What a Nightmare! 35 Pet Fears, Explained
From birds scared of broomsticks to dogs that can’t handle strangers, here are 35 common pet fears, explained.
Pets bring a whole lot of joy into our lives, so it’s only natural to want to keep them as happy as can be. But what can you do if your usually happy pet looks upset or even spooked?
We compiled a list of 35 common pet fears — from birds scared of broomsticks to dogs that can’t handle strangers — to help you know how to spot when your pet might be scared as well as ways to help them fight their fears.
Fear of Thunder in Dogs
Getty Images
Thunder-sensitive dogs tend to hide in a small, confined space and tremble, howl, restlessly pace and drool whenever there’s thunder.
Vets suspect that dogs react to the combination of wind, thunder, lightning, barometric pressure changes, static electricity and low-frequency rumbles preceding a storm that humans can’t hear. Dogs with storm phobias can have them their entire lives or develop them over time. But don’t worry: There are ways to help them get through thunderstorms!
Solution for the Behavior
Have a space designated for them where they feel safe during thunderstorms. It could be their crate, a cozy corner in the bathroom or a comfortable spot in the basement.
Another great way to soothe your thunder-fearing pup is to put them in a snug garment. There are several on the market specifically for pets afraid of thunder. It acts similar to a baby’s swaddle blanket and makes them feel safe and secure.
Fear of Fireworks in Dogs
Getty Images
Just like thunder, fireworks can cause dogs to tremble, shake, hide, seek comfort, urinate or salivate. Destruction of furniture or other property is also a common sign of this fear.
That said, fireworks are among the most common fears in dogs. The loud, unpredictable noises, the burst of colors and sparks can be frightening. The sudden noise, coupled with the dog’s more sensitive and heightened hearing, is the reason why most dogs are not fans of fireworks.
Solution for the Behavior
To help prevent and soothe their fear, keep your dog indoors and in a safe place, as fireworks can induce a flight or flight response. If you do happen to be outside and encounter fireworks, make sure your dog is on a leash, remain calm and remove them from that area.
Don’t forget to give them a big hug and a treat when they relax and feel calm again.
Fear of Joggers in Dogs
Getty Images
Dogs that are afraid of joggers will often bark or howl, their bodies will tense up, and their ears will be flat against their heads. They might even try to nip or chase after the jogger in response to their fear.
Dogs instinctively love to chase, so when they see someone coming towards them at a quick speed, they are instinctively on high alert. Trying to figure out if the jogger is a threat or a friend is overwhelming and can easily cause fear or anxiety in your dog.
Solution for the Behavior
To help ease your dog’s fears and correct their behaviors, practice common commands, like sit and stay, and use them whenever a jogger approaches.
Another way to soothe them is through delicious treats. They’re the ultimate distraction and will help your dog associate joggers with something positive!
Fear of Being Alone (Separation Anxiety) in Dogs
Getty Images
Dogs with separation anxiety often exhibit drooling and other anxious behaviors like pacing and whining. And when alone, destructive behaviors like chewing or destroying furniture or going to the bathroom inside the house can also occur.
The explanation is simply that they are sad and anxious about their human leaving! Dogs pick up on cues, like putting on makeup, grabbing your bag, picking up your keys, and know that they are about to be left alone.
Solution for the Behavior
One way to help is to desensitize them from those cues. Grab your bag, but instead of leaving, sit on the couch and read or watch television. Do similar actions with other triggers, and over time, it will help them get over that fear.
Another effective method is making sure they get plenty of exercise and keep their minds busy with interactive puzzles and games. They will be too tired and happy to mind you being away!
Fear of Going to the Vet in Dogs (or All Pets)
Getty Images
Most pets hate going to the vet, and whining and whimpering as soon as they see the vet’s office will indicate this. They will often drag their feet and not want to enter the building.
Let’s be real, doctor’s offices can be scary for humans, too, but the difference is that pets don’t understand that they’re there for their own good!
Solution for the Behavior
Try visiting the vet with your pet just to say hello, or have the friendly staff give them their favorite treat, then head home.
Neutralize the vet’s office from a scary place they go to once or twice a year to just another errand with their human.
Fear of Car Rides in Dogs
Getty Images
A dog’s fear of riding in a car is often accompanied with whining, shaking, drooling and even vomiting.
They do not want to get in or out of the vehicle on their own.
Solution for the Behavior
Whether the fear stems from the vehicle itself or what the dog associates with the car, the key to easing their fear is patience.
Start slowly, and first get them comfortable with going in and out of the vehicle with the car engine off. Reward them with praise and treats, and then try again with the car on. Then, you can work your way up to very short trips! It may take a little time, but it’s worth the effort.
