When people discover that a dog is afraid of men, they often attribute the fear to a bad experience. Allow your dog to approach men on its own. And I know there are people out there who are afraid of dogs. A combination of fear, separation issues and extreme anxiety in dogs can be stressful for you and your pet. But the good news is that it can be done. I'm a little afraid he might have been exposed to rabies, but he refuses to go anywhere with me, including to the vet, to get checked out. One thing to keep in mind, though: if your dog is expressing her fear through aggression, start by consulting with a professional trainer. Get our FREE training guide when you sign up for the Spruce Pets newsletter! None of which is helpful, of course, if your dog is afraid of men…. Sign up now to make sure you’re up to date on the latest happenings! Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help your dog overcome its fear and learn to accept the men it encounters. Has your dog started treating a particular room like room 237 from The Shining? They could tremble in fear, flee, hide, tug their tail behind their legs, etc. They may be taller and bigger than women and children, have deeper voices, and may have different types of features, such as facial hair. In many cases, being afraid of men can be traced to a lack of socialization with men when the dog was a puppy. There’s an old saying—a dog that’s been burned is afraid of a cold stove—and there’s some truth in it. Their mother’s scent equals safety. If your dog's fear is especially pronounced, it's beneficial to have the help of an experienced dog trainer or behaviorist. But my dog is afraid of men, so now what? It could be that your dog is only afraid of men with beards, or men in hats, or men in uniform. first we have him climb on top of a container then we have him jump in the tub. Even a dog that has lived with a man can be fearful in the … Even though these animals may be from, Dogs are what make a house feel like a home. Is Your Dog Scared of Certain Areas? Once you’ve determined whether it’s all men or just one very specific subset, it’s time to begin the rehabilitation. This will further associate the formerly scary person with good things. In the worst-case scenario, your efforts may lead the dog to bite either you or the man if it's prevented from escaping. For the majority of dogs, this is not the most likely culprit, though. (Photos by Allison Gray) One warm day in August, my husband and I recognized a deeper issue in our dog … Pets enjoy road trips as much as people, but the problem is that they are, Dogs and dolphins have a lot in common. If you typically encounter men when you're walking your dog, a muzzle might be a good idea. Men can be more intimidating in a dog's eyes. Our dog has suddenly become afraid of our kitchen. She's extremely timid and hard to potty train. I’m at my … I know I'm probably being a jerk for saying this, but I really don't care. In many cases, being afraid of men can be traced to a lack of. Rather than escalate your dog's fear-based aggression, your best bet is to take precautions to prevent that first bite. For the majority of dogs, this is not the most likely culprit, though. You will need to gain their trust back. If this is the case, your dog now doesn't trust you. Instead, try to keep your dog a safe distance from the man, while you give it treats and praise. Don’t get left out of the doghouse! They are important family members. So, yesterday, we were in the park as normal and I was letting my dog run. Sign up now to make sure you’re up to date on the latest happenings with Cesar every month. Rehabilitating a fearful dog can take time, so you’ll have to repeat this exercise not only with different men, but in different locations—ridding your dog of his fear of men at home won’t necessarily solve the problem when he’s on the walk or in the dog park. While it may seem that a dog is afraid of all men, this might not be the case, so you need to figure out the exact cause of the fear first. For things like thunderstorms, some people tape the noise and play it back at lower volumes while playing with the dog and providing positive reinforcment for the dog's lack of anxiety while the noise is played at low volumes. Meanwhile, instead of initiating play, women often offer an invitation, so the dogs don’t feel threatened. But unless the husband was seated or lying down, the foster dog would bark, growl, and lunge. All rights reserved. Dr. O'Brien is part of The Spruce Pets' veterinary review board. But, the final answer is this: scientifically, we really don’t know why dogs tend to be more afraid of men than women, and everything is still conjecture. How To Remove Pet Odors And Stains From Your Car, Dolphin Leaps Out Of The Water To Give A Dog A Kiss, Protective Bull Mastiff Brings His New Baby Brother A Toy Whenever He Starts To Cry, Dog in mourning: Helping our pets cope with loss. Why don't you just come out and ask your Husband if he's hit your dog, or maybe yanked her around on the leash too much. Particular smells, tone of voice, or hand gestures also could trigger an episode of sudden fear. She was housebroken and went outside and played with our other dog, running and chasing each other. Another difference is the way men and women react to dogs and puppies. She was playing ball with her outside and the dog suddenly stopped, then started shaking. Tuck their tail: a dog may be afraid of you, but they remain in your presence. Copyright 2020 Cesar’s Way. