Why is my dog terrified of my cough but curious about my sneeze?

Question

Subject: BEHAVIOUR. When I sneeze,Charlie runs up tp me and sits looking quizzically at me,but if I cough ,he runs away from me and cowers. If I cough while we are out walking, he stops walking immediately and slinks down to his belly like he were trying to hide. His reactions to sneezing have been prevalent since he was about 1 or 2 years old, but I have only become aware of his reactions to my coughing in the last two years, Is this normal canine behaviour - and why? Thank you John Zimmer. Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | 10 years and 3 months old | 86 lbs

Dr. Elizabeth · Accepted Answer

HAHA! I love dogs and their quirky behavior. I would say this is a behavior unique to Charlie! I would recommend to make a quiet cough sound and give him a high value treat immediately afterwards. Repeat this multiple times and gradually increase the sound of your cough. Eventually, Charlie will form a positive association and will likely stop being afraid. Hope this helps!

Why is my dog terrified of my cough but curious about my sneeze?

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