Fear in Puppies – How to Deal with It

Puppies tend to pick up on the emotions of the people around them and this can lead to fear in puppies. They can be excitable or very calm depending on how you react to certain situations. The tone in your voice and the way you posture yourself will tell the dog if there is something to fear or not. If you want your pup to remain calm, then you must act this way yourself. They are learning emotions and will mimic what you do.

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Dealing with Fear in Puppies

Puppies can be afraid of other dogs, especially larger ones. Let your dog come into contact with other dogs. When you are walking them, you may run into other dogs.

At the vet's office, they will run into other canines and maybe a few felines. Try to find some friendly dogs at first to avoid creating fear in puppies. This will help the pup build their confidence.

Puppies Fear People

Puppies fear people at times too. They may see them as a threat if they have had other bad experiences with people. There is a way to to try to avoid this fear in puppies. Try giving the person a treat to toss to the dog or let the dog walk up to the person.

Never drag a dog over to a person they don't want to meet. This will definitely create fear in puppies. Instead, allow the dog to set the tone. Give them a treat or praise when they meet someone new and don't growl.

If the pup becomes aggressive, you may need to have a dog trainer work with them.

The Most Common Fear

The most common cause of fear in puppies is the fear of veterinarians. You certainly can't blame the pup for that. There are so many things going on at the vet's that the dog doesn't get to see anywhere else.

There is sensory overload, other animals ranging from dogs, cats, birds, and reptiles, many unfamiliar people, and the dreaded shot. In order to reduce the fear in puppies in this situation you can bring a toy or blanket with you. Bring some of their favorite treats as well so that when they do a correct behavior, you can reward them.

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