Fear of Stairs in Dogs
Getty Images
Dogs who are scared of the stairs will simply refuse to go up or down them, but other signs to look for include them bringing their tail between their legs and even trembling.
This fear can stem from a couple of different things — lack of early exposure, a learned behavior, or a medical condition.
Solution for the Behavior
If the fear of stairs comes on relatively suddenly and they hadn’t had any issues before, it might be caused by a medical condition, such as joint pain, arthritis or other ailments or injuries you may be unaware of. Consult with your vet and have the vet examine them to rule out that possibility.
No matter the reason for their fear, give the stair-fearing doggo lots of patience and praise, and guide them up and down the steps, celebrating each step along the way. This action will give them significant confidence and will help them conquer their fear.
Fear of the Vacuum in Dogs
Getty Images
Dogs that are afraid of vacuums tend to bark and chase the vacuum cleaner or hide whenever it appears.
That’s because vacuums are noisy, big and can be threatening to dogs.
Solution for the Behavior
To help your dog overcome this fear, try storing the vacuum in a common area instead of away in the closet.
Having it around and allowing them to sniff and investigate the vacuum while it’s turned off will help make it less scary.
Fear of Men in Dogs
Getty Images
It’s important to remember that dogs will exhibit their fear of men in different ways. Some dogs will try to hide or shake or will urinate from fear. Others become anxious or show signs of aggression, like growling or baring teeth. In severe cases, a dog may attack or bite a man.
Often, a dog’s fear of men can be traced to a lack of socialization when they were a puppy. Men can be more intimidating in a dog’s eyes. They may be taller and broader than women and children, have deeper voices and may have different features, such as facial hair. From a dog’s perspective, these things can be very intimidating, even scary.
Solution for the Behavior
To help your dog get over their fear, it’s best to let them go at their own pace when introducing a new male into their life. You don’t want to push a dog past its limits too soon!
If positive association tools like praise and treats don’t work, consider hiring a professional dog trainer.
Fear of Children in Dogs
Getty Images
A dog that’s afraid of children may show signs of aggression or run and hide behind the nearest trusted adult human.
Children can be scary to dogs because they are much more unpredictable than adults and may not know how to properly handle or communicate with dogs.
Solution for the Behavior
To help your dog form a healthy bond with children, always supervise all interactions with them.
Participate in short activities like playing fetch or allowing the child to give your dog a favorite toy.
Fear of Strangers in Dogs
Getty Images
When encountering new people, some dogs will run away, hiding with their tail between their legs or seeking refuge under a table or chair.
It’s relatively normal for dogs to feel apprehensive when encountering new people. It takes time to build trust, especially if a dog has experienced past trauma or is generally shy.
Solution for the Behavior
To help get over their fear, the new human (stranger) should let the dog come to them when it feels comfortable.
It’s essential to let the dog choose for themselves when and how to interact with this person.
Fear of Strangers in Cats
Getty Images
Cats, too, are often afraid of strangers. They’ll exhibit this fear by retreating to hiding places (like dogs) but also with dilated pupils, flattened ears, and cringing and cowering when in the presence of new people.
Bad experiences with or a lack of exposure to people, in general, are the most common reasons why cats are scared of people.
Solution for the Behavior
For cats, the solution could be simply encouraging new people to be calm and quiet (not too rowdy) around the frightened cat.
If that doesn’t work, you can also try pheromone supplements.
Fear of Strangers in Birds
Getty Images
Now birds take a different approach in showing their fear of strangers. Unlike dogs or cats that tend to hide, birds make a big, loud fuss and vocalize to try and frighten strangers away.
Frightened birds will also attempt to threaten by snaking (or rolling) their neck.
Solution for the Behavior
Birds are merely trying to protect themselves from the unknown.
It will take a bit of time for birds to warm up to strangers, so don’t force it. Allow them the chance to approach the stranger first.
Fear of Loud Noises in Cats
Getty Images
When cats puff up their fur and tail, arch their back or even jump due to a loud noise, they are frightened.
After all, it’s a survival instinct for cats to be ultra alert, so when they come across a loud noise, it may trigger a fear response.
Solution for the Behavior
To help ease the fear of a specific loud noise, try counter conditioning. Play recordings of the trigger every day to help the cat get used to the sound.
Play at a low level at first, and gradually increase the volume over time.
Fear of New Spaces in Cats
Getty Images
Cats that freeze in place or hide in fear may be indicating that they’re scared of a new space. After all, new places can be frightening.
But there are ways to lessen a cat’s stress and fear whenever they come into a new environment.
Solution for the Behavior
If you visit a new place and have your cat with you or are moving into a new home, take your cat (in its carrier) to a quiet room. Set up all your cat’s things, like their food and water bowl, toys and litter box, before letting them out of the carrier.
Keep your cat in this one room for their first days in the new space. The key is to try and not overwhelm them.
