Sound sensitivity, fear of new situations and, for example, fear of slippery surfaces and heights are common behavioral problems in dogs. According to a behavioral study of nearly 14,000 dogs conducted at the University of Helsinki, these non-social fears are associated with factors related to the dogs' living environment, lifestyle and breed. Dogs that were most involved in activities and actively trained were found to be the least fearful.
“Exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on mood in both dogs and humans. As social animals, dogs like to do things with their owners. At the same time, people don't necessarily want to subject anxious dogs to training situations that are stressful for them. This can also make owners less likely to train with their dogs,” says PhD student Emma Hakanen from the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Medicine.
The research indicates that insufficient socialization of puppies to different situations and new environments in particular has a strong link with fear associated with new situations, loud noises and different walking surfaces, such as slippery surfaces, transparent stairs or metal grilles. On the other hand, the companionship of other dogs reduced the occurrence of non-social anxiety. Fear of fireworks and surfaces was more common in the dogs of new dog owners, while differences were also seen between rural and urban dogs.
“Our previous research into the environmental effects of social anxiety has observed the same phenomena where urban dogs were more anxious than their rural counterparts. It is indeed interesting that human mental health problems are also more common in urban than rural areas. in which our environment shapes us and our best friend is certainly an interesting topic for further research”, says Professor Hannes Lohi from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki.
In addition, as suggested by previous research, the study showed that nonsocial anxiety is also more common in spayed females and small dogs. Fear of slippery or otherwise unfamiliar surfaces was also associated with a generally fearful nature in dogs.
Significant differences between breeds were identified in the study, with Cairn Terriers among the most fearful breeds and Chinese Crested Dogs the least fearful.
However, a difference was seen between different non-social fears in the fear of individual races. Welsh Corgi Pembrokes, for example, showed a lot of sound sensitivity, but little fear of surfaces. At the same time, the latter was common in Lappish Shepherds, Miniature Schnauzers, Chihuahuas and Labrador Retrievers, while the noise sensitivity was less.
“The breed-specific differences support the idea that fear is inherited. In other words, breeding choices matter even without knowing the exact mechanisms of inheritance. However, this study provides dog owners with tools and support for previous beliefs about improving the wellbeing of their dogs. Socialization in puppyhood and an active lifestyle can significantly reduce social and non-social anxiety,” Lohi summarizes.
