7 Reason Why Is Your Dog Scared Of Everything

‘’My dog is scared of everything!’’ It's not you alone; many pet owners suffer from this anxiety. According to an article posted in the blog post - Green Element, around 43.52% of dogs suffer from anxiety and are scared of everything

There are certain reasons where you feel that your dogs vary acting weird. Lack of socialization, noise phobias, and disruptions to their routine are some of the typical causes of fear in dogs's anxiety. 

Additionally, your pet might have experienced past trauma, have a genetic predisposition to fear, or even have underlying medical conditions that contribute to this fear and anxiety. 

In this article, we have discussed in detail 7 reasons for fear in dogs.

7 Reasons for Fear of Dogs

Dogs can exhibit fear of various stimuli for several reasons, and it can be concerning when a dog seems scared of everything. Understanding why this happens is the first step toward helping your pet become more confident and comfortable. 

Below, we have outlined in details the key reasons on why your dog is scared

1. Lack of socialization

Many dog owners get concerned about their puppies exhibiting constant fear. Just like humans, dogs are social creatures who need interactive care in their early stages of life. 

Sometimes, your furry pet can exhibit a variety of symptoms, like

• Hiding or crawling
• Trembling or shaking
• Barking excessively
• Tucked tails 
• Trying to escape, etc

Typically, a dog can exhibit those signs due to their lack of socialization during the early stages of their development.

According to Chad Mackin, a popular dog trainer, ‘’ Understand, a poorly socialized but friendly dog can easily start a fight he’s not looking or prepared for. If I ran up to every stranger I met and tried to hug them, sooner or later, someone would punch me in the face.’’ Therefore, you must let the pet socialize so they don’t get scared. 

Overcoming the fear of lack of socialization

Exposing your pets to people, animals, environments, and sounds will help them become more familiar with things and be less scared as they grow up. 

To overcome the fear of socialization, experts suggest the following actions:

• Slowly introduce your dog to new experiences in a controlled and positive way. 
• Reward them with treats, praise, or toys when they calm down.
• Enroll in a fear-overcoming training class for your dog
• Look for professional guidance to overcome those fears. 

By taking these steps, you will be able to overcome the anxiety symptoms and calm your pet friend. 

2. Noise Phobia

Noise phobia, or fear of sounds, is quite common among dogs. This sound phobia for dogs is another excessive and irritative behavior that owners experience from dogs. Specific sets of    sounds, like: 

• Loud noises
• Sound of thunderstorm 
• Fireworks
• Gunshots 
• Vacuum cleaners
• Sounds from doorbells, 

The canine creatures can get anxious easily. This fear factor can significantly impact their quality of life. 

According to a blog post from today's veterinary practices, there are several potential reasons for having a noise phobia for dogs.

• Medical conditions like lower thyroid levels or musculoskeletal pain
• Aging of dogs can lead to developing a fear of noise by 3.4%
• pain and noise can lead to noise phobia for the pet.

Overcoming the fear of noise phobia

It is estimated that 1/3 of the dogs face noise phobia. Therefore, to mitigate this fear of noise from dogs, you can take the following steps:

• Avoid or reduce exposure to the sounds that scare your dog
• Make environmental changes like using white noise machines, noisy fans, or soft music to drown out frightening sounds.
• Cover curtains to block out things that might scare your dogs, like lightning or moving trees.
• Give your pet some tasty treats or a toy filled with food to help them feel better. 
• Set up a cozy area in a quiet part of your house where your pet can go to feel safe.

3. Extreme-Level Anxiety 

You will come across several situations where your dog is facing extreme levels of anxiety. This fear is instigated by situations, persons, or objects in which they may feel stressed and external threat. 

There are some clinical signs relating to this extreme level of anxiety: 

• Your pet might shake, tuck their tail, hide, be less active, or try to escape quietly.
• Signs include heavy breathing, walking back and forth, and trying hard to escape.
• Your pet might have diarrhea due to stress.
• Pets may harm themselves by licking or biting their skin excessively.
• They might chase their tail or walk in circles.

Overcoming the fear of anxiety 

In cases of such extreme levels of anxiety, you can treat your dog with anti-anxiety medicine. Furthermore, if your pet continues to show these symptoms, be sure to see a veterinarian to treat this excess level of anxiety.

4. Routine-Changing Policy

Daily routine changes are inevitable for us all, but they can be disruptive for our dogs. Imagine living in a perfectly predictable routine: consistent office hours, playtime at specific times, scheduled meals, and bedtimes. Suddenly, you will need to change this routine. This sudden shift in the routine can take the dog off guard and change its mood and way of living.

