Why Is My Dog Scared Of Everything? Our Expert’s Take
More often than not, a scared dog might have experienced something unpleasant - even traumatic - in their past. Here's how to handle them in panic mode & prevent a runaway attempt or other destructive behavior.
Just like humans, dogs can be fearful, shy and anxious (especially if you’ve adopted a shelter dog). But if you’ve reached here, you might’ve been asking yourself: why is my dog scared of everything?
As it turns out, if you’re living with a nervous dog, it could be due to a whole bunch of reasons. But more often than not, a dog that’s perpetually spooked could be due to an early traumatic experience.
So in this post, we’re going to cover some of the signs your buddy suffers from a heightened fear response – including some tips, tricks, and best practices from our resident dog expert, Bettina Neuner. (And why she recommends tracking your scaredy-dog’s every step in real-time.)
So…why is my dog scared of everything?
Normally, your “fear” response helps protect you. It’s like a signal to make you aware of something potentially dangerous in your environment. But if you’re finding yourself dealing with a dog that’s scared of…well, everything – there’s definitely more to it than just them being a “scaredy-dog.”
Usually, your dog might get scared or nervous around:
- Loud noises – including fireworks
- Storms
- Fire
- Unfamiliar people and places
- Other dogs (or pets)
- Specific environments, like the vet’s clinic or boarding kennels
…all of which could have some lingering unpleasant association or memory.
⚠️ But if your dog seems to have an exaggerated fear response, eventually, this might interfere with their quality of life – including yours.
Just imagine never being able to socialize your dog properly because they’re too scared of the dog park or try to run away every time you bring them to the vet for a checkup?
Read more: Why Do Dogs Run Away? 6 Reasons Behind It
The telltale signs of a scared dog
In general, dogs tend to show these signs when scared – but usually calm down after, once the “scary” experience is over:
- Shaking or pacing,
- Growling, barking, whining, howling, or excessive panting
- Wide, open eyes and dilated pupils
- Tail tucked between legs
- Head turned away from the cause of fear
- Ears facing sideways/backwards
- Attempting to “escape” a room or cage to the point of self-injury
- Crouching, slinking, or moving backwards
- Hiding
But if you’re finding your dog continuing to be “scared”, say, even after the experience (like once you’re back home from the vet’s or the other, rambunctious dogs at the park are far away) – it could be a sign of deeper anxiety or trauma.
⚠️ Falling for their “flight” instinct is usually a primary reason why a scared dog might end up running away – too far from safety. (More dogs go missing around the 4th of July, for example, than any other time of year.)
Which is why it makes sense to watch out for the signs of fear in dogs – and create them a safe space indoors – but also to plan ahead for a “runaway dog” situation.
💡It’s why loving, responsible dog parents around the world – just like you – are escape-proofing their homes, backyards, and daily walks by strapping GPS trackers to their buddies’ collars.
Because with your trusty Tractive GPS set up, you can now track your dog:
- In real-time,
- Over an unlimited range,
- No matter how dark it is outside,
- And even while on vacation – or 175 countries on a Premium subscription
All with just a glance at your phone.
The 4 F’s of Fear
In general, it also helps to be aware of the 4 F’s of Fear – all behaviors you might observe in a scared dog:
- Freezing
- Fleeing
- Fighting
- Fooling around
By learning to identify these patterns in your dog’s behavior, you can more quickly tell if they’re frightened (and about to hide or run away) and take the necessary steps to comfort them.
Take this frightened dog for example, who feels more safe hiding between his mom’s legs when scary strangers approach:
Read more: Lisa & Charlie the Basenji: Adventuring With Tractive
Should you punish a dog that’s aggressive out of nervousness?
Fear is a major cause of aggression in dogs – usually as a defensive, not offensive, reaction. Which is why no, it’s never a good idea to punish a dog in these situation as behaving “badly.”
- Punishing dogs for fear-based aggression will only make the dog more fearful and aggressive than they were before the punishment.
- Of course, correcting a dog’s behavior is important when he or she become aggressive, but punishment is not always the proper method of dealing with it, especially if you have a fearful dog on your hands.
💡Rather, you’re better off pre-empting what’s spooking (or about to spook) your dog, ensure they’re in a safe and comfortable environment, and plan ahead for an emergency anyway.
(Look at this little guy’s dilated pupils and nervous posture, for example.)
🐶 And which, if you’ve invested in a Tractive device, means you just need to hit “LIVE” on your mobile app – and follow your dog’s every step, as they make their every step.
What to do if your dog panics
Panic attacks are a symptom of anxiety disorders which usually occur suddenly and without warning. There are no specific triggers, so it’s quite unpredictable. A dog panic attack normally lasts about 30 minutes.
During this time, we strongly advise you don’t approach the dog. All you can do is try to be near them and make sure that no one gets hurt by their fearful, and potentially aggressive, behavior.
- For example, if you touch a dog during a panic attack, they may snap and bite.
- Keeping your dog firmly leashed can help them feel more secure – especially since they’re close to you.
- Speak softly to your dog and call them by name – the sound of your voice can help them calm down in the absence of touch.
🤔 Now with all that said, how do you cope with a scared dog’s panic or anxiety?
