Dog Fearful of Men: Free Tips to Help Scared Dogs

For this Omaha dog training session, we received a call to help a dog fearful of men. Seven-year-old Scottish Terrier Sammy (shown above on the right with his roommate Blue, a 10-month-old Scottie) is scared of most men. This includes one of his guardians.

What to do if Your Dog is Afraid of Men?

When you are dealing with a dog who is scared of men or any type of person, it’s important to give the dog space. Allowing a scared dog to come to you on its own helps it build up trust in you and feel empowered.

One tip I use for fearful dogs is to give them something nice when they face what scares them. To help Sammy get over a fear of human males, I had the guardian hold onto a bully stick at his side.

Sammy saw it and because he didn’t encourage the dog, Sammy came over on his own and started chewing on it. I’d like the guardian to repeat this ritual daily for a few weeks to build up those positive associations.

Many people try to comfort anxious dogs by petting them or speaking sweetly when the dog is fearful. However, if a dog feels scared of people, it often doesn’t want anyone to touch it. It’s better for people to simply ignore the dog—avoid direct eye contact and don’t reach out to pet them.

If a scared dog comes near you and shows signs of worry, like being stiff or leaning in, stay still. Look for wide, unblinking eyes or a tucked tail. Wait until the dog finishes sniffing and moves away.

A scared dog needs a lot of courage to approach someone new. By staying calm and still, you can reward that bravery.

I suggested to the guardian that they try my “petting with a purpose” method. This method focuses on rewarding good behaviors. I like to call this “celebrating,” and it’s a great way to train dogs while building their confidence.

This approach can also encourage better behavior. The owner plays a key role in shaping their dog’s actions, and positive reinforcement is an effective way to train.

How to Help a Dog Fearful of Men

Another great way to help a dog get over a fear of people is to go for a walk together. You can see how I used the walk to help a dog get over a fear of men in the free dog training video below.

Dogs get over things by literally moving forward. Additionally, all the sights, sounds and smells experienced on the walk provide a nice distraction.

I recommended the guardian start walking Sammy a few times a day. When the snow melts and the dog feels safe, Sammy should start to look forward to seeing the guardian. He shouldn’t be afraid anymore.

If your dog seems scared, it’s important to go slowly and try again later. Avoid punishing your dog, as this can worsen their fear. Standing over an anxious dog can increase their stress, so be mindful of your posture.

To help your dog adjust, reduce stressful situations. Let your dog experience the stressor multiple times. This can help them become accustomed to it.

Your dog might not feel completely at ease around men. However, they can be in the same room without showing aggression.

As a dog behaviorist, most of my clients want help with their dog’s behavior. This is different from just training a Scottish Terrier to be well-behaved. My focus is on understanding the structure of behavior and the reasons behind a dog’s actions. In Dog Psychology sessions like this one, we work specifically on helping anxious dogs overcome their fears and phobias.

To help the guardians remember the dog behavior tips from our training session, like how to stop a dog’s fear of humans, we made a video. You can watch the roadmap to success video below.