Fear – Anxiety
It is not only research into human-dog interaction that suffers from the lack of differentiation between fear and anxiety , but also, for example, psychotherapy.
Humans and other animals have a natural, innate FEAR of unfamiliar things and situations. But FEAR is always accompanied by CURIOSITY !
With dogs, one can often clearly see how fear and curiosity alternate; the dog approaches with interest, only to immediately back away (barking). The dog owner’s patience is required here so that the dog can overcome its fear and curiosity can win out.
With ANXIETY, on the other hand, either AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR sets in immediately , or, if the critical distance has been exceeded, a CATASTROPHE REACTION , e.g. in the form of an attack.
Avoidance behavior, regardless of whether it is on the part of the dog or the owner, prevents the dog from learning that the situation in question is not dangerous at all! If, for example, the owner drags the dog into the forest every time it encounters other people, the dog is taught even more that other people must be very dangerous.
By orienting oneself towards the “ important other ”, however, the dog is able to enter such situations and have a positive learning experience, thus overcoming its anxieties and the associated behaviors.