Experts warn that sudden changes in the daily routine can cause the dog anxiety, potentially leading to a fear of new things. Therefore, it's crucial to help your dog adjust to disruptions.

Overcoming the effect of routinely changing policy

Here are some ways to ease your dog into a new routine:

Gradual Transitions: Whenever possible, spread out schedule changes over several days or even weeks. This allows your dog to adjust more comfortably.

Maintain Consistency When Possible: If you must change one aspect of the routine, try to keep everything else consistent. This provides a sense of stability and calms your aggressive dog.

Prioritize Basic Needs: Always ensure your dog's basic needs for food, water, exercise, and elimination are met consistently, regardless of the routine changes.

5. Past Traumatic Situations

Just like humans, pets like dogs can have a traumatic impact on them. They are sentimental beings, and thus past traumatic incidents can leave a scar on them. This can make the dog scared of everything. 

Dogs can experience this emotional trauma due to a variety of reasons, like:

• Neglect
• Abuse,
• Abandonment
• Frightening events 

This incident can leave the dog with a lasting impact, making them fearful and anxious about the situation. Thus, it is crucial to keep your dog healthy.

Overcoming the effect of past traumatic situations

To overcome the effects of past traumatic situations, you will need to help your furry friend gain confidence and understanding. Below, we have outlined how to help your pet overcome this past traumatic incident.

• Respect their emotion, be patient, and avoid pushing them
• Try to recognize their traumatic signs earlier
• Create a safe and cozy place where they can feel secure
• Take time and be patient
• When your dog is calm or does something good, give them treats, praise, or play with toys.
• If possible, take expert advice on them.

6. Genetic Histories

Certain breeds of dogs exhibit fear and anxiety and are scared of everything more than other breeds. This predisposition can be passed down from generation to generation. They can show a certain level of fear, like a lack of socialization, noise phobia, medical issues, and many more. There are certain breeds of dogs that are more prone to this phobia.  

German and Australian - Shepherd Breeds

Some shepherd breeds, like German and Australian Shepherds, can be prone to anxiety, especially around strangers or new situations.

Jack Russell and Miniature Schnauzer - Terrier breeds

Terrier breeds like Miniature Schnauzers and Baigle Russell Jack Terriers can be more reactive and prone to noise phobias.

English Setters, Weimaraners - Sporting breeds

Some of them exhibit fearful behavior among people due to their health conditions. This breed tends to showcase scary behavior. 

Whippets, Italian Greyhounds - sighthound breeds

Greyhounds and Whippets can be more sensitive to visual stimuli and may startle easily.

Overcoming the effect of genetic history

When dealing with a dog’s genetic predisposition to anxiety, consider the following strategies:

Safe Spaces: Create a safe area where your dog can retreat when feeling overwhelmed.

Positive Reinforcement: Reward calm behavior with treats and toys to reinforce a sense of security.

Controlled Exposure: Gradually expose your dog to triggering situations in a controlled environment.

Professional Guidance: Consult a veterinarian or dog trainer for expert advice.

Medication: In some cases, anti-anxiety medication may be recommended.

You must have patience and understanding, which are key when helping your furry companion navigate their fears and make them feel happy.

7. Medical Issues

You will come across situations where your once playful mate has become a nervous wreck, cowering at harmless things. Your dog can be fearful of everything, but it might not always be for the above-stated reasons. Some of them might be fearful due to medical issues. Here are some potential medical issues that could cause your dog to feel constantly scared:

• Dogs in pain and discomfort might seem more fearful because they’re uncomfortable
• Hearing or sight deficiency can lead to frightfulness. 
• Neurological issues can also affect the brain, aiding to fearfulness
• Thyroid disorders affect dog's mood and energy levels, leading to nervousness and hypervigilance

Overcoming the effect of a dog being scared of everything

If your dog exhibits sudden or persistent fearfulness, it's crucial to schedule a visit with your veterinarian. With their vast expertise, they can conduct medical examinations to rule out any physical health issues and discuss other possible causes.

Wrapping Up

As mentioned earlier, dogs are susceptible to emotions just like humans. They can become frightened by many things—from medical issues to genetic predispositions, past traumatic experiences to changes in routine, extreme anxiety levels to noise phobias, as well as a lack of socialization; all these factors contribute to a dog's fearfulness.

All these causes of fear in your dog can lead to unpleasant situations, such as them harming themselves or fleeing and getting lost. We understand that finding your beloved pet can be difficult and time-consuming. 

To find your lost dog, you can seek assistance by posting a description and picture of your pet on Pawmaw. With their dedicated team, you have a great chance of being reunited with your pet quickly