Fear of New Pets in Cats
Getty Images
Hiding under the bed in the presence of the new pet, hissing and attempting to attack the new pet whenever it’s near are surefire signs that your cat is afraid.
This response may seem angry and aggressive, but your cat’s just responding this way out of fear. If the cat wasn’t socialized with other animals when it was young, they aren’t adapted to know that your other pet is a friend rather than foe.
Solution for the Behavior
For this situation, patience and lots of supervision are essential. Introduce them to one another in short bouts. Have the new pet safely in a carrier or crate while allowing the cat to sniff around and familiarize itself.
Over time, allow supervised play, but when you aren’t there to play referee, keep them in separate areas until you are sure that they both will play nice.
Fear of New Pets in Rabbits
Getty Images
It’s common for rabbits to also be cautious and afraid of other pets, as they may perceive them as potential predators.
Rabbits may exhibit behaviors like grunting or heavy breathing whenever a new pet is around, even crouching down and hiding when it gets scared.
Solution for the Behavior
It’s best to keep the rabbit’s habitat away from your other pets, such as cats or dogs.
We suggest a room where pets other than the rabbit are not allowed.
Fear of Going Outside in Cats
Getty Images
The indoor cat freezes in place when coaxed to go outside. They might get so scared that they will bite and scratch to go back to their safe zone (inside) again.
If the cat was raised indoors, it’s typical for them to be apprehensive about it as an adult without regular exposure to the outdoors. It is unfamiliar, and the cat now perceives the outside as a possible threat.
Solution for the Behavior
The safest way to introduce a cat safely to the outdoor world is to train them with a leash and harness inside first.
That way, if the cat gets overwhelmed when it’s time to go outside, you can ensure it won’t run away or accidentally hurt themselves.
Fear of Wild Birds in Pet Birds
Getty Images
Birds are afraid of predators, and to your pet, wild birds are a threat.
A frightened bird will hold their feathers very close to their body. A frightened cockatiel or cockatoo will put their crests up. Other signs of fear include the pet bird scurrying away to a corner to seek protection or making a big fuss and vocalizing to try and frighten the wild bird away.
Solution for the Behavior
Close the blinds or move your bird’s cage to an area where it will not have a direct view of other birds.
Fear of Balloons in Birds
Getty Images
When around balloons, pet birds may retreat to a corner to try to be as far away as possible.
They may even charge at the balloons and try to bite them.
Solution for the Behavior
Imagine it from a bird’s perspective: What in the world is this floating blob?! Balloons are often very colorful, large and come in bunches, so this is scary for a pet bird to see.
To lessen the fear, move the bird’s cage to a different area, away from the view of the balloons.
Fear of The Dark in Birds
Getty Images
When a bird has succumbed to plucking their feathers, biting holes in their birdcage cover overnight or being frequently agitated when you turn off the lights, they’re likely afraid of the dark.
Solution for the Behavior
Just like humans, some birds are only slightly uncomfortable or frightened of the dark. So, try having a night light next to the bird’s cage or dimming the light or lamp to the lowest setting.
Another thing you can do is try only partially covering the bird’s cage at night. Some birds want the ability to be able to look outside their enclosure and its immediate surroundings.
Fear of Being Handled With Hands in Birds
Getty Images
When humans try and handle or pick up their pet bird, the bird will try and peck the hand away or simply have a small birdie tantrum and refuse to be held if it doesn’t like it.
After all, some birds can be completely loving and comfortable with their human in every way, yet do not like being handled by human hands.
Solution for the Behavior
You can try holding them in a way they feel comfortable (perhaps on a stick) and place the bird’s favorite treat on your hand, so they associate your hand with good things.
Fear of New Toys in Birds
Getty Images
If your bird displays behavior like screaming or even shows a decrease in vocalization when introduced to a new toy, it might be afraid of it.
Solution for the Behavior
When introducing a new toy to the fearful bird, treat it like it’s your own toy to pique the bird’s curiosity. Play with it and look like you’re having a wonderful time with it for a few days and leave it fairly close to the bird’s cage whenever you’re done.
Eventually, just by seeing you play with it, the bird will have familiarized themself with the new toy and will be ready to play on their own!
Fear of Their Shadow in Rabbits
Getty Images
As common prey animals, rabbits have naturally strong instincts to be cautious of everything, and yes, that includes their own shadow!
Your pet rabbit might be exhibiting this fear if it is scurrying or running away from their shadow or thumping the ground with their feet.
Solution for the Behavior
This one’s a bit tricky.
The best you can do is keep the area adequately lit to lessen the rabbit’s stress.
Fear of Sudden Movements in Chinchillas
Getty Images
Chinchillas make loud, barking noises to signal the alarm when they sense something dangerous (like a sudden movement).
