Scott Answers a Reader’s Dog Behavior Question, "Why Are So Many Dogs Afraid of Men?"

©Scott Sheaffer, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, USA Dog Behavior, LLC

“...I think this is the primary reason many dogs disproportionately fear men over women.”
— Scott Sheaffer

A dog owner submitted this question to me last week: “My dog is afraid of men. Why are so many dogs afraid of men?” I get this question in one form or another all the time. If you have a dog behavior question you’d like me to answer, please submit it here.

There Are Many Dogs Who Are Afraid of Men

It’s impossible to know the actual numbers and percentages, but I can confidently say after working with thousands of fearful and aggressive dogs, the number of dogs who fear men far outweighs the number of dogs who fear women.

Common Explanations for This Fear Behavior

The following are some popular reasons why this occurs. However, there are other causes noted below that I think better explain this fear behavior.

  • Bad experiences with men are commonly thought to be the primary cause but likely only apply to a small percentage of these dogs. Since both men and women can, and do, abuse dogs, this doesn’t adequately explain the disparity. It is not uncommon for some dogs to fear women and not men.

  • Lack of proper socialization with unfamiliar men in the dog’s first 16 weeks of life may contribute to a fear of unfamiliar men. However, if young dogs aren’t socialized with unfamiliar women the same can occur. Again, this doesn’t adequately explain the difference.

More Realistic Causes of This Behavior

In my opinion, the following better explains why some dogs are afraid of men.

  • Since men are generally bigger, taller and have deeper voices than women, they may appear scary to some dogs. I believe this is a significant factor.

  • A Current Biology (Brooks et al, 2008) study showed men generally move differently than women. Specifically, their movement appears to be more intrusive to the human observer. I’m not sure we needed a study to know that men generally move differently than women, but what is interesting here is that the movement differences felt intrusive. Do dogs note this difference as well? We can’t know for sure, but my guess is an unequivocal “yes” and I think this is the primary reason many dogs disproportionately fear men over women.

What To Do if Your Dog Fears Men

There are several simple things that can be done to help dogs who fear men. When unfamiliar men meet your dog, have them do the following:

  • Stand sideways.

  • Avoid eye contact.

  • Don’t pet or touch.

  • Don’t address or talk to the dog.

  • Maintain a relaxed body while moving slowly.

  • Continue to converse with other humans in the room.

  • Don’t approach the dog; let the dog approach.

  • Throw treats behind the dog.

What To Do if the Fear Is Significant in Your Dog

There are many things that can be done through proper behavior modification and management to help dogs whose fear of men is severe. If the fear is substantial enough that it keeps your dog from functioning normally in your household, please consult with a certified behavior consultant (canine).