FEARS
Just as each one of us has a certain level of self-confidence, each dog may potentially be bothered by something, either because of the way it is perceived visually or because of the way it sounds to them.  Since a dog’s perspective is different from a human’s perspective, it is important that you know what potentially might bother your dog and how to handle your dog in those situations.
1)	Dogs are often startled by a loud noise.  Examples: car backfires, loud traffic approaching from behind, noisy subways, the increased intensity of sounds of traffic on a rainy day, fire crackers, thunder, etc.  Applause can also either startle or excite your dog. In any of these situations, your dog may be unable to determine the source of the commotion and that also may contribute to the concern.  If you handle all of the above in a calm, confident manner, your dog will follow your lead.  It is best not to correct or coddle your dog when it is exhibiting a startled or fearful reaction.  Correcting may intensify this concern, while coddling may reinforce fearful response.  It is important to appear calm and confident to create the same attitude in your dog.
2)	Where people can often be uncomfortable in a crowded situation, a dog is more apt to be concerned with an isolated person.  This person may be standing still, or staring, or showing avoidance or fear of you and your dog.  To a dog these behaviors may appear suspicious or threatening.  Dogs’ perceptions are based on instinct.  Staring, in the dog pack, is often construed as challenging or threatening.  If the isolated person will speak to you, they will appear more normal to the dog and that will diminish the challenge in the dog’s mind, allowing him to get back to work.  This is normal behavior, and as your confidence together grows, these isolated incidences will diminish.  On a rare occasion your dog might react with concern for an inanimate object.  This could be a strange-shaped object or an object that is out of context in its surroundings.  Shadows, or changes in lighting, might create optical illusions for the dog.  This is normal as the structure of a dog’s eye is different from that of a human.  Movement is more important to a dog, while detail is less so.  It is often helpful to allow your dog to familiarize himself with the object to allay his concern.  Your dog may appear hesitant in such a situation, but your confident reassurance will help him overcome any concerns.  Many of these fears are accentuated by the newness of your relationship and the stresses that this places on each of you.  These responses will diminish in time as you gain experience together and your confidence in each other grows.
12/2004
DSR/ncn