MY DOG IS SCARED OF EVERYTHING
- kaiserpetcare
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
So you have a dog that is scared of everything. This post is for you. Your dog jumps scared if a leaf moves, if a stranger comes to your door, he cowers, or maybe barks as if it were the end. This post is for you.
There is hope. There is a very high chance your dog will recover, and some work will be necessary. It is important to consider your dog does not choose to be hypersensitive to everything, sadly these are involuntary responses that are a result of trauma. The brain is rewired in a way that it allows for the dog to continue to live. Your dog is alive today because of it. But it does not mean that this cannot be modified, it can. Trauma is a scar that a dog carries, but it should not define who your dog is.
When we look at trauma and stress, there are a variety of reasons why a dog may be feeling this way. It may be caused by military or police work, severe abuse, being used a bait or a fighting dog, being raised in a puppy mill in bad conditions, or surviving as a stray after being abandoned. Trauma can also stem from a disaster like a flood, a tornado, a fire, an earthquake, an explosion. It can also be the aftermath of being attacked by other animals. This often happens to stray animals.
But here is the good news. Statistics about canine trauma indicate that 75% of cases in which the dog has endured terrible trauma and experiences post-traumatic stress, can recover fully. (McMillan, 2025)
That is three quarters of dogs, that can recover and live a normal life.
This reminds us of the famous case of the Victory dogs. These dogs were seized after being forced to work in a dogfighting ring and had been traumatized to the most brutal extent. Of the 51 dogs seized, 47 of them were deemed able to be rescued after assessment. These dogs moved on to be adopted into loving homes or, living in a sanctuary. Most lived with other dogs, children and even cats. Some even became therapy dogs.
So if your dog had past trauma in his life, (and
you may or may not know all the intricacies of it) know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it can get better. There are more and more resources now, and more behavior professionals today are aware of it. Reach out for help before making any long-lasting decisions about your dog.
~CBCC-KA Certified Canine Behavior Consultant, Ethical Dog Trainer, Member of PDTE & PPG.