When you welcomed a new dog to your family, whether he’s your first pup or your tenth, your vision probably did not include a dog who is afraid of new people. The last thing you expected was your dog nonstop barking, showing teeth or cowering in a corner when your family comes over for dinner. If you do find yourself in this situation know you are not alone! Many dogs are afraid of new people which we sometimes call “Stranger Danger.”

As you may know, dog training is an unregulated profession. While some of the advice out there is great, some of it is outdated, potentially dangerous and may cause more harm than good.  We’re here to give you the ultimate resource on helping your dog become more comfortable around new people with tips and tweaks you can begin using TODAY!

Why Are Some Dogs Afraid of New People?

A fear of strangers can develop for a few different reasons. It’s often assumed dogs are afraid of certain people, or all people, because they were abused but that is not always the case.

Lack of Socialization

Puppies that are not exposed to a variety of new people during their crucial socialization period is an extremely common cause of “Stranger Danger,” especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. That sensitive socialization period is thought to run from 3 to 14 weeks of age in puppies. During this period we want to positively expose our dog to as many people, environments and things as possible to set them up to become confident adult dogs. A lack of exposure, or exposure that is not done carefully and appropriately, can set the dog up to be afraid of various triggers.

If you got your dog later than this, don’t panic! Socialization and exposing our dogs positively to new things is something we should do throughout their lives. Puppies are just more likely to be more curious about their environment and less hesitant around new things until that 14 week mark!

Traumatic Experiences

Traumatic experiences are the reason people tend to assume their dog is afraid of strangers. It’s very clear why a dog that was abused by a human previously would be hesitant around new people or people who look or sound like their abuser. Sometimes, however, a dog can have what they consider a traumatic experience without it being obvious to us. For example, my dog got spooked by a man who came out from behind a bush when he was around 8 months old. The man did nothing wrong but for some reason it set Rocco up to be a bit cautious around new men forever! Would I have considered that to be traumatic? Absolutely not. But it startled him so much it’s sat with him since.

Genetics

Some dogs are naturally more wary or timid due to their genetic makeup. It is possible this trait can be passed down in varying degrees if a dog has at least one parent who is afraid of people. When you rescue a pup we obviously don’t know much about there dogs’ parents but if you’re going through a breeder this an excellent example of why you should choose an ethical breeder who puts thought into their breeding pairs and early socialization.

Some breeds are also more likely to be afraid of, or at least aloof around, strangers.

Signs Your Dog is Afraid of New People

Recognizing the signs of discomfort in your dog allows you to intervene before the situation escalates. Unfortunately for us humans, some of our dogs’ body language is very subtle. Unless you know exactly what to look for the signs can be easy to miss! Some things to look for include:

• • Excessive/non-stop barking
  • Growling
  • Fast/heavy panting
  • Baring teeth
  • Lunging
  • Hiding
  • Lip licking
  • Yawning
  • Drooling
  • Refusing treats
  • Turning away
  • Tucked tail
  • Ears back
  • Shaking

This golden retriever is leaning away from the child, showing whale eye and is very tense. These are excellent indicators they are not enjoying this interaction.

Tips to Improve Your Dog’s Comfort with New People

Just like with anything behavior related, there is no silver bullet to overcoming Stranger Danger but there are ways you can help your pup out!

Go at Their Speed

It’s crucial to let your dog dictate the pace of interactions with new people. Forcing them into situations they aren’t comfortable with can exacerbate their fears and lead to escalated reactions such as biting. Instead, allow your dog to approach strangers when they are ready and do NOT drag them forward by the leash, physically hand them to someone, or force them into the situation in any other way.

Treat and Retreat

This is one of my favorite tips and “games” to play with anxious dogs! People usually have the best intentions when they reach out to your dog with a treat in their hand but this can actually be quite stressful. The dog is naturally conflicted because they want the food but are afraid of the person. If their desire for the food is strong enough, it may cause them to creep closer to the person to take it. Seems like a win, right? Unfortunately, not so much. If a quick movement is made we can accidentally scare the dog even more and/or cause them to startle and snap in a situation they otherwise would not have done so.

The “Treat and Retreat” game is the opposite of exerting pressure. Instead, we are encouraging the dog to move away from the person to get the reward. Once they eat the reward, they can then choose if they’d like to reapproach the person and how close they’d like to get. So, how do you play?

1. Have your guest hold a a small piece of food your dog will find rewarding. Usually the smellier the better!
2. Have the guest toss the food AWAY from them
3. When your dog is done eating, allow the guest to throw another piece
4. After doing this a handful of times you can give your dog a second or two to see if they want to come closer
5. Repeat!

It will be extremely helpful if the person working with the nervous pup is calm, quiet and avoids direct eye contact initially. Prepping your guest beforehand with the “do’s” and “dont’s” around your dog.

Provide a Safe and Quiet Space

Whatever you do, we don’t want to enforce interactions between your dog and the person they are feeling apprehensive about. Your dog should have the choice to retreat to a place they can be away from your guest and will not be bothered. A common thought is if we force our dogs near the person they’ll realize they aren’t so scary. This tends to have the opposite effect than if we let them check out the situation at their own pace.

You can use a room, a crate, a gate or any other barrier to allow your dog downtime. Ideally this place will be quiet, comfortable and contain some of their favorite chew toys. What will be very important is ensuring nobody will approach your dog when they are in this spot. We want them to feel confident they won’t be bothered and that they can CHOOSE to interact with people if and when they feel ready. A dog with a choice will be much more likely to explore than a dog who has a history of being forced into uncomfortable situations.

Avoid Aversive Tools

An aversive tool means we are applying something the dog interprets as punishment to make them stop a behavior, like barking at new people. Bark collars, prong collars, shock collars and noise-making remotes are all very common examples of this. While these methods can appear to lessen your dog’s barking and reaction, it can make your problem worse in the long run. These tools do not teach the dog or address the actual cause of their fear. This can result in additional problems.

Aversive tools can shut dogs down. While this will “stop” a symptom of the fear like barking, it can also cause unintended side effects of stress such as weight loss and heightened cortisol levels. We want our dogs to associate guests with positive experiences, not increased psychological, physical and physiological stress.

Aversive methods can also cause what we refer to as emotional fallout which is where we can see the “more harm than good.” If somebody delivered a shock every time you saw a new person it is very likely you will associate new people with stress and fear over time. This can make your dog’s fear reaction worse. It may also cause a nervous dog to escalate to a snap instead of barking and growling to let you know they are not comfortable. We never want to punish a growl. A growl is a great choice for your dog to make! If they are punished for displaying these signs of fear they may skip right over them and feel the need to protect themselves.

For more information on the potential risks associated with the application of aversive tools and training methods, check out the American Veterinary Medical Association’s position statement as well as the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s statement.

Hire a Trainer

You don’t have to do it alone! Professional help can be invaluable in helping your dog overcome their Stranger Danger! At Where Sit Happens, our experienced, certified trainers use positive reinforcement methods to help you understand your dog and help your dog grow into a more confident pup. We tailor our approach to each individual dog, ensuring a plan is developed specific to their needs and personality. Whether you want just a consultation to get you headed in the right direction or you want a trainer to help you through a training plan step by step, we have options to fit your family’s need and budget. You can tell us about your dog here!

Where Sit Happens is proud to offer a variety of dog training services in Oxford, CT and surrounding areas. Along with our in-home private training services we offer the most flexible group classes in the area. Mix and match different types of classes based on your needs and interests and attend as often as you’d like around your personal schedule. To get started, fill out our group class intake form or contact us here!