Have you ever wondered what really gets under a dog’s skin? Other than the usual suspects, some creatures can send even the sweetest dogs into a frenzy.
According to animal behaviorists, a dog’s instincts and past experiences shape these reactions, but you would be surprised to learn exactly which animals dogs can’t stand. Let’s take a look at 18 creatures that dogs can’t stand and get them freaking out.
1. Squirrels
Squirrels seem harmless enough, but the second they start twitching their tails and zipping around, most dogs lose their minds. Something about seeing them race up a tree flips that hunting switch.
Suddenly, your calm dog is barking, lunging, or even whining because they know they’ll never catch them. What should’ve been a peaceful walk instantly turns into a full-blown chase scene.
2. Cats
The rivalry between cats and dogs has been around for centuries. These animals often clash the second they come into contact with each other.
Cats’ aloof stares, sudden hisses, and unpredictable swipes can confuse and irritate dogs, who will often respond by barking or chasing. While some dogs might try to make peace, others explode into chaos instantly. For many dogs, cats remain their ultimate frenemy.
3. Birds
From flocks of pigeons in busy cities to crows in backyards, birds keep dogs on their toes. Their sudden flight, noisy calls, and unpredictable movements can drive dogs wild.
Whether they’re barking at geese in the park or chasing seagulls along the beach, dogs often freak out when they see a bird in the wild.
4. Snakes
By slithering, flicking their tongues, and moving in eerie silence, snakes tap into dogs’ deepest survival instincts. To many dogs, snakes seem unnatural. Their movements are foreign and unsettling.
Some dogs will bark endlessly, while others will run away from danger. This fear for no reason, venomous snakes can be very dangerous, making the dog’s reaction less about overreaction and more about caution.
5. Skunks
Few dog-owner experiences are as unforgettable as a run-in with a skunk. Eager dogs often charge forward, only to get sprayed. The smell lasts for days, no matter what cleaning solutions you use.
Luckily, dogs usually learn their lesson and simply growl or avoid skunks altogether. But for many dogs, curiosity overpowers caution, usually with stinky results.
6. Frogs
Harmless hopping amphibians like frogs can cause surprising chaos for dogs. Their random leaps often catch a dog’s attention instantly.
But what starts as interest quickly becomes obsession, as the dog starts barking, pouncing, and prodding the small creature. Some dogs even try to lick or bite them.
7. Other Dogs
Not every dog encounter ends happily. Sometimes meeting another dog can spark territorial barking, growls, or stand-offish behavior. Unfamiliar dogs present an unpredictable mix; playful intentions, dominance challenges, or direct hostility.
For nervous dogs, even getting sniffed by another dog can feel threatening. These situations are often noisy, chaotic, and intense, making other dogs one of their most triggering “creatures.”
8. Toads
Unlike frogs, toads can be a real hazard when adventurous dogs get curious. Their skin can secrete toxins, which cause foaming, gagging, or even emergencies if it gets ingested.
While some dogs stay on alert, many learn the hard way, discovering quickly that these bumpy creatures are not their friends.
9. Horses
Horses are enormous and imposing, and they often test a dog’s nerves in surprising ways. The moment dogs see these gentle giants, their usual bravado fades.
Dogs bark furiously, circle, or shrink back, torn between fear and curiosity. Horses’ sheer size and unfamiliar scent trigger anxiety in many dogs.
10. Bats
Nothing rattles a dog faster than a bat. Their silent, unpredictable movements overhead spark frantic barking and darting eyes.
The sound of their wings or squeaks at dusk taps into dogs’ prey-chasing instincts. Dogs often mistake bats for invaders, turning peaceful evenings into noisy chaos fueled purely by instinct and adrenaline.
11. Hedgehogs
Tiny, prickly, and confusing, hedgehogs challenge dogs in frustrating ways. They usually approach them with curiosity, only to be met with painful quills.
The sting of one sniff or paw touch often sends dogs howling and jumping back in shock. Hedgehogs’ nocturnal rustling only adds to the alarm, making them appear as sharp and unapproachable intruders in canine eyes.
12. Porcupines
Few encounters terrify dogs more than porcupines. Their intimidating quills not only hurt dog, but they also lodge deep into skin and mouths. Dogs often rush in with bravado, barking furiously, only to retreat yelping, with their faces covered in spikes.
Removing the barbs requires painful intervention, leaving dogs with trauma that makes porcupines unforgettable enemies.
13. Owls
Mysterious owls unsettle dogs with their eerie nighttime routines. Their sudden hoots in the dark often cause alarmed barking, and their unexpected movements heighten adrenaline and fear.
Dogs rarely encounter owls closely, but when they do, their reactions are filled with confusion.
14. Chipmunks
Chipmunks are fast, cheeky, and tiny. They often drive dogs into hyper-drive. The scurrying movements and high-pitched squeaks awaken every chase instinct buried in a pup’s DNA.
Dogs lunge for bushes, claw at burrows, and bark endlessly at trees where chipmunks quickly run away.
15. Monkeys
Monkeys are super mischievous, and dogs don’t handle them well. Their erratic movements, screeches, and boldness can overwhelm or frighten even the bravest dog.
In places where dogs meet monkeys, confrontations become frantic, filled with barks and bluff charges. Sometimes monkeys taunt them from trees or steal food, triggering endless frustration in dogs.
16. Coyotes
Coyotes are wild and cunning animals that immediately put dogs on high alert. Their eerie howls at night make dogs bark relentlessly. Unlike harmless critters, coyotes pose real danger, which dogs instinctively sense.
Some confront, some retreat, but all remain deeply unsettled. The tension of hearing or spotting coyotes often lingers, making them enemies that dogs respect even while trying to scare them away.
17. Goats
Bleats, strong smell, and unpredictable headbutts turn goats into strange adversaries for dogs. Curious dogs might approach, only to retreat when they are confronted by horns or boldness.
Some dogs bark furiously, others pace nervously, confused by the goat’s confidence. Unlike prey animals that run, goats stand their ground.
18. Raccoons
Raccoons are clever, deceptive, and surprisingly bold. Dogs rushing in to bark often encounter sharp claws, snarls, or counterattacks. These scavengers trigger endless late-night barking fits when caught rummaging through trash.
Unlike squirrels or chipmunks, raccoons fight back, making interactions more dangerous.
19. Bears
Bears are massive in size and threatening by nature, and they overwhelm dogs completely. While small pups bark frantically, protective instincts often clash with fear, leading to reckless bravery.
Bears rarely flee, making encounters terrifying. Dogs sense their power instantly, often going from aggressive to anxious within seconds.