Treating a fearful dog requires a lot of time, creativity, patience and empathy. Which is why step one is to understand what’s triggering it in the first place. By pre-empting what’s likely to spook your dog, you’ll be better able to set their environment up to prevent exposure – or slowly desensitize them to the “scary” sounds or experience.
Next, set them up a safe indoor space – ideally in a quiet area of your home. Turning on the radio or a white noise machine can help calm them down. Or keep them occupied with a YouTube “dog TV” video.
💡You could also try counter-conditioning your dog against one “scary” experience at a time.
Like, for example, if they’re scared of thunder:
- Keep your dog busy with some fun activity, like playtime together.
- In the background, play the “scary” sound at a super low volume – like from a YouTube channel, for example. (Your dog’s sensitive ears will pick up on it, we promise you.)
- Very gradually, increase the volume of the sound while continuing to play with your dog.
- With regular practice, your dog might gradually learn not to spook so easily at the sound, since they’ve learned it’s “no big deal.”
Use the same steps to slowly, gently introduce your dog to whatever they’re frightened of – whether that’s driving in your car, other dogs, or the sound of the vacuum cleaner.
Just remember: every dog and reaction is different. There really isn’t any one-size-fits-all solution. So you’ll have to do a little digging to find out what comforts your dog in moments of fear — and what doesn’t.
Your vet is also the right person to turn to, in case your planning and prep don’t yield results even after months of practice. They can prescribe your dog anti-anxiety medication and help you explore your options in case you need the services of a certified animal behavioral expert.
What to do if your dog runs away
If your dog runs away due to fear, do the following right away:
- Inform your vet, the police, the local animal shelters and your neighbors.
- Inform the national pet register (where your pet is registered).
- Leave the garden and house doors open in case your dog manages to come back themselves.
- Consider making a Facebook post informing your friends and family that the dog is lost so that they can also share it with members of the wider community.
Read more: 9 Steps To Find A Lost Dog & Bring Them Home In No Time
Approaching a scared lost dog
If someone else locates your dog, they should do their best to avoid scaring them further or trying to catch him.
- Instead, they should contact you so that only you (the trusted owner of the dog) can approach and retrieve him.
- Whether you are helping someone to find a lost dog, trying to calm a scared dog, or just trying to approach an animal on the street to offer it assistance, knowing the signs of a frightened dog and how to approach it safely can make a world of difference.
Preventing your dog from running away
Despite all of our precautions, it is still possible that a scared dog could escape from the house or without knowing better, run away from his or her parents. Even with a leash, safety harness and training, you can’t be 100% sure that your dog won’t escape.
💡For that reason, a GPS tracker can be an important – and life-saving – emergency measure for dogs that are prone to fear and anxiety attacks.
With one, you can find your dog quickly and prevent them from coming into harm’s way – with just a glance at your phone.
🪫Worried your Tractive device’s battery won’t make it monitoring your dog 24/7? We’ve got you covered.
Just set up a Power-Saving Zone by connecting your tracker to a trusted network – like your home WiFi. Which helps you massively cut down on battery usage while also notifying you your buddy’s safe within it.
(Plus with a Tractive Base Station, you can set up a Power-Saving Zone wherever you go!)
Help your buddy live a fear-free, fulfilling life with these tips
Dogs spook at all manner of sights, sounds, people, pets, and places – but if you’re dealing with a perpetually scared dog, it could be a sign of something more concerning. (Like a past traumatic experience.)
Which is where learning to identify the signs of a scared dog can come in handy. So you know what to expect, how to pre-empt their reaction, and prevent a runaway attempt or other destructive behavior. Including signs like:
- Shaking or pacing,
- Growling, barking, whining, howling, or excessive panting
- Wide, open eyes and dilated pupils
- Tail tucked between legs
- Head turned away from the cause of fear
- Ears facing sideways/backwards
- Attempting to “escape” a room or cage to the point of self-injury
- Crouching, slinking, or moving backwards
- Hiding
Especially if they persist much after the “scary” experience has passed.
⚠️ It’s important not to punish – or touch – a dog that barks, bites, or yanks at the leash if scared.
Rather, you can help them slowly overcome their fear by:
- Comforting them with your voice
- Setting up a safe space for them indoors
- Using simple counter-conditioning techniques
- And consulting with your vet in serious cases
💡Finally, we’d always recommend you plan ahead for an emergency – like if your dog has a tendency to bolt due to fear. (Whether that’s triggered by other dogs, loud noises, or something else “scary” in their environment.)
No matter how firm a hand you have on their leash – all it takes is a few seconds of looking the other way for your buddy to escape. And now you’ve got a “runaway dog” situation at hand.
But if you’ve invested in a Tractive device, finding them again can be as easy as a glance at your phone – and a click of the “LIVE” button…helping you reunite with your buddy, safe and sound.
Always know where your dog is
Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.
Want some expert tips on training a scared or shy dog at home? Here’s a video that might help:
And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.
Bettina Neuner is an animal welfare-qualified dog trainer and nutritionist based in Tirol, Austria.
She offers advice and individual training for dogs, including coaching for fearful dogs and their parents. Check out her website at hundeschule-tirol.at.
