The first few months of a dog’s life are crucial for development. During this time, they learn about the world and form relationships with humans and other dogs. This period shapes their personality, temperament, and reactions to people, places, and situations. If your dog is scared of people, it might have started during this early phase.
Dogs can become scared of humans due to factors like poor socialisation, mistreatment, health issues, or genetics. Recognising a fearful dog early helps you manage things by letting your dog set the pace and providing a safe space to build confidence.
Regardless of the cause, you can help your pooch relax around people and develop calm behaviour with these handy tips!
Understanding why your dog is scared of people
Fear of people in dogs can arise from a mix of genetics, environment, and past experiences. Every dog is unique, and what triggers fear in one may not affect another.
Many factors influence how dogs react to humans, including their early socialisation and personal experiences. Most dogs learn through positive associations, so gradually exposing them to their fears in a controlled way, along with positive reinforcement like treats, can help.
Fear occurs when a dog feels pushed beyond its comfort zone, and since each dog copes with fear differently, it’s crucial to recognise these differences to help them feel more comfortable and confident around people.
Physical disorders
Diseases that trigger pain on contact, or ailments that impact a dog’s perception can make your pooch associate pain and discomfort with humans.
If not properly managed, these physical disorders can lead to fearful, aggressive behaviour, emphasising the need for positive reinforcement and professional training to prevent escalation.
Environmental factors
Going through a traumatic event, violent attack, or losing a friend or owner can lead to a chronic fear of people from a young age.
Genetic predisposition
Some dogs may be genetically predisposed to feel higher levels of anxiety.
Developmental factors
A lack of proper socialisation during the early months of a dog’s life could reduce its ability to handle an unknown person or stranger coming to the door.
The telltale signs of fearful behaviour in your dog
Understanding a dog’s body language is crucial for recognising signs of fear, preventing stressful interactions and helping your dog cope:
- Ears pinned back
- Cowering
- Aggressive biting or snapping
- Shaking
- Head held low
- Trying to flee
- Anxious peeing
- Excessive vocalisations, such as barking, whining, and growling
- Showing teeth or lip tension
- The tail tucked beneath the abdomen
- Pacing
- Air chomping
- Excessive yawning
- Stressful or anxious behaviours
- Face or nose-licking
- Frenzied tail chasing
- Showing their belly by rolling over
- Showing the whites of the eyes
Mistakes to avoid when your dog is scared of people
While your intentions are pure and only intended to help your pooch “get over” its fear of people, you should nonetheless stay calm and keep the following in mind:
- Don’t force the dog to interact or meet people or other dogs
- Don’t encourage other people to interact with your dog if it is likely to induce dog anxiety; strangers must exercise caution when they approach dogs
- Don’t console dogs when they growl
- Don’t use methods like physically restraining your dog or holding it up in the air to force them into proximity to the person they have been actively trying to avoid
How to help my dog not be scared of people
Working with dogs who are scared of people is a slow and gradual process. Rewarding calmness training sessions is essential to help your dog feel more at ease. Using a tasty treat can teach positive associations and build confidence. Training your dog to walk on a loose lead helps them stay relaxed and avoid anxiety. Additionally, facing the same direction during training can create a connection and encourage them to follow your cues.
Gentle counterconditioning
The beginning of this plan could involve the use of a little counterconditioning. While this sounds complicated – it’s quite a straightforward idea. In a nutshell, you want to condition your dog toward associating humans with positive things.
This can be achieved in several ways, from letting them watch people from a distance or giving them doggy-friendly treats whenever a visitor drops by your home. Whenever the visitor leaves, the treats stop coming. Within time, you can teach your pooch to associate visitors (“bad things”) with snacks (“positive things”).
Employ control and safety
Consider your home a safe space for both you and your dog, where you can control interactions with visitors, family members, children or any unfamiliar person. Ask guests to avoid sudden movements, loud noises, or attempting to hug or pet the dog by reaching over its head. Encouraging them to sit calmly nearby will help reduce any perceived threats to your dog.
Managing these interactions properly can prevent aggression, which is often caused by fear and stress in dogs. Keeping a muzzle or leash nearby can provide extra control if needed, and can help de-escalate any tension before it becomes problematic – such as a bite!
During crowded gatherings, it may be best to confine your fearful dog to a quiet room with water, food and toys to keep it entertained. This ensures your dog feels safe and comfortable while avoiding overstimulation.
Make sure the other humans play along
Strangers coming to your home should act calm and peaceful to help your dog reduce its fear of humans. The more time your dog spends with easy-going people, the more comfortable it will become:
- Have guests or new people quietly spend time in the same room with your dog, but they should ignore it in a friendly way.
- Sitting or standing facing the same direction as your dog can also create a connection.
- Guests should be mindful of actions that can heighten fear, like loud noises or sudden movements.
- Gradually introduce stimuli, such as wheelchairs or walkers, to avoid overwhelming your dog.
- Remind guests to avoid prolonged eye contact or squatting too close, and approach the dog gently with hands visible to offer reassurance.
Build confidence around strangers
Building confidence around strangers is crucial for fearful dogs. One way to do this is by exposing your dog to the sights and sounds of strangers at a comfortable distance. Start by having a friend or family member stand at a distance while you reward your dog with snacks and praise for calm behaviour. Gradually increase the proximity of the stranger over time, always rewarding your dog for remaining calm. This process can help your dog develop a positive association with strangers and reduce fearful or anxious behaviour.
Seek professional help
If your dog’s fear of people is severe or persistent, it’s essential to seek professional help from a certified dog trainer or behaviourist. A professional can help you identify the underlying causes and develop a customised training plan to address them. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can help your dog overcome their fear and become a more confident and calm canine companion.
Celebrate the small wins
When your dog exhibits calm behaviour around strangers or in situations that previously triggered fear, be sure to reward them with treats, praise, and affection. This positive reinforcement will help your dog associate the behaviour with a positive outcome and encourage them to continue making progress. By celebrating small victories, you can build your dog’s confidence and reinforce positivity, ultimately helping them overcome their fear of people and ensuring more wagging tails!
VETIQ Serene Calming – an antidote to a fearful dog
For pets who are still anxious around unfamiliar people after trying the above suggestions, we recommend our Serene Calming range:
Serene Calming Tablets, formulated with natural ingredients, help soothe pets during stressful events such as fireworks, thunderstorms, separation anxiety, and travel. These tablets naturally calm hyperactive or anxious cats and dogs without making them drowsy, making them ideal for both short-term and long-term use.
For larger dogs prone to hyperactivity or heightened stress, our Serene Calming +Plus Tablets provide extra support. With a specially formulated blend of essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, these tablets help dogs remain calm and feel safe during even the most stressful situations, such as thunderstorms, fireworks, or being home alone, without any sedative effect or the need for an unhealthy treat bribe.
In situations where your pet needs fast-acting relief, Serene Calming Ointment is a great option. It works within 20 minutes to relax dogs and puppies by releasing a calming pheromone when applied to the nose. Whether it’s fireworks, moving house, or unexpected loud noises, this easy-to-use ointment offers quick, effective relief.
For daily use, our Serene Calming Drops are a natural supplement designed to reduce anxiety and support calmness. Safe for prolonged periods, these drops help pets relax without causing drowsiness.
Here at VETIQ, we’re committed to helping you and your pet live stress-free and at your own pace. Be sure to check out our blog for more tips and advice!
