Pets and Their People Blog

Bark!: The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog by Dr. Zazie Todd is an excellent and, in my opinion, essential resource for pet parents or professionals who have or are thinking of bringing a dog who is anxious, fearful, or reactive into their homes.

Early in the book, Dr. Todd notes that data indicates,

“…up to 72.5 percent of dogs have some kind of fear or anxiety…”

I have had four dogs in my life with some level of anxiety, and as a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A), I see many clients with dogs for this very reason. It is essential for us to understand these are not bad dogs. As the author notes,

“It’s not helpful to assign blame to a dog who is, in fact, simply struggling.”

The book contains three sections, each building on the other. The nineteen pages of scientific references at the end support each section, which only recommends humane methods.

Dr. Todd explains the differences between anxiety, fear, and reactivity and how these emotional responses are often linked to aggression. She also discusses the many reasons why so many dogs are fearful. She does a superb job of outlining the many myths, or nonsense taken as fact, that are still being perpetuated about dogs, often by pet care professionals.

She concludes with three tips crucial to helping an anxious or fearful dog:

1) Your first priority is to help your dog feel safe.

2) Pick a treat your dog loves, and

3) Find an activity you do with your dog that makes you both happy and do it!

The book also discusses how to tell when your dog is stressed, which is critical if you are going to help your dog feel safe, which, as noted above, is your number one priority. Dr. Todd has included an excellent section on stress and stressors and the intricacies of the fight-or-flight system. Dog bites are examined, along with helpful advice on how to keep your dog from biting.

The book discusses dogs afraid of other dogs, those who react towards people, dogs scared of noises, the veterinarian, being left alone, and others they see as threats that might take their food and other stuff. Dr. Todd even discusses how fear-related issues can lead to dysfunctional repetitive behaviors like tail chasing,

In part 3, the book offers suggestions on how and where to get help for your dog and yourself, noting:

“Getting help for your dog from behavior professionals is one thing that people say really helps.”

The book includes a section on how to evaluate behavior professionals, as, in many cases, you will be looking for more than a dog trainer who teaches sit, down, and come.

I like this book so much that I now recommend it to all my clients. I am also giving copies to every team member at Green Acres Kennel Shop and ForceFreePets.com, as well as several veterinarians in the area. Thank you, Dr. Todd!

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About the Author

Don Hanson lives in Bangor, Maine, where he is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop  and the founder of ForceFreePets.com , an online educational resource for people with dogs and cats. He is a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A) accredited by the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB)  and a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP) . A Pet Professional Guild (PPG) member, Don serves on the Board of Directors and Steering Committee and chairs the Advocacy Task Force and Shock-Free Coalition. He is also a founding director of Pet Advocacy International (PIAI).

The opinions in this article are those of Don Hanson.

©2024, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved