Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Fear is a natural response and is strongly connected with survival. Through domestication we have managed to reduce fear but it is still prominent in many animals. In dogs, living with us, fear can be very problematic and result in big problems for both dog and owner. There are many things that can affect the occurrence of fear and as many things as the dog may exhibit fear of. It can sometimes be difficult for the owner to know what the best way is to deal with the dog in these situations. This work intends to look at fear in dogs, to see how common it is and what dogs exhibit fear against. The work will also provide a picture of what the owner does when the dog exhibits fear and how the owners affect their dog both positively and negatively. A survey was sent out and a literature review was conducted to answer these questions. The results of this study show that the fear are very common in dogs and that the most common fears is the fear of sudden noises, other dogs, strangers and new objects. The most common reactions from the owner when the dog shows fear is to ignore the dog or to encourage the dog to approach the frightening stimulus. The owner can influence the dog both intentionally and unintentionally, depending on how they act and feel when the dog exhibits fear. The owner’s attitude to the dog, emotions such as stress and even training methods the owner uses can also affect the dog’s behaviour. Further research is needed in this area to get a more clear picture of how the owner influence the dog in different situations.