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. Being abused by a man may cause a lifelong fear of all men. Again, most fears are learned behaviors that can be reversed, but it takes time and patience. However, there are a variety of reasons why your dog may fear men in general or only those that are not part of its immediate family. I love the dog, and don’t believe in giving up on the dog. Being abused by a man may cause a lifelong fear of all men. Here are ours for the comments: Also, please note that because of volume , we are unable to respond to individual comments, although we do watch them in order to learn what issues and questions are most common so that we can produce content that fulfills your needs. Is there a reason your dog is afraid? If you’re asking yourself “why is my dog afraid all of a sudden,” remember that dogs are rarely afraid without a reason to be – you have to dig a little deeper into the life of your pet. Trying to force friendship on the dog may have the opposite effect and intensify the dog's fear. The Spruce Pets uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, Help Your Dog Get Over Its Fearing Strangers, How to Handle Your Dog Being Aggressive During Nail Clippings, How to Stop Your Dog From Peeing in the House, How to Stop Your Dog From Fearing the Veterinarian, How to Solve Your Dog's Fear of Car Rides, How to Approach a Fearful, Shy, or Aggressive Dog. I miss my dog. Eventually, you should be able to progress to the point that one of your male helpers can take the leash when your dog goes for a walk and then prepare and give your dog her food afterwards. Here’s how we improved our situation. [Help] My dog is suddenly afraid of me and I don't know why. A person posted this problem on my blog. My husband and I are concerned for his health due to the effect on his eating and drinking. I think she is very bonded to you and is afraid that anyone else will take you away from her again. If you've ever walked your dog and noticed another dog approaching in the distance, only to have your dog drop to the ground and refuse to move until the other puppy gets to you, then you know this bizarre instinct first hand. Just give it time. Make obedience training part of your daily routine with your fearful dog and you should begin to see signs of progress. She thought she had injured her paws or something else. Your dog might even get shy around strangers if they remind Rover of somebody who abused him. i have this huge tub that my dog has to jump into. You are welcome to share your own dog tips and behavior solutions among yourselves, however Thank you for reading our articles and sharing your thoughts with the pack! This is really a problem around the 4th of July and fireworks. His attachment to you is also not uncommon as many dogs will become more attached to the person they spend the most time with. Because dogs live by their instincts, it can take as little as one bad experience with something to make a dog forever fearful of anything similar. So why is this such a common fear? It could only be men over a certain height, men with deep voices or, unfortunately, men of a certain ethnic group.The important part is that you need to forget the general labels and find the … My husband and I breed APBTs (we have a litter of 7, 5 week 2 day old puppies now), and we start to socialize ours as soon as their eyes and ears are open, and they are up running around, checking everything out. Your attempts can backfire and actually strengthen the fear. Many dogs have reactions to different noises. By Allison Gray Jan 16, 2015 December 15, 2018. In the dog world, puppies are raised by their mothers and the father is rarely even around. If a fearful dog is successful in chasing a man away by biting him, it's more likely to bite again. When you're trying to break your dog of this fear, be sure that any man you enlist to help you keeps treats handy while he's around your pet. This may be hard for a man who loves dogs, but the best thing he can do is ignore the fearful dog. The difficulty of correcting this behavior depends on the severity of your dog's fear. However, a fear of men is not an uncommon phobia in dogs, and some very well-behaved and well-adjusted dogs share this fear. If your dog seems scared of an object or situation that didn’t bother them before, a good practice is desensitizing them to it. But all of this stopped a couple of days ago. My 2 yo dog used to love me. He probably wouldn't admit it to you even if he did hurt your dog in some way. A dog's first exposure to going to the vet usually involves strange smells, being handled in new ways, being restrained, and getting vaccinations. In severe cases, don't start out with the dog and a man in the same room. In some cases, a dog may unexpectedly attack or bite a man. Did the dog trip or did something fall and startle them? Having their tail lowered and tucked when in your company usually exhibits fear, discomfort and/or stress. She says this happened in one day. Babe’s anxiety reached a breaking point. Your dog may be uncomfortable with your husband because she was not exposed to many men as a puppy, or maybe she wasn't exposed to men who look like your husband. Now she leaves or hides whenever I enter any room that she's in. Here’s how to proceed. Vanessa Van Ryzin, Mindful Motion Photography / Getty Images. Regardless of the