For puppies, the world is new, strange, and sometimes frightening. As we covered in our last blog, all puppies go through fear periods during which new phobias can develop. While first priority should be socializing puppies to people and other animals, this is also the prime time to address other fears. We asked our trainer what sorts of things scare puppies in her experience. Here are ten common puppy fears, ranging from potentially debilitating to just bizarre!
Noises
Dogs have extremely sensitive hearing compared to humans. It’s little wonder that noises can be frightening to a young puppy. Loud, startling noises are most likely to cause a fear response, but puppies can become spooked by other noises such as sizzling on the stove, household appliances, or even crinkling paper. Learn more about how to desensitize your puppy to noise phobia in this blog.
Water
Breed will often play a major role in how your puppy will react to water. Some dogs, such as Poodles, Newfoundlands, and Labs were made for it – literally! Other dogs are unlikely to ever love water, such as the cat-like Shiba Inu or the easily-chilled Italian Greyhound. Whether or not your puppy will ever be eagerly diving into a pool, statistically, they are going to need a bath at some point in their lives. Persuading your puppy that water is not a form of cruel and unusual punishment will be make life much less difficult (and less stinky!) for you both.
Different Surfaces
This is a fear that is frequently seen in young puppies who are only starting to explore the world. As they walk around, they’ll discover surfaces that can be soft, cold, sticky, fuzzy, bumpy, grassy, rocky, slippery, grated, unsteady, and much, much more! It’s no wonder that coming across something brand new may give them pause. Thresholds where one surface transitions to another can also throw puppies for a loop.
Stairs
Stairs can hit puppies with a double-whammy – a strange, narrow surface combined with heights. Combined with the fact that dogs have less depth perception than humans, stairs can prove a real barrier to a young dog. Teaching them to move up and down the stairs without fear is a great way to boost their confidence!
Certain Clothing Items
Certain clothing items that obscure part of the face or body may cause confusion and alarm. This includes items such as hats, sunglasses, masks, or puffy coats. Wearing an article of clothing that worries your puppy while serving them meals can help alleviate their anxiety.
Different Body Types
If the members of your immediate circle look similar, puppies may be disconcerted when meeting somebody that looks different. This is why it’s important to introduce them when they are young to people of all ages, body types, and ethnicities. This helps your puppy realize that people are just people, no matter how they look!
Assistive Equipment
Assistive equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, or canes are bulky and strange to an unsuspecting puppy. While not everybody will have an opportunity to introduce their puppy to this sort of equipment while they are young, if you have the chance to do so, feeding them a few treats to create a positive association couldn’t go amiss. You never know if you or one of your family member may end up needing such equipment in the future.
Cars
Cars are large, smell of exhaust, and even electric models can be noisy for a dog’s sensitive ears. Unfortunately, they are also a necessary form of transportation for most living in the US, as well as likely to crop up anywhere that you go. If your pup is one of the many dogs that develop a phobia to cars, the sooner you can nip it in the bud, the better.
Balloons
Most of us were probably too young to remember the first time we saw a helium balloon, but if we could then I bet the initial experience was baffling! These shiny, bulbous items seemingly defy the laws of physics. While a fear of balloons will probably not prove to be a major burden in your puppy’s life, it is a low-stakes way to help your puppy build confidence by overcoming this fear.
Umbrellas
Finally, an item that you rarely encounter in Arizona other than during monsoon season – an umbrella! This common household item alters a person’s silhouette and looms “ominously” above your head. Also, it is capable of going from small and compact to large and intimidating in a matter of seconds!
In Conclusion
Though these are some fears that our trainer has seen in many puppies over the years, it is by no means a comprehensive list. From ceiling fans to houseplants, puppies can fixate on some pretty strange things during fear periods. The good news is that fear periods aren’t forever; your puppy’s neuroses should calm down in just a few weeks. The better news is that fears are surmountable. Working patiently with your puppy will result in a more confident and happy adult dog!
