Attenuating conditions

Under diverse conditions, fear or an unsafe sensation, can be aggravated to unsuspected limits, including total blockade. In a greater or less measure, the lack of light affects dogs. It can cause reactions that go from keeping still up to escaping desperately without knowing from what it is running from. In the same manner, the absence of free movement increases the lack of self-confidence in the dog. Exemplars, that even though being with its owners show aggressive reactions as if they were protecting themselves from something, wouldn't respond in the same way. The animal would respond differently if it could enjoy more from a bigger space to move. Undoubtedly, these animals would behave properly, instead.

If in the same way one must interpret this way of acting by the dog is the following: when getting near to its owner, the superior element of the pack, the animal is looking for more confidence. On the other hand, it expects that this proximity will intimidate his adversary as to make him desist from the attitude manifested towards him.

In the same way excessive and unexpected noises can cause also, highly negative reactions on the dog. Mainly, and by evasion, the escape. What intimidates the dog is not the noise itself, but not knowing its origin. Everybody knows the fear dogs have for fire crackers for example. The most apparent prove we have is that the best vaccine against fear, are early experiences as we can evidence in dogs used in hunting activities. Obviously, this is a monitored activity.

At an early age, one makes the future members of the pack of hounds follow them while hunting, with the intention of:

making the dog watch and imitate the older dogs when in action,
awakening there natural hunting instincts, and
getting them accustomed to all the aspects having to do with hunting activities.

Among some of the external circumstances that could affect the dog are the noise of gunfire. In this particular situation, one must think about the proper stimulus relation, that is, the negative (related to the gunfire) and the positive ( which is the journey to the country and the development of its hunting instincts).

But what must really worry you is the daily noise made by garbage trucks, traffic, ambulances, and others that make the dog act in such way. If you don't want to find yourself having to deal with a much more serious situation like agoraphobia -or fear to open spaces- in the near future, one must apply a program that can hold back its sensibility, as soon as possible.

Don't forget that the dog tends to generalize and can begin to take this problem to other places, before the fear of having to go again over a similar experience the repetition of a traumatic experience in an uncontrolled way can accentuate a stage of undesired conduct.

Dog Behaviorist Choosing a Male or Female Dog Campbell's Test Qualifications The adoption process Dog Adoption Socializing your Dog Dog and Family The acquisition of an adult dog Adult dogs for adoption Breed classification Needs of exercise Need for affection Tolerance to children Tolerance to other dogs Dominant character Territorial character Activity Level Obedience education Dog psychology Association power Conditioning Reflex Family environment Dog's Views Dog's Education Positive conditioning Negative conditioning Training and education Training Program for your Dog Dog Fear How to Overcome Dog Fear Attenuating conditions Dog Aggressiveness Aggressiveness by depredation Aggressiveness by dominance Territorial aggressiveness Self-defense aggressiveness When your dog attacks in self defense Injuries in dog attacks Second case of Injuries in dog attacks Sensibility suppression Dog sensibility issues Territorial Factors Expression canals Complete body language Your Dog's Diet Phobia or fear to the collar or leash Collar and Leash usage Dog understanding Other Strategies Jealousy with Dogs Non traumatic introduction Correct location of the child in the family hierarchy Progressive raise of rank of the child Vehicles: excitement or fear Exercises with your Dog Dogs Fear of Cars Starting your dog with real experiences Not mixing new experiences with meals Vehicles and dogs Dog Hyperactivity Frequent Dog Owner Mistakes Excessive barking Indoor dog rules Controlling your barking dog Anxiety pattern Lack of confidence Socializing with the outside world Excessive dominance Lack of dominance in dogs At home Excessive biting To personal objects, furniture, etc Space the dog is allowed to have Aggressions to other dogs Self-defense aggressions Bossy aggressions Aggressions between two dogs from the same home Aggressions to strangers due to territory Backing out from a dog attack Aggressions to family members First time aggressions Not enough exercise in relation to age and breed Scarce contact with other dogs Punishment to a late response Emphasizing conditions and appeasing to evasive behavior Lack of control over feeding and going out schedules Lack of self-confidence Lack of attention from the owners Marking their territory Coprophagy Ingestion of its own feces Agoraphobia Dog Depression How to prevent depression Psychological pregnancy Pulling the leash excessively Corrective methodology Ingestion of strange substances Destruction of gardens Bathing struggles Practical Guide to Canine Behavior Site Map