My dogs are suddenly terrified for no reason. What should I do?

That is concerning. It is possible there is something they are hearing outside, such as a neighbor or wild animal, or even a critter in the walls that could be bothering them. Looking for a pattern (time of day, certain TV or radio shows on, person coming home, etc) may help you figure out what the trigger is to stop the behavior from happening. Taking a video of the behavior and bringing it to a trainer or behaviorist may also be a good idea to see if they can pick out any details that may provide more information.

It could be lots of things, a sound only Miki can hear, itching from fleas or allergies, pain, etc. If this behavior continues in 24 hours, it is a good idea to have him examined by a vet for any possible medical causes.

Oh poor girl! She is adorable! Sometimes dogs can get scared of a number of things and act that way. Try to think of anything that could have scared her such as a visitor, neighbors or even loud outside noises. Rarely, dogs try to get away when they do not feel well (more commonly seen with cats). Keep her close, pet her and let her know that everything will be ok with a calm demeanor and gentle voice. If no improvement is observed by tomorrow, have her examined by your veterinarian to ensure that there is no medical reason for her behavior. Good luck!

I recommend thinking about what changes have happened in the last couple of days. Have you moved any furniture, replaced lightbulbs, or plugged in any new appliances? Some electronics can have sounds that we can't hear, but can trigger anxiety in our pets. There are a couple things you can try for anxiety; Composure chews and Adaptil diffusers. Adaptil is a pheromone that can help with anxiety. It is available as a plug-in room diffuser for large areas, and as a spray for small areas like a mat or bed. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-calming-aids/comfort-zone-diffuser-with-dap-for-dogs Thanks for using PetCoach.

Poor pup! One of the most important things to do is not comfort him. While you may think you are helping him by comforting him, you are acting telling him it's ok to react this way and are reinforcing the behavior. I would put him in a quiet dark room of his own to self-soothe, and when it's time to go outside, take him out on a lead. Acting normally, and he should relax following your lead.

I'd always want to rule out a medical problem when there has been an abrupt change in behavior. A visit to the vet is in order to help to ensure that there are no underlying issues - changes in vision, neurologic issues, etc - that may be at the bottom of this. If everything is well with your health, ask yourself some questions: could there be any nocturnal animals visiting your property, and would she be able to see them or smell them? Could there be distant thunderstorms that she is hearing (and you're not, because you're sleeping) and the noise is making her anxious? You can try some low impact changes, such as a [Thundershirt ](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/thundershirt-heather-gray-dog-anxiety-solution) or [pheromone diffuser](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/thunderease-calming-diffuser-kit-for-dogs) to help calm anxiety. Your vet can also prescribe medications that will reduce anxiety. Hope this helps!

Hi there, It sounds like your dog may be having some vision changes. This can cause dogs to act fearful, especially if it's a sudden change. I'd recommend having your vet perform an eye exam and see if she's developing eye changes. I hope that helps with Jasmine and thanks for using Pet Coach.