Should you comfort a scared dog?

There’s a terrific discussion about thunderstorm phobia, body language and the issue of whether fear can be reinforced over on Patricia McConnell’s excellent blog.

The oft-given advice to ignore a dog who’s feeling fearful may not be correct. But, like most emotions, fear and its resulting behavior can be complex to address from a behavioral standpoint.

Read for yourself and see what you think — Dr. McConnell promises to write more on the topic, and several folks are offering good advice for thunderstorm phobia in the meantime.
photo credit: broxtronix

Related articles:

• The 15-minute feeding schedule
• When to seek help with your dog

Behavior Problems, Dog Behavior & Play anxiety, fear, features, phobia, thunderstorms  Print