last night my boyfriend was playing with my dog and all of a sudden the dog started yelping and came and hid behind me. They cower, tremble, and try to hide from any new person they meet. Desensitization is the process of using treats and praise to gradually let your dog know that it's safe to approach men. She won't be in the room with us unless we are eating. For starters, we had to tackle Tenor’s uncontrollable barking. Amy is a dog trainer with more than a decade of experience. If you have noticed growling or any form of aggression from your dog, it is very important to work with a certified dog behaviorist to help figure out triggers and if your pet can act safely with visitors. Question, I was walking my dog and a dog got off his leash and came bouncing over, the owner was right behind him but had two dogs, my dog did ok as I was calm and verbally reassuring him. “Some are worried about other dogs; perhaps they had a bad experience or were never adequately socialized to other dogs … Keep the dog in a different room or in its crate when a man is visiting. If you rely on positive reinforcement to get your dog to behave and your husband uses punishment, this may cause your dog to be nervous around … Depending on the severity of your dog's fear, it may quickly warm up to a stranger and allow petting and handling, or it may need several visits to warm up to a new person. These … It may take a while for the dog to accept treats from a man, but eventually, you may be able to train your pup to expect good things when it approaches a man. When your dog … Whenever anyone new comes to visit, have the person completely ignore the dog. ... she is still very nervous around my 16 yr old son. My boyfriend blinks a lot when he’s trying to calm me down.