This behavior is typically done to warn surrounding chinchillas of danger in the wild, but they still do this even in captivity.
Solution for the Behavior
Being alert and being aware helps chinchillas survive in the wild.
Ensure the chinchilla’s enclosure and wherever it spends most of its time is in a lightly trafficked area that is relatively quiet and calm.
Fear of Being Bullied (by a Cage Mate) in Chinchillas
Getty Images
The bullied chinchilla will produce loud screams of distress when threatened by its cage mate — poor guy!
And when we say bullying, it can be something like stopping the chinchilla from eating or drinking, fur plucking or chewing or it could be a full-blown fight.
Solution for the Behavior
Give your chinchilla places to hide. It can be a personal safe space when it feels stressed and could stop the conflicts between cage mates.
If that doesn’t help, then the chinchillas would do best to have separate enclosures.
Fear of Eggshells in Geckos
Getty Images
Scared geckos will stop in their tracks and avoid an area where eggshells are if they exhibit this fear.
Solution for the Behavior
Here’s another prey animal that’s constantly wary of possible predators. Snakes, for example, will eat eggs and small animals (i.e., geckos, rodents).
So, when the geckos see a broken eggshell, they assume that there are snakes nearby, and they will keep clear for their safety.
Fear of Being Handled in a Chameleon
Getty Images
When a chameleon feels threatened, it will try and make itself look as big as possible and warn that a bite is imminent.
This usually involves a chameleon puffing out its throat, making it appear bigger.
Solution for the Behavior
Hand-feeding is a great way to build trust with a chameleon. Another essential tip is not forcing them out of the cage and letting them come out on their terms.
Associate handling with good things, like their favorite treats, is also helpful!
Fear of Cucumbers in Cats
This sneaky vegetable will sometimes cause a cat to arch its back or cause its fur to stand on end.
Cats have even been known to jump a few feet up in the air when encountering a cucumber (just check out some of the viral videos online).
Solution for the Behavior
Cats usually are fearful of the unknown, especially of anything that sneaks up on them without making any noise (yes, like a cucumber).
It’s possible that cats mistakenly identify the cucumber as a snake.
Fear of the Microwave in Dogs
Getty Images
Whenever a dog hears the microwave, whether it be the beeps or just the sound of it on, they may perk up their ears and start to cry or whine in distress.
Solution for the Behavior
Distract your dog with a favorite toy whenever the microwave is in use.
You can also give your dog a tasty treat every time the microwave is on to let them know that there is nothing to fear.
Fear of Water in Cats
Getty Images
When trying to bathe a pet cat, they start to claw, bite and shriek in response to the water.
This fear may be due to the fact that cats don’t like how heavy their fur gets when it’s soaked in water. Another theory is that cats can smell chemicals in the water and prefer that their coat does not smell of it.
Solution for the Behavior
Our advice: Don’t bathe your cat unless absolutely necessary.
After all, cats do a good job bathing themselves by simply licking their coats.
Fear of Going to the Groomer in Dogs
Getty Images
This fear’s a bit more unique than that of going to the vet, but your dog will exhibit similar signs of fear.
Those include trembling and tucking their tail between their legs as soon as they see the groomer.
Solution for the Behavior
Dogs who haven’t been exposed to groomers much are scared of them. Groomers are strangers, touching very intimate parts of the dog, like its face and paws.
So, ask if you can be in the room with them while getting groomed to ease their fear until they get used to it.
Fear of Getting Pet in Hamsters
Getty Images
A hamster is showing that they’re afraid of being handled if they attempt to move away from you, get super squirmy when being pet, or pee or poop on you.
Solution for the Behavior
This fear goes back to trust: Being handled or pet is stressful if the hamster hasn’t developed a trusting relationship or bond with whoever’s handling them.
Pick a time when your hamster is relaxed, active and awake to handle them. Go slow, and keep it short and sweet.
Fear of Broomsticks in Birds
Getty Images
When in the presence of a broomstick, the scared bird may display a fanned tail and hold its wings away from its body, making themselves appear as big as possible.
Solution for the Behavior
Place the broomstick within view of the bird, pretty far away, and just leave it there for a few days.
Then, move the object to a different spot at an equal distance, and over time, move it closer and closer to the birdcage. This will likely desensitize the bird to the broomstick.
Fear of Getting Pat on the Head in Dogs
Getty Images
Dogs instinctively don’t like it when something reaches down from above toward them, so some dogs learn to associate a hand reaching toward their head with discomfort or stress.
If your dog is ducking or even wincing in anticipation of the head pat, they’re likely scared of this action.
Solution for the Behavior
Make sure to give your dog plenty of praise when it gets head pats, and to lessen their distress, don’t allow strangers to give the dog pats on the head.
You will have a happier, more relaxed dog as a result.
