Like people, dogs experience fear. The signs are usually easy to recognize: cowering beneath a table or bed, nervous pacing, flinching, continuous barking. We’ll never really know HOW dogs feel when they’re afraid, but we can see they are distressed and we want to help.

The good news is that fear-related problems can often be treated. However, if whatever triggers the fear is not identified and you attempt the "oh, get over it" treatment plan, the problem can be exacerbated.

Fear is a response to something in the environment that the dog perceives as a danger or threat. It has physiological, emotional and behavioral components. Fears can result from genetic predisposition, trauma, lack of early socialization, or a combination of all three. The level of fear varies according to the situation, the dog’s genetic makeup and past history.

There are varying degrees of fear as well, from mild anxiety to extreme phobia. Anxiety is the anticipation of a danger or threat. Anxiety can be associated with many different types of triggers (possibly unknown to you and not clearly visible). For example, some dogs become anxious when the barometric pressure begins to drop, when an owner picks up her keys to leave in the morning, or when family members have heated debates that typically escalate into arguments. Some anxious dogs are known to compulsively bite their nails until they bleed, or lick their paws to the point of open sores.

Phobic behaviors (usually associated with thunder, loud noises, separation) are typically out of proportion to the situation. For example, when a dog is fearful (not phobic) of something (a person, an object, another dog, children, etc.) the dog takes some action in an attempt to alleviate the fear. He may avoid what is frightening him by running away or, if on lead with no escape, may bark and lunge in an attempt to keep what has frightened him at bay.

When a dog is exhibiting phobic behavior, on the other hand, he is in a state of panic. He simply cannot function and may actually do harm to himself or his surroundings (self-mutilate, claw or chew his way out of a crate, scratch or bite at door moldings or walls to escape).

The following are some common myths and facts about canine fear. These should help you better understand your frightened friend’s reaction.

MYTH: "He’ll grow out of it."

FACT: Dogs do not grow out of their fears as they age. They can sometimes learn to tolerate mild fears after repeated exposure, but this rarely occurs with serious fears or phobias.

MYTH: "He must have been abused or mistreated."

FACT: While this may be true, it is likely that he has not been well socialized. Dogs who lack socialization can exhibit fear behaviors like cowering, ducking or backing away when someone approaches them. Socialization is a process that involves exposing dogs to a variety of environments, situations, people and other dogs under pleasant circumstances. In order for socialization to be successful, a dog must develop positive associations with new experiences.

MYTH: "It must be a result of trauma."

FACT: Some dogs are innately predisposed to being afraid of certain stimuli, like thunder. There need not be any earlier trauma related to this.

MYTH: "Punish him so he stops this silly behavior."

FACT: Punishing a fearful dog for inappropriate behaviors (e.g. growling or lunging at people) will NOT help. In fact, it does more harm than good. If you punish your dog for growling because he is afraid, he will probably stop growling, but it won’t change his emotional state.

MYTH: "He’s mad at us for leaving him alone all day."

FACT: If your dog is anxious about being left alone and destroys your house while you’re away, it is not because he resents you. And punishing him when you return hours later will only heighten his anxiety. Dogs live in the present and will never make the connection between your punishment after the fact and their destructive behavior.

MYTH: "Don’t pet your dog when he is afraid or you will reinforce his fears."

FACT: Consoling your pet when he is afraid will not reinforce his fears. In fact, it will help your pet relax and redirect his attention to something more positive.

Overcoming fears does not necessarily require knowledge of how or why the fear developed. You can help even without knowing your dog’s past history. What is essential, however, is identifying what triggers the fearful or phobic behavior.

The help of a professional behavior counselor is advised if your dog suffers from fear-related problems. The most commonly used technique is treatment using desensitization and counter-conditioning. This involves presenting the fear-related stimulus to your dog without provoking fear, while simultaneously rewarding him with something he finds pleasurable. For example, if your dog is afraid of other dogs, taking him to a dog park with 50 dogs running loose might increase his fear. A better approach is to slowly introduce him to one friendly dog at a time and reward him when in the presence of the other dog.

St. Hubert’s utilizes this method of training in our Feisty Fidos course, a class for dogs who fear other canines. Our trainers attempt to help the dogs relax using massage. Other dogs are kept at a distance. Gradually, we bring the dogs closer and closer to each other, always making sure they are as relaxed as possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling them to say hello and exhibit good canine etiquette instead of barking, growling, or lunging.

Helping dogs to overcome their fears can be quite challenging, especially when they exhibit phobic behaviors. Sometimes fears may involve physiological causes or are so extreme that they require the use of medication along with behavior modification. I highly recommend that you speak to a professional in the field to assist you in helping your animal companion relax and enjoy life.