My dog is terrified of strangers. How can I help reduce their fear?

I'm sorry to hear of your issues with Marley. He is lucky to have such a dedicated owner. Some dogs are fearful by nature. It is possible to overcome this behavior with dedicated behavior modification and a positive training environment. I would urge you to look for a positive reinforcement trainer in your area. Approaching is problem in an organized manner will be very helpful. To get you started this is a great resource: https://positively.com/contributors/help-for-the-fearful-dog-by-linda-michaels/

The ASPCA website has some good information on the different types of aggression in dogs: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/aggression It sounds like you're already on the right track with some behavioral training. You may want to ask your veterinarian if there are any behaviorists they would recommend to work with you specifically on the fear of strangers issue. At his age, as long as he isn't showing aggression at home towards family members I would think you could have good success with a behavior modification program but it will take work. You will be most successful if you can work one on one with a behaviorist who has experience with fearful dogs. I wouldn't even completely rule out that Pepe could be a therapy dog some time in the future. Good luck to you and Pepe - he's lucky to have a dedicated owner!

Oh dear, poor Axel! Some dogs have innately anxious and nervous personalities, and German Shepherds (it appears that Axel has a fair amount of Shepherd in him from the pictures!) are known for anxiety issues. Continue gently trying to socialize Axel with new people and surroundings, and offer small treats and gentle encouragement as he is introduced to a new situation. Some dogs also benefit from thunder shirts ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=24037 ) for anxiety, as well as calming pheromone collars or diffusers ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=33000 ). If all else fails, consider consulting a veterinary behaviorist to discuss behavioral modifications to try at home, and possible anti-anxiety medication. I hope that all goes well!

I certainly sympathize with your situation. My own 2 year old dog is the same way. The key to training him is to expose him to situations that are not too scary for him, but improve his confidence. This is not a quick or easy process, and will need to be continued long term. I have found the best method to be a desensitization and counter-conditioning system. When Max encounters something that is slightly scary for him (not too overhelming at first), ask him to sit or lie down for a treat. The goal is to get him to do something that he is comfortable with and receive a treat (positive reinforcement) for doing that behavior instead of being afraid. Do not give him any reinforcement (verbal or otherwise) for fearful behavior, but try to ignore it. Instead reward the behavior you want to see. It would be a great idea to have a trainer try to help you start this type of training program, so you might ask your vet for a recommendation on a trainer. I have been using this on my dog, and it works well, but requires a lot of work. I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Marshall! Although it certainly could be fear/anxiety based, I have concerns that he has pain somewhere and he woke up screaming because the pain woke him up. Dogs don't really have nightmares to the best of my knowledge. I recommend to have him examined by his veterinarian to look for any evidence of pain. If none is found, I recommend to talk to the vet about a temporary anti-anxiety medication as no one likes to see their fur babies like that. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Some dogs just do not like other dogs no matter what you do. you can try training and anti-anxiety medications like Prozac from your vet to help any anxiety cause. Then it’s slow desensitization. With the dugs you do short sessions with people touching her. But also realize her walking away from them is better than her biting them. Consider spaying her to help with the dog issues. You can also try a calming collar and treats first. But no drug is going to work without training and effort on your part. Good luck! https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37239 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=20934

Hello, sorry to hear about Oscar. There are some things you can try at home to manage his fears. Here are some basic definitions and tips to better orient you, however, successful management of his fears may require patience and time as counterconditioning to the stimulus can sometimes take a long time. Hope this helps and best of luck. DOES YOUR DOG HAVE FEARS? Fear in a dog may present in a variety of ways. Recognizing that your dog is indeed fearful is the first step. Some signs that a fearful dog may display include: tucking its tail between its legs, lowering its head, shaking or trembling, lip licking, rolling over to expose the belly, urinating, or becoming immobilized. A scared or frightened dog may also display aggression, including barking or growling, if it feels it cannot escape what is feared. Avoidance behaviors such as running away, hiding or backing up into a corner may also be seen. WHY IS MY DOG FEARFUL? Many dogs are fearful of specific stimuli or situations. These fears may stem from a lack of exposure to the stimulus, or may develop due to an adverse experience. Both can result in the dog having a fearful, emotional reaction when confronted with the stimulus. Often dogs respond fearfully to things in their environment that in nature would be potentially dangerous, such as loud noises or strangers. This behavior can be troubling for owners to watch. Often, owners become concerned that they have done something to make their dog fearful and their natural reaction is to try to comfort the dog which may amplify these behaviors. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP YOUR DOG? 1. Identify specific triggers This is an important step in moving forward and helping your pet overcome their fear. Knowing what stimuli are a “triggers” is key in creating a treatment plan because it allows you to have more control over the behavior and avoid such stimuli when possible. 2. Avoid the stimulus Initially it is often best to avoid the things that will trigger a fearful reaction. This may provide an opportunity to work on your relationship with your pet and develop trust without distraction. 3. Define your relationship with your pet How do you and your family members react to the behavior? Often times the natural reaction to the fearful pet is to comfort them by petting or picking up small dogs. This response may enhance the dog’s reaction to the fearful stimulus because they perceive the comfort as positive reinforcement of their fearful behavior. Rather, a more appropriate reaction is to act as though nothing unusual is going on and try to redirect the dog’s attention to you through a “look” or “sit” command and then treating that behavior. Some dogs are so fearful they may not be food motivated. Perhaps there is something else that your dog considers a “treat”. You may use this in the place of food. In these cases it is essential that all family members are consistent and treat the dog in the same manor.