What sort of actions may startle/frighten a dog?
The same things that startle people will startle dogs: • loud noises, • being disturbed while sleeping, • being approached without being seen, • large sudden movements, • being approached by someone they do not know, • having someone run at you, • someone angry with you, • threatening you with an object. In most instances, a frightened dog would prefer to escape rather than fight. Keep in mind that the size of the human body, compared to the dog, could be rather intimidating When should a dog be left alone? Dogs should be left alone when • they are sleeping – you may startle or frighten them causing an aggressive response; • they are eating – they may feel you are threatening their food and want to protect it; • they are with their puppies – mothers will be very protective of their offspring and must be treated cautiously, with great care and only under the owners supervision; • there is a party or crowd – loud noise and movement may cause the dog to become disoriented and confused. Ne
