Fear is defined as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, whether the threat is real or imagined (Curtis, 2013). From an evolutionary perspective, fear serves as a fundamental mechanism for survival, enabling an animal to recognise and respond appropriately to potential threats. In many situations, it represents an entirely appropriate and adaptive reaction. However, panic or chronic fear responses are undesirable in domesticated dogs, particularly in the veterinary environment, where they can compromise welfare, safety and care outcomes (Hansen Wheat et al., 2019).
What is fear and anxiety?
Fear is a destabilising emotional state that can have profound physiological and behavioural consequences (Bekoff, 2007; Panksepp, 2005). It is also the second most common form of canine anxiety seen in companion dogs (Salonen et al.,2020). Anxiety is defined as a reaction of apprehension or uneasiness to an anticipated danger or threat (Landsberg et al., 2013).
Anxiety is especially prevalent in veterinary practice as many dogs will have negative anticipation of pain or invasive handling procedures when arriving at the premises, entering the building, waiting in reception, entering the consult room, etc.
In the veterinary context, all dogs should be assumed to experience some degree of fear or anxiety until proven otherwise
Understanding and recognising fear in dogs is essential for all veterinary staff. This requires setting aside anthropocentric interpretations of behaviour – dogs may show fear in response to perceived rather than actual threats. Unfortunately, subtle signals of fear are often dismissed or misinterpreted through a human lens, leading to escalation as the dog attempts to make the perceived threat withdraw.
In the veterinary context, all dogs should be assumed to experience some degree of fear or anxiety until proven otherwise. Many indicators of fear can be subtle and easily overlooked, particularly in a busy clinical setting. Breed-related variations and physical characteristics – such as those seen in brachycephalic breeds – may further limit a dog’s ability to express fear-related body language, making interpretation even more challenging.
This assumption supports proactive, low-stress handling from the outset. Moreover, sick or injured dogs are particularly vulnerable to heightened fear responses due to pain, reduced mobility and increased sense of threat (Overall, 2013). These patients require additional care and sensitivity to prevent the formation of negative emotional associations.
The four Fs: a dog’s survival strategies
The four Fs – fight, flight, freeze and fawn – represent the primary behavioural strategies dogs use when faced with a perceived threat. While this sequence is often listed in that order, it is not fixed. Dogs may move fluidly between these responses depending on their learning history, environment and level of perceived control.
In veterinary practice, freeze and fawn responses are the most frequently overlooked, as they appear compliant or non-threatening, or are misinterpreted. A frozen dog may seem “good” or “calm”, but these are often signs of significant emotional suppression rather than comfort. Dogs using “fawn” or appeasing behaviours can be misconstrued as excited. When these subtle responses are ignored, the dog’s distress remains unresolved, increasing the likelihood of escalation. Over time, such experiences can push the dog up the fear ladder – from freeze or fawn to more overt fight or flight behaviours – as it attempts to regain a sense of safety.
Dogs may move fluidly between these responses depending on their learning history, environment and level of perceived control
Fawning (appeasement response)
Fawning is a stress-related behavioural response characterised by exaggerated appeasement or submissive behaviours aimed at avoiding conflict or harm. It often arises when a dog perceives a threat as inescapable or unpredictable. The behaviour is rooted in anxiety and a history of perceived unsafety, where the dog has learned that overt compliance or friendliness may prevent negative outcomes. Appeasement behaviours are particularly common in puppies due to their limited social experience and emotional immaturity.
Examples of fawning include excessive friendliness, hyper-attachment, rolling over, jumping up, lip-licking, yawning or sudden ground-sniffing.
Canine hyper-attachment is defined as a dog who has become too emotionally dependent on a specific person (or sometimes another animal). In simple terms, it’s when a dog feels like it can’t cope or feel safe unless that person is nearby.
Fawning dogs are often misunderstood as being relaxed or sociable when, in fact, they are attempting to defuse tension.
Appeasement behaviours serve to communicate non-aggression and a desire for safety or space and can be categorised as:
- Active appeasement – moving towards the perceived threat to lick, nuzzle, jump up or offer affiliative gestures
- Passive appeasement – reducing visibility through lowered posture, turning away or rolling onto the back
These behaviours are important communication signals, and failure to recognise them may result in escalation to flight or fight.
