Many dogs are afraid of people in general, but men in particular intimidate shy and nervous dogs. Why is that? What is it about men that makes them uneasy? We have the answer…

 Masculine Energy vs. Feminine Energy

Imagine you’re in a room full of 50 women. What does it feel like? Most likely, it’s easy, calm, and somewhat tranquil. Now imagine that same room is full of 50 men. How did the energy in the room change? Is it more intense? This is the biggest reason many dogs are intimidated by or afraid of men. Men and women are simply different. Equal, but different. Generally, men have a more intense energy and composure about them than women, and dogs are very sensitive to that energy. For a shy, nervous, or unstable pup, this energy is very assertive and makes them feel anxious or afraid. It’s all about the vibe.

I really don’t believe that every dog that is reactive to men has been abused by a man. If this were the case our society would be in the dumps. Many of the dogs I meet have been raised in a family with loving men and still have this reaction to strange men.

 

So How Do I Make My Dog Comfortable Around Men?

There are 3 rules to making a scared & anxious dog secure:

  1. Don’t look. (Most important!) — Instruct everyone to avoid eye contact – peripheral vision is great!
  2. Don’t talk.
  3. Don’t pet.

Every time a new person is introduced to your nervous pup, especially men if they’re fearful, there should be no looking at the dog, no talking to the dog, and no petting the dog. Eye contact is a social pressure to dogs. It is imperative to understand the way they perceive this. This goes against our natural instincts to love on that adorable, furry face, but allowing someone to be in the dog’s area and touch them when they are afraid will create more fear. They will also be less trustful of you, their leader, for putting them in a scary situation.  Remember, as leader, you are the protector!

Instead, everyone (including you) should act as if the dog is not there. Ignore them, let them sniff the new person from afar, and don’t allow the new person to look, talk, or pet. Once the dog has been well-acquainted with someone, your pup may become more confident and get closer to them. They may even come up to lick their hand or sniff their clothes. When they become comfortable and you decide to allow the new person to pet your pup, follow these guidelines:

1. Be sure the dog is calm before receiving affection (petting, sweet talk, treats).
If the dog is overly excited or nervous when receiving any kind of affection, you are rewarding that behavior and encouraging them to keep acting inappropriately. More importantly, if your dog is nervous and you allow someone to continue to touch, your dog will lose trust in your authority. He can’t speak to you, but he could he might ask “Why are you letting them do that? I’m afraid.”

2. Pet from underneath, never over their head.
In the dog world, anything over the body or the head is very intimidating and can be interpreted as aggressive behavior. To make your pup feel more at ease when someone pets them, you need to let them know that petting underneath is better (on the chest, for example). This will keep your dog calm during this new interaction.

3. Be firm with people.
Anytime you do something new with your dog, especially if it is not commonplace, people may not listen or may not understand you. Be firm and put your dog first. It is your responsibility as their pack leader to protect them and make them feel safe. If someone does not respect their space or sweet talks them when you’ve asked them to do otherwise, don’t be afraid to speak up. Your pup needs a confident, secure leader to make them as happy and safe and they can be.