My dog is fearful of sounds and the vet. How can I help him?

Question

My young lab mix seems to be fearful. He has a patch of hair that stands up when he hears other dogs barking outside. We have another dog, but he even peed out of fear going to the vet. How do I stop this behavior? He was even petrified of the sound of using a tape gun while packing up old stuff. I want him to be well socialized. Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | 1 year and 5 months old | 78 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Poor Jaxon! It does sound like he's quite fearful of many things, including sounds, the vet's office, and other dogs barking. The patch of hair that stands up is called his "hackles" - when you see the hair stand up like this, it usually means that the dog is frightened or upset. Since it sounds like his anxiety is fairly severe, the best option would be to make an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Jaxon in person. He/she can help you determine why he is so fearful, and will give you a detailed treatment plan for him including some training exercises you can do to increase his confidence and teach him to associate good things with people, other dogs, etc. He may also benefit from anti-anxiety medication. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org In the meantime, you could try a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to help reduce his anxiety - this won't be as effective as prescription medication, but it may help to take the edge off of his fear in these situations until you are able to see the behaviorist for a more complete treatment plan.

My dog is fearful of sounds and the vet. How can I help him?

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