cause, there are definite steps you can take to cure your dog’s fear of men. Dog is Afraid of My Husband. Has something happened to the dog while in the kitchen? For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. Dogs have an instinct to stay away from the unknown. Help! Meanwhile, men tend to approach a new dog in a more assertive but playful way. If there are men in your household or men who visit frequently, avoid pushing your dog to accept their attention. Allow your dog to decide how close it wants to get to any man. How Extreme Anxiety and Fear Almost Ruined My Dog. Dr. Anna O'Brien is a veterinarian and writer who has worked with animals ranging from horses, dogs, and cats to camels, cows, monkeys, and honeybees. However, the vast majority of men do not go around randomly scaring dogs. I'm a little afraid he might have been exposed to rabies, but he refuses to go anywhere with me, including to the vet, to get checked out. Men can be frightening because of their appearance: They are typically bigger and taller and have deeper voices than women. Since you said "suddenly" that would suggest to me that your dog is afraid of your Husband for some reason, and is showing submissive behavior or fear. Once she isn’t flinching or jumping away when the man moves, then he can give her the treat himself while still not engaging her with touch, talk, or eye contact. A professional will be able to gauge your dog's comfort level to the proximity of men and can help you move ahead safely in the process of desensitization. Others become anxious or show signs of aggression, like growling or baring their teeth. I got my dog when he was just a pup he’s been around a lot of people and other dogs he’s is now 3 years old and very protective over a lot of stuff like for example we have four dogs in the house my dog my boyfriends dog and our roommates two senior dogs, the other day my dog was eating and one of the senior dogs come by and my dog started growling and then attacked him. She used to wake me up every morning by licking my face. Why is My Dog Afraid of Stairs Suddenly? Another possibility is that men’s and women’s scents are very different to a dog, due to both hormones and different kinds of fragrances in personal care products. One of the common fears people report their dogs having is of men in general. If your dog is suddenly scared of something in the house, the best thing you can do is to try ‘re-training’ them. Tell us about them — and what you’ve done to help your dog — in the comments. Tell your husband to not try picking her up for a while. Details like beards and glasses can also unsettle a dog who is not used to them. Some dogs try to hide or start cowering, shaking, or urinating out of nervousness. Amy is a dog trainer with more than a decade of experience. If you find yourself saying, my dog is scared of me, there are a few things you can do to regain your pet's trust and fix this relationship. All rights reserved. Copyright 2018 Cesar’s Way. She has written more than 100 articles on dogs. Have your husband move a little closer and each time the pup can be ok, give him a treat. Your dog may be perfectly calm and have no behavior problems around women and children, but it may become a completely different dog when a man enters the room or tries to approach. This is not an uncommon problem as many dogs can be more afraid of men due to our low voices that sound like growling and because men are generally much bigger in size. Have your husband continually move closer while keeping your pup focused on the treat. Whenever the fearful dog gets even a little closer than usual, the man can very gently toss a couple of treats in the dog's direction. If they can’t figure out what the outcome is going to be, they usually choose to avoid it. First men are generally bigger and louder than women, with deeper voices. Desensitization is the process of using treats and praise to gradually let your dog know that it's safe to approach men. A dog that’s afraid might also show these more subtle signs: Freezing in place; Moving in slow-motion; Repeatedly licking their lips ; Yawning frequently; Trying to move away from the stressor; Panting heavily or suddenly stops panting; Keep in mind that some behaviors that look like aggression, like leash reactivity and barking, can also be signs of an underlying fear of something. Couple of days ago being abused by a man you or the man, you! Is to take precautions to prevent that first bite n't force your dog a safe distance from the.! 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Is a dog, to a pet-loss expert -- here 's what she said really problem. Counterconditioning and systematic desensitization signs of aggression, your best bet is to precautions... Drop to the vet with men when my dog is suddenly afraid of my husband dog while in the same room his eating and habits... Be afraid of men in uniform their appearance: they are typically bigger and louder women! 'S safe to approach a dog may be from, dogs do generalize trained your dog to men... Started shaking on skateboards, reflections, etc. some way the unknown men, they often the! Not go around randomly scaring dogs culprit, though afraid that anyone else will take you away from the of! Is part of your daily routine with your fearful dog room that 's. Fortunately, there are people out there who are afraid of men be! Or in its crate when a man is visiting a trip to the veterinarian fearful a!