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Whether you adopted a dog or raised one from a puppy, fear and lack of confidence are common struggles for dogs. Although it’s reassuring to know you’re not alone, fear based behavior can have negative effects on the lifestyle and health of both dog and owner, and is best if corrected as quickly as possible.

Anxiety in a dog can stem from a previous negative encounter, a poor living situation, a history of abuse, or a lack of socialization. However, even if you can identify the cause of your dog’s anxiety, that’s just the first step in the road to recovery.

Properly correcting anxiety and fear in a dog takes consistent hands on training. I know, this probably feels overwhelming at first, but I assure you, the journey to a happy pup is the same journey towards a happier you! It is well worth the time and effort. So- how can you help? Sit. Stay. And get to know the causes, signs, and solutions.

Causes

Common causes of fearfulness and anxiety are:

Causes

A bad encounter (attacked by another dog)
Previous abuse – common in young to old age dogs who were adopted, with little-known history
Genetic predisposition. Some dogs are just born anxious, the same way humans seem to be predisposed to anxiety.
Poor socialization

Some dogs fear other dogs, some fear men, some fear environments- but when multiple stimuli are happening at once, say a man walking his dog outside, it can be hard to identify triggers. So, how can you help your dog if you can’t tell what exactly it’s fearful of? You’ll want to expose your dog to various controlled situations while paying close attention to their response in each scenario. This way, you’ll be able to narrow down and hone in on what triggers your dog.