08 Apr Dogs Understand fear: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

Everyone has heard the phrase, “Calm down, the dog understands your fear.” This advice is given to all those who are afraid of dogs. But do dogs understand fear, or is there evidence to support it? Can an aggressive dog be prevented from biting and attacking by staying calm? To control dogs’ anxiety, you should have some information about preserving people and your dog’s health.

The reason for the dog’s attack and aggression

Indeed, not all dogs around us are as friendly and kind as our furry friends. Any dog ​​with a different breed, size and strength can inflict irreparable damage on others. Dogs may become aggressive and attack for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include their past hardships, insufficient exercise to maintain a healthy mood, frustration and high energy. Dogs are also sometimes aggressive to present themselves as a gang leader or claim dominance over another dog. Besides, some behaviours aren’t a sign of aggression. Dogs are by nature hunters, and this instinct is satisfied by running and a lot of activities. But a well-trained dog that has no behavioural problems shouldn’t attack, bite, or go uncontrollably crazy about anything it pursues. He must be able to stop at your command.

The point is, dogs can attack when they sense fear. A recent study by researchers at the Liverpool University found that showing anxiety and fear increased the risk of dog bites and attacks; Because dogs have a powerful sense of smell that can understand sweat, adrenaline and cortisol. These are produced when fear, anxiety and stress increase. In addition to detecting odours, dogs can observe micro-movements and read body language well, giving them a better understanding of whether or not you are afraid. New research shows that more relaxed and stable people are less likely to be attacked by dogs than more nervous people. 

Control and manage fear in dogs

Whether for fear or any other reason, dog biting is uncommon in domestic dogs and is undoubtedly a cause for concern. Suppose for any reason you notice that your dog is behaving aggressively, especially when watching a human or anxious dog. In that case, you should seek help from a professional dog trainer or a groomer. Dog aggression should never be encouraged or tolerated by any dog ​​owner and should be adequately trained.

 It’s straightforward to identify aggressive dogs by their behaviour. Just notice that if the dog you’re looking for is very immobile, severe and silent, or growls in a threatening way, showing his teeth and turning its ears back, he’s probably an aggressive dog.

Strategies to control fear in dogs

If an aggressive dog is around and you’re afraid of being attacked, you should do the following:

• All you have to do is having confidence, stay straight and be calm.
• Remember that dogs have a fantastic sense of smell and a remarkable ability to read body language.
• Talk to the dog in a friendly, vibration-free tone.
• Go back slowly but don’t turn your back on the dog.
• The dog should be in your sight, but you should never stare directly into his eyes; Because it can encourage the dog to attack.
• Don’t raise your hands or make sudden movements; dogs are usually frightened before the attack and wait for your possible action.
• Please keep your hands in your pockets or lower them along your body. Keep a safe distance from the dog, and don’t attack his personal space.
• Dogs may want to attack you to protect their territory, resources, pack or puppy. Move away from this area.
• Don’t try to scare the dog, but at the same time, don’t be weak; control your breath and try to calm down.
• Some experts say that talking on your cell phone is distracting. Because you’re distracted and don’t pay attention to the dog, they allow you to continue on your way.
• Teach your children not to approach any dog ​​without their owner’s permission; Because their possible behaviour can’t be predicted. Tell your child to pet the dog on the head gently and not make any sudden movements, also touch sleeping, eating or playing dog.
• Avoid getting too close to a dog that hasn’t seen your arrival.
• Isolate the animal and don’t place them somewhere difficult to escape; This can make the dog aggressive.
• Don’t retreat quickly when you see a dog moving towards you.
• Standing frozen in front of a dog gives him a chance to react. So, calm down and keep walking.
• Screaming or being nervous can make your dog think of you as a threat and attack.
• Never touch unknown dogs.
• It would help if you didn’t run away from a dog because you aren’t faster than a dog. As you run, the dog thinks you’re going to play with him, and he will follow you.
• Maintain an indifferent attitude and pretend that the dog isn’t there. When the dog realizes that you don’t like him, he will remain motionless.
• If you fall, pull your knees toward your chest and cover your neck with your hands. Dogs aren’t interested in attacking silent objects.

Cynophobia

Normal fear is eliminated by observing the above points. But extreme fear is a sign of an illness. The medical term for a dog’s fear is Cynophobia. Common symptoms include dizziness, panic attacks, palpitations, difficulty breathing, nausea, excessive sweating, dry mouth, chills, inability to speak or think temporarily, lack of body control, and death fear. Statistics show that animal fear is the most common fear and affects almost half of the population with phobias. From a psychological point of view, there are three ways to treat Cynophobia:

Systematic sensitization therapy:

Systematic desensitization therapy involves practicing relaxation techniques in a variety of ways. The therapist asks the patient to describe the conditions in which a dog is threatened and feels scared. The therapist then estimates the patient’s anxiety level and suggests breathing and relaxation techniques to restore the patient’s calm and control. These exercises are repeated until the patient can control the condition.

Exposure therapy:

Treatment with exposure to the disease is one of the most effective ways to treat this phobia. In this therapy, the patient is regularly exposed to a dog for a long time until he overcomes his irrational dog’s fear. The time required for this treatment may be a day or even longer, depending on the severity of the illness. In addition to being with a dog in a room, the patient is asked to interact with the dog and establish a friendly relationship with him. In this case, the patient has completely overcome his fear.

Self-treatment in a controlled environment:

Self-treatment is another method that involves a controlled environment and an attending physician. In this procedure, the patient records the horrific events involving the dogs in the order in which they are most frightening. Gradually, the patient realizes that the number of scary cases and his dog’s fear is decreasing.

Dogs are lovely, intelligent, sensitive and loyal creatures that give a lot of joy and love to the people around them. People also consider them as part of their family. However, no inventory is complete. If you notice signs of aggression, teach your dog the necessary training before the problem becomes more serious. Mishka’s professional team will accompany you throughout your dog’s grooming, health and education.