Most fearful dogs gradually improve with time, training, and trust. But they won't likely become outgoing if they're naturally nervous or shy. There is hope! You can learn to manage their fears with training, patience, and time.
The good news for pet parents is that yes, dogs can overcome their fears.
Causes of Fear and Anxiety in Dogs
The onset of fear or anxiety issues in dogs can be prompted by a variety of things, from puppy socialization issues and age-related health conditions like dementia to traumatic experiences or genetics.
Fear aggression is unlikely to improve with time. Consult with your veterinarian to rule out physical causes for aggression. Your vet may be able to recommend over-the-counter anti-anxiety products, provide a behavior modification plan or refer you to a positive-reinforcement trainer in your area.
While there is no 'cure' for fear aggression, there are many positive things you can do to help manage the problem and get your dog to a place where she can exist in harmony within an environment which she previously found scary.
Most scientific studies indicate that it is very possible to rehabilitate a dog after they bite another dog or person.
But if you have a dog going through their first year of life, the most common ages where we see the signs of a fear period are between 8-11 weeks of age, and between 6-14 months of age. Both periods can be expected to last between 2-3 weeks. What is this?
It's possible! Most fearful dogs gradually improve with time, training, and trust. But they won't likely become outgoing if they're naturally nervous or shy.
Euthanizing for Behavior Issues
There is primarily only one reason dog owners consider euthanizing their dog for behavior issues. That issue is moderate to severe human aggression. There are other behavioral instances where euthanasia is a consideration, but human aggression is the most common.
Talk with your veterinarian about pairing training and desensitization efforts with natural, holistic calming supplements or pheromone collars. Sometimes, medication is very helpful to calm some dogs in certain situations if natural options have not worked.
The dog breeds that are more likely to have this problem are the German Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Jack Russell Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Toy Poodle, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, and German Shorthaired Pointer.
To build your dog's confidence in a more general way, provide them with enrichment activities and relationship-based training. Simply feeding your dog via food puzzles and getting them involved in nose work (which, by the way, is fun for both dogs and their people) can make them more confident.
A fearful dog may lean away, lean back, tremble, crouch, lower his body or head, or roll onto his side or back. Often, his eyes will often be fully open with large pupils, his forehead will be wrinkled, and his tail will be lowered or tucked.
The second fear impact period occurs between 6 to 14 months of age. Generally, this critical age occurs earlier for small dogs and later for larger ones. Development of these fears tends to be more about situations than to specific people.
Depending upon how routine your life is, most dogs will have begun to work out certain patterns in your life by around three years of age and will have appeared to calm down.
However, there's no guarantee that an aggressive dog can be completely cured. In many cases, the only solution is to manage the problem by limiting a dog's exposure to the situations, people or things that trigger her aggression. There's always risk when dealing with an aggressive dog.
Turn your body to the side – this will give them less of a target if they end up attacking. Avoid eye contact – a dog might interpret eye contact as a challenge. Don't smile – smiling at the dog might think you're baring your teeth at them. Don't run – this can trigger their prey instinct.
LEVEL 3—A SINGLE BITE WITH SHALLOW WOUNDS
Whatever the reason for a Level 3 bite, whether rough play that escalates, fear, poor socialization, or something else, this level of aggression must be dealt with. The dog should be taken to a vet or trainer as soon as possible.
"Fear or anxiety related aggression is perhaps the most common form of aggression in dogs." Early manifestations of fear related aggression are typically defensive, displayed to increase the distance between the perceived threat, or communicate 'stay away', yet aggression may become more offensive through learning.
While most dogs are well-suited to life with their human companions, not all are. Aggressive dogs can cause serious harm to you, your family and anyone else you come across in some situations. Dog aggression can be dealt with, but it takes a lot of training, patience, understanding and caution.
Aggressive dogs try to look large and threatening. Fearful dogs try to look small and invisible. A scared dog will usually: Tuck his tail instead of standing straight and rigid.
Repeated exposure and rewarding positive behavior can go a long way toward managing anxiety. You might want to contact a professional dog trainer to help you choose the best approach for your dog, as training an anxious dog is not always easy.