Fear is a normal emotion that helps us survive in threatening circumstances . It is a mechanism that makes us react quickly to potentially dangerous situations. Therefore, thanks to him, we move away from circumstances that can put our lives in jeopardy. Exactly the same thing happens to dogs, however and as it happens to people, when fear is excessive it can harm their well-being . It also weakens the relationship between him and his owner.
Social fear is one that is persistent and irrational in situations that may involve the scrutiny and judgment of others. In dogs it is particularly associated with fear of humans and unknown dogs.
The University of Helsinki wanted to determine which factors predispose dogs to social fear. To do this, he collected data on nearly 6,000 dogs from a larger data set, a behavioral survey that covered nearly 14,000 canids.
Based on the survey, it was found that inappropriate socialization of puppies was the main cause of social fear . Also the environment in which the dogs live seems to influence, since it was observed that those that live in urban environments are more fearful than those that live in rural places .
“This has not been previously investigated in dogs. What we do know is that human mental health problems occur more frequently in the city than in rural areas. However, more studies are needed before we can say more. on causes related to the living environment, “says Jenni Puurunen, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
In previous research, it has been seen that social fear in dogs is more common in neutered females and small dogs . The present investigation has come to demonstrate this.
Another factor associated with fear is the activity that canids maintain. The less activity, the more phobia. However, it is possible that fearful dogs are less active because their owners, to avoid the situations that cause the phobia, exercise them less. Professor Hannes Lohi from the University of Helsinki wonders if this is a cause or a consequence. “Activity and stimuli have already been found to have a positive effect on behavior in both dogs and humans. Of course, the decreased activity of fearful dogs may also be due to their owners wanting to avoid exposure to their dogs to stressful situations. People may not be as active with fearful dogs, “says Lohi.
The wheaten terrier, the bravest
According to a study carried out by the University of Helsinki, the wheaten terrier, a dog originally from Ireland and used on farms to kill rats, is one of the bravest breeds that exist. The Cairn Terrier and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi showed little fear of other dogs , while the Spanish Water Dog and the Shetland Sheepdog (similar to a collie) were the ones who expressed the most social fear .
“Differences between races support the notion that genes have an effect on fear , as well as on many other mental health problems. This encourages us to do more research, especially in terms of heredity. Ultimately, this The study provides us with tools to improve the well-being of our best friend: diverse socialization in the puppy stage, an active lifestyle and carefully made breeding choices can significantly reduce social fear, “summarizes Lohi.
Referencia: Puurunen, J., Hakanen, E., Salonen, M.K. et al. Inadequate socialisation, inactivity, and urban living environment are associated with social fearfulness in pet dogs. Sci Rep 10, 3527 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60546-w
