Expert: Patti - 4/18/2005

Question
I have two dachshund litter mates who are 2 years old.  When they were puppies we would take them to a puppy playtime group, well, they hid from all of the other dogs and spent their time going from person to person looking for attention.  At home they play with each other like crazy, but when they are near another dog they freak out.  The girl is a little better, she'll roll on her back when she meets another dog, the boy tries to run as far away as he can.  He seems to get so scared around other dogs, he gets scared of a lot of things in general even though nothing traumatic has ever happened to him and he's had nothing but love and affection since he was a puppy.  Is it too late to socialize these dogs?  What can we do to  help the dogs be less afraid of things?  Thank you!

Answer
Hi Kristen,

The reason why one of your dogs is less fearful than the other is because, just like people, dogs have distinct personalities. It's not to late to help your dog get over his fears. You need to be consistent and persistent, and work with your dog, preferably on a daily basis so he can get over this problem. It will take some time, but it can be done.

Behavior modification techniques are often successful in reducing fears and phobias in dogs. The appropriate techniques are called "counter-conditioning" and "desensitization." This means to condition or teach your dog to respond in non-fearful ways to sounds or other stimuli that previously frightened him such as other dogs, etc. This must be done very gradually.

Before the behavior modification program can begin, you need to be able to control and communicate with your dog. This will require some training.  A head collar will be needed.  Head collars allow control of the dog's head and neck to ensure that the dog responds to the given command (sit, quiet, heel). A "Halti" or "Gentle Leader" head harness are two good choices.

Make your dog feel more secure by  letting him know who is the "leader" (You!).  Orient your dog away from the stimulus (other dogs), and prevent your dog from either causing injury or escaping. 

Next, teach your dog that when he sits and stays he will receive a delicious food reward!  The goal of this training is to allow the dog to assume a relaxed and happy body posture and facial expression on command.  Make this a happy game. Once this is established, then food rewards can be phased out. 

Lastly, begin counter-conditioning and desensitization to acclimate the dog to the stimuli that usually cause the fearful response.  This needs to be done slowly, and while your dog is on a leash with his head harness on.  Start by exposing your dog to very low levels of the stimulus,  Such as in a park where there are dogs in the distance.  Your dog is then rewarded for sitting quietly and calmly.  Gradually, if the dog exhibits no fear, move closer to the other dogs. 

As I've said, it is extremely important that this is done slowly.  The goal is to reward good behavior, and teach the dog how to associate the once fearful stimulus with calmness and rewards.  If the dog begins to show fear during training, your are progressing too fast and could be making the problem worse. 

If your dog shows fear when you move closer to other dogs, move back to a more comfortable distance that isn't invoking the fear response, and start again.  Keep working on this, and eventually you will be able to get quite close to other dogs.

Always set up the dog to succeed.  The use of the leash and head collar will greatly improve the chances of success and because of the additional control, will often help the owner to succeed in getting the dogs attention and calming it down; faster than with commands and rewards alone.

Here is a helpful web page on the subject of shy or fearful dogs:
http://www.perfectpaws.com/shy.html

Attempting to reassure your dog when he's afraid may reinforce his fearful behavior. If you pet, soothe or give treats to him when she's behaving fearfully, he may interpret this as a reward for his fearful behavior. Instead, try to behave normally, as if you don't notice his fearfulness.

If you're unable to achieve success with the behavior modification technique on your own,  you should consult with an animal behavior specialist and your veterinarian. Sometimes you just need a professional's help!  You'll be amazed what a professional can do to change the situation.

Medication may be available which can make your dog less anxious for short time periods. Your veterinarian is the only person who is licensed and qualified to prescribe medication for your dog. Don't attempt to give your dog any over-the-counter or prescription medication without consulting your veterinarian. Animals don't respond to drugs the same way people do, and a medication that may be safe for humans could be fatal to your dog.

I hope I've been a help. Best of luck,
Patti