November 3, 2022, 5:03 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Not all dogs are brave and have stable self-confidence. Some animals are initially cautious in new situations or with new people–this is no cause for concern. However, if dogs struggle with severe anxiety in everyday life, it not only greatly affects the animals but also the owners and their surroundings, especially if anxious dogs react with loud barking. In this episode of the PETBOOK Dog School, dog trainer Verena Backhaus explains how you can train your dog to overcome fears. The focus of the training here is on the fear of men.

The Reasons for Fear in Dogs Are Diverse

Why a dog is afraid of something is not always clear to owners. The causes of fear can be very different: Something may have gone wrong in training, or fearful behavior may even be genetically predisposed. Bad experiences with people are also common causes for dogs struggling with anxiety.

For dog owners who have adopted their pet from an animal shelter, the dog’s uncertain past often adds to the challenge. However, even in these cases, a dog’s fears can be trained away with noticeable behavior.

Training a Dog to Overcome Fears–The Preparation

To train an anxious dog, calmness and patience from the owner are essential. The dog’s favorite treat should also be on hand to appropriately reward the dog. A suitable and clear praise word, such as “Good” or “Great,” further reinforces the dog’s positive reaction.

The owner’s behavior also strongly influences the dog’s mood. Therefore, it’s important to avoid tension and maintain a cheerful, positive demeanor with the dog. If the owner is stressed, it quickly transfers to the dog and complicates training. Confident behavior from the owner encourages the dog to face its fears bravely.

Training a Dog to Overcome the Fear of Men

An example of fears that dogs can have is an extreme fear of men. The training in this case aims to teach the dog two fundamental things: First, the dog should realize that its fear, in this case of men, is unfounded. It also learns that there are other alternatives in stressful situations than rushing toward the frightening object. The dog becomes aware that relaxed and calm behavior is perfectly acceptable even under stress. It also realizes that excitement and defensive behavior are not necessary at that moment.

To train dogs to overcome their fears, we explain two different exercises that owners can perform.

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Exercise 1: The Dog Learns to Stay Calm

The first exercise aims to associate the object of the dog’s fear with a positive experience.

1. Step: At the beginning of the exercise, the dog and owner stand together calmly. The chosen location should be quiet and free of additional stress factors.
2. Step: Then, the source of fear, in this case a man, approaches the dog and owner.
3. Step: As soon as the dog notices the man, it is rewarded by the owner with a treat and a praise word, such as “Good.” Care should be taken to praise the dog for not barking or rushing toward the “danger.” The dog should remain calm with the owner.
4. Step: Once the dog is praised, the man moves away.

With this first exercise, the dog is doubly rewarded: It receives a treat for staying calm with the owner. The second reward is that the threatening object moves away. This exercise should be repeated as long as the dog remains calm and shows positive reactions. This reinforces the learning process.

Tip: Owners should not wait too long to praise the dog. If the dog behaves calmly, this behavior should be quickly reinforced with a treat. If owners wait until their dog shows anxious behavior, the dog will remember that too.

Exercise 2: The Dog Learns to Move Away Instead of Defending Itself

The second exercise simulates a situation the dog might encounter in everyday life: The dog and owner are moving when a threatening object approaches. In this exercise, the threatening object is again a stranger.

1. Step: The dog and owner walk along a path together.
2. Step: During the “walk,” a man approaches them.
3. Step: As soon as the dog notices the man, it is rewarded by the owner. At the same time, both move away from the source of the dog’s fear.

In this exercise, the dog learns that encountering a man does not mean it has to attack. Instead of defending itself, the dog can simply move away. Additionally, the dog understands that increasing the distance from the frightening object is a reward.

It is also recommended to repeat the exercise multiple times to achieve lasting learning success for the dog. If the dog shows signs of severe stress, the exercise should be stopped.