If dogs are afraid of men, it is usually due to inadequate socialization. In individual cases it can also be due to the smell, existing trauma, a lack of self-confidence, a dominant demeanor or incorrect training.
Interestingly, this is nothing unusual. Young puppies struggle with this more often. You can recognize this type of fear primarily by the following signs:
- Body trembles
- No eye contact
- Dog whines
- Stooped posture
- Sudden incontinence
- Licking the lips
- Constant yawning [1]
The better you understand the cause, the more effectively you can overcome the problem. For this reason, below you will learn about the causes and what helps against them.
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Causes
In most cases, dogs' fear of men is due to one or more of the following 6 causes:
#1 Lack of socialization
In the wild, dogs get used to their surroundings and other animals completely automatically. Because they usually live in packs and constantly meet other wild animals.
The same applies to street dogs. This type of natural socialization does not exist with domestic dogs. Owners must therefore be proactive themselves.
Because without sufficient socialization, everything seems strange, so the four-legged friend becomes afraid. This also explains why dogs are afraid of people in costumes.
Puppies also spend a lot of time with their mother in the first week of life. With the father, on the other hand, very little. They are therefore used to female care from an early age.
#2 Smell
Hold onto. Depending on their breed and genetics, dogs are said to smell between 10,000 and 100,000 times better than humans. This also explains why we use sniffer dogs. [2]
The four-legged friends' olfactory receptors are so sensitive that they can smell hormones themselves. In men this is predominantly “testosterone” and in women it is “estrogen”.
The alpha in the pack usually has the highest testosterone levels. This also explains why dogs instinctively have a great respect or even fear of dominant men.
The puppies, on the other hand, are already used to the smell of women by their mother. Estrogen therefore has a familiar effect. It also has positive associations.
#3 Existing trauma
When I was about 5 years old, a black cat scratched my face when I tried to pet it. I had scratch marks on my face for several weeks.
And even today, when I see a black cat, I still get an uneasy feeling in my stomach. More precisely, it is a protective mechanism.
And this protective mechanism also exists in dogs. If your four-legged friend has had traumatic experiences with men in the past, then that is the trigger.
Unfortunately, this happens more often with street dogs and dogs from animal shelters. In some cases it also goes back to violent interactions in the past. [3]
#4 Negative feedback methods
Both dogs and children can be trained using the same principles. You can motivate them either through rewards or punishments:
- Rewarded behavior is generally repeated (positive feedback)
- Punished behavior is generally avoided (negative feedback)
Studies have already shown that punishments are a stronger motivator. It only becomes a problem when the majority of feedback methods are negative.
Over time, this can lead to anxiety disorders and low self-confidence. If the feedback comes from the owner, dogs are sometimes afraid of men.
#5 Lack of self-confidence
Studies have long since proven that no person is born with a high level of self-confidence. Rather, it is something you acquire as you grow up and mature.
Dogs feel exactly the same way. If you don't proactively work on your self-confidence, it can show up years later. Especially with small dog breeds. [4]
In very rare cases this has genetic reasons. Instead, it is usually the result of an upbringing with lots of negative feedback methods or even existing trauma.
It is also often seen in dogs that are left alone for a long time and hardly get any attention. Because that is also one of their basic needs.
#6 Dominant demeanor
Many men are absolute masters of subconscious dominance gestures. This refers to behaviors that make a dominant impression to the outside world:
- Direct approach
- Quick step
- Direct eye contact
- Lean over
- Speaking loudly
- Rigid eye contact
In addition, compared to women, men are usually taller, broader and have a deeper voice. All of this explains why dogs are more often afraid of men. [5]
Women, on the other hand, more often greet dogs at eye level by getting on their knees. This behavior also appears less threatening to babies and small children.
What to do?
The first step is to suspect the potential cause. The more accurately you can assess this, the better you can choose the most effective solution:
Wartime shows that, sadly, people and dogs can get used to anything. It is important to proceed step by step and not to rush anything.
Therefore, find the inhibition threshold at which your dog is still “okay” with a man. Then maintain this distance before shortening it slightly. And the same thing again.
Repeat this game until your four-legged friend shows no symptoms of fear in the presence of men. This can take several weeks.
If traumatic experiences with men are behind the fear, then these negative associations must be replaced with positive ones. Easier said than done.
The easiest way to do this is for your dog to only get his food and drink from men from now on. Treats and lots of attention also help.
Long walks can also help the dog lose its fear of men. Because in the future he will associate the contact more and more with positive feelings. [6]
- Build self-confidence
Even seemingly shy dogs can become confident four-legged friends. How? There are a number of methods for doing this, starting with a lot of attention.
Your dog will especially appreciate the attention in front of other dogs and people. The same goes for praise or petting in front of others.
I would mostly avoid negative feedback methods with punishments. You should also avoid taking advantage of your four-legged friend's trust.
If your dog is only afraid of certain men, you can also start the training with the man. Namely, how best to greet dogs.
How does that work? Never run directly towards a dog, crouch down and let him sniff you first. Speak in a calm voice and avoid rapid movements.
With these tips alone, the inhibition threshold should be overcome much more quickly. In addition, treats can also help to attract the dog. [7]
If all of these tips don't help, then I recommend consulting a professional dog trainer. You can often book individual appointments at local dog schools.
If you are looking for a cheaper and more flexible solution, then I can recommend Johanna Esser's online dog school. Fears are also treated there.
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