Freeze response
In veterinary practice, freeze and fawn responses are the most frequently overlooked, as they appear compliant or non-threatening, or are misinterpreted
The freeze response is a state of immobility and stillness when a dog perceives a threat but cannot, or chooses not to, flee or fight. It represents a passive coping mechanism governed by the autonomic nervous system. While appearing still, the dog is physiologically hyper-alert. To an untrained observer, this may look like calmness, but it reflects significant emotional distress.
Common signs include a stiff, tense body, a lowered head, wide “whale eyes” and unresponsiveness to cues. In traumatised or chronically fearful dogs, repeated freezing can develop into a state resembling learned helplessness, in which the dog ceases to attempt to cope. The freeze response should be recognised as a serious welfare concern, equivalent in importance to overt aggression.
Flight response
Fear aggression occurs when a dog perceives a threat and feels that other coping strategies – such as avoidance or flight – are unavailable or ineffective. It is primarily a defensive, distance-increasing behaviour, not an act of dominance or intent to harm. Typical signs include a crouched posture, tucked tail, flat ears, and growling or lunging.
Most dogs display multiple low-level warning signals before resorting to aggression, a process known as the escalation ladder. Unfortunately, these early warnings are often missed, punished or ignored, causing dogs to skip directly to overt aggressive behaviour. Over time, defensive or fear-based aggression can evolve into more offensive forms, as the dog learns that proactive displays of aggression are effective in making perceived threats retreat.
Physiologically, fear triggers the release of adrenaline and cortisol, heightening arousal and facilitating vivid memory consolidation. When aggression succeeds in making a perceived threat withdraw, the behaviour is reinforced, increasing the likelihood of recurrence. Over time, the dog learns that aggression works, and warning signs may disappear – making responses appear sudden or unpredictable.
True behavioural change requires systematic desensitisation and counterconditioning, allowing the dog to form new, positive associations with the stimuli that previously evoked fear
Fear aggression should always be addressed through behavioural modification, rather than suppression. Muzzles, restraint or sedation may ensure safety during procedures, but they do not change the underlying emotional response. True behavioural change requires systematic desensitisation and counterconditioning, allowing the dog to form new, positive associations with the stimuli that previously evoked fear (Overall, 2013).
Fear-free, low-stress practice
Modern veterinary practice increasingly embraces fear-free and low-stress handling approaches, which recognise that a patient’s emotional state is integral to successful clinical care. Fear-free practice seeks to reduce fear, anxiety and stress in every interaction – from waiting areas to examination rooms.
Techniques include allowing the dog to approach voluntarily, using treats, pheromones and gentle touch, minimising restraint and pausing if signs of stress appear. Veterinary staff should also avoid assuming that because their intentions are kind, the dog will not perceive them as a threat. For the patient, a stranger reaching into their space can feel invasive, regardless of intent.
A fear-free framework not only improves welfare and safety but also promotes trust, compliance and repeat visits. When a dog feels safe, they are easier to handle, more cooperative and more likely to return for future care – benefiting both patient welfare and the business.
Conclusion
Recognising subtle fear responses – particularly freeze and fawn – is critical to preventing escalation and ensuring both emotional and physical safety
Over time, repeated exposure to inescapable fear-inducing events can result in negative memory consolidation – where the emotional intensity of fear strengthens memory formation (LeDoux, 2015). This means a dog that experiences fear in the clinic will vividly remember it, leading to stronger and earlier fear responses at subsequent visits. As dogs return regularly for procedures such as vaccinations, each fearful experience can compound the next. A fear-free approach is therefore essential not only for animal welfare, but also for long-term client retention and business sustainability. Investment in staff training and education on low-stress handling should be seen as a valuable professional asset, not an optional extra.
Fear is the emotion; aggression is the behavioural symptom. The only way to stop fear aggression is to change the dog’s emotional response from negative to positive in the presence of the fear-eliciting stimuli. Fear is not simply a behavioural inconvenience; it is a neurobiological reality that profoundly affects welfare and clinical outcomes. Veterinary teams must assume that fear is present until proven otherwise, especially in vulnerable, sick or injured animals. Recognising subtle fear responses – particularly freeze and fawn – is critical to preventing escalation and ensuring both emotional and physical safety.
By embracing fear-free principles, veterinary professionals can transform the clinic from a place of fear to one of trust. This investment – in time, training and empathy – pays dividends in patient welfare, client satisfaction and long-term practice success.
