Fearless dogs: An Online Course to Reduce Fear and Anxiety in dogs

Helping dogs conquer fear and build resilience
Dog in flower field

Does your dog struggle with fear and anxiety? Or do you work with excessively fearful and anxious dogs?

Is your dog afraid of loud noises, thunder, fireworks, or specific objects?

Or is your dog constantly alert, seemingly anxious, hesitant to explore new situations. Perhaps your dog can’t relax due to their constant vigilance?

A fearful or anxious dog is tough for any dog parent, even if you already have a lot of experience with dogs. Are you worried about your dog’s wellbeing due to their excessive fear and anxiety?

Do you recognize this?

Your dog:

  • Is constantly alert and vigilant
  • Struggles to calm down and relax
  • Seems overly sensitive
  • Freaks out in new and unknown situations
  • Spooks easily
  • Reacts to certain sounds or objects

What to do when you have a fearful or anxious dog

There are many different aspects to think about when you have a fearful dog. A critical factor in helping your dog with anxiety is to improve the emotional state of your dog.

There is a clear link between excessive (chronic) stress and anxiety. This is most often due to excess stress in the dog’s life and because the dog’s environment doesn’t always match the dog’s individual needs. So the main purpose of this self-paced course is to teach you how to manage your dog’s stress levels and take a critical look at their behaviour and environment.

In this course, you’ll learn how to read your dog’s mind through their body language, so that you can recognize early signs of unease. This will help you to interfere early and avoid your dog from becoming too stressed and anxious.

You’ll also learn the principles of stress coping and stress management. We’ll discuss important concepts such as the role of control and predictability in managing stress in dogs. Reducing stress and stress management is only one part of the puzzle though. This course will also discuss how to meet your dog’s need to express their natural behaviours, and why this is so important for fear reduction and good well-being.

Your relationship with your dog may also be more difficult due to your dog’s excessively fearful behaviours. In this course, we’ll also work on understanding how dogs form relationships with us, their humans.  You’ll also learn how to foster a healthy relationship and built trust. A trusting relationship is incredibly important for fearful and anxious dogs.

Helping your dog to feel better can also benefit your own mental health. Dogs are sensitive creatures, and it can be heartbreaking to see your dog in distress. By taking steps to help your dog feel more comfortable and secure, you can also feel more confident and relaxed.

This course is for you if

  • You want to help your dog to overcome fear and anxiety
  • You want to help your dog to reduce their stress levels.
  • You want to help your dog to feel more relaxed and improve their mood.
  • You want to improve your relationship.
  • You have tried to train your dog to overcome their fears before, but it didn't work and you want to know why and what to do instead.
  • You know there must be a better way, but you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.
  • You want the guidance of a specialist with many years experience.
  • You don’t want to use punishment and aversive methods.
  • You don’t want training tricks but understand why your dog is behaving this way.
  • You want to be proactive and educated.
  • Or perhaps you're a professional looking for a way to better help your clients.

How to take this course?

In three simple steps

I'm ready

Step 1

Enroll in the course

Step 2

Watch the videos, read the text, fill out the workbooks, do the exercises and join the live Q&A.

Step 3

Transform your dog from stressed and anxious to calm and happy. While improving your relationship at the same time.

Enroll now

Meet your teacher

Hi, I’m Dr. Else and I’m an Associate Professor in animal welfare, specialising in dog behaviour, cognition, stress, anxiety and the neuro-endocrinology that controls these processes. I have helped hundreds of animals overcome their stress and fear over the last 15 years. 

My vision is that behavioural problems are only the surface of the real issue. We often only pay attention once our dog’s behaviour is undesirable, but the cause of the behaviour lies much deeper and started long before we first noticed it. 

We can only change our dog’s behavioural patterns and ‘break’ the cycle of anxiety when we begin to understand why dogs behave the way they do, and by meeting their underlying emotional needs. An important part of my approach is therefore to address their underlying emotional needs, which is why I created this course.

Dr Else Verbeek en witte hond

What other people say

“I just listened to your seminar and first of all just want to say how very interesting it was and that I am always so impressed when you present because you do it in such a professional way yet manage to make the listener feel a real personal connection to you as an individual (and not just researcher) and your experiences. It's thoroughly enjoyable and you are one of my role models in this area for sure! "
Svea JörgenssenOwner of a dog with separation anxiety
“I really appreciated the effort to bring evidence based knowledge to a field that is so unregulated and suffers from it. Thank you! I hope there is more information that can be given to the different dog owners and clubs in the area."
Madeleine.SOwner of a dog with separation anxiety
“I loved the opportunity to ask questions and found her responses to not only be informative and helpful but also encouraging and passionate. Else explained complex behaviours and emotions in an easy to understand and very pedagogical way.”
Ulrika k.Owner of a dog with separation anxiety
"Else explained everything so that it was easy to understand. She also used many examples and was engaged with real life situations. Else is very professional but also warm, personal, and passionate. She gave many examples that made it easier to understand how I could help my dog."
Linnea B.Owner of a dog with separation anxiety
“Thank you very much for explaining separation anxiety in a very understandable manner. Your research is light in the tunnel with all these “so called dog trainers” around who most of all seek the money but don't understand the dog."
Ulrike NiemannOwner of a dog with separation anxiety
This ‘fear of fireworks’ course gives a very nice complete and broad view on the problem. Else Verbeek is a highly motivated teacher and also organizer of this course. With great passion and knowledge, she brings scientific knowledge in an understandable way to the student. For topics that are outside her own expertise, she organizes bonus Webinars given by other specialists. In addition, she encourages optimal discussion, interactions and engagement between the course members, so that you can learn from each other's expertise, opinion and insight.
AnynomousDog behaviourist
I’m going to recommend the ‘fear of fireworks’ course especially to dog behaviourists who have little scientific background. The Dutch dog behaviour consultant degrees now accredited by the NVGH are all at Bachelor level, however, this level is not tested by the government. Although research is discussed in the Dutch courses, it is not critically examined, and research is not conducted at the institutes. I see this reflected in the approach in the field. The fear of fireworks course can provide more in-depth knowledge in that respect. It gives insight into evidence-based practice and makes you think outside the box of treatment protocols!
AnonymousDog behaviourist
I am very happy that I took this course. Super nice that this content-rich course was also recorded, so that everyone can watch it again when the knowledge has faded. Highly recommended! Else is a nice and open person and scientist who created this very professional course! Chapeau Else, thanks for all the valuable info.
AnonymousDog behaviourist

What you will learn in this course:

Understand and recognize stress in your dog.

How to identify stress triggers.

How to help your dog to feel more relaxed.

Understand why and how chronic stress is linked to fear and anxiety.

Understanding predictability and controllability.

How to build better stress resilience.

Understand behavioural needs.

Knowing the importance of activity, rest and sleep.

Improve your relationships and attachment to your dog.

How to build more trust.

Course content delivery

This self-study course is conveniently offered by email. Every 2-4 days you’ll receive an email directly in your inbox. The learning materials consists of written texts, exercises, worksheets and videos.

You will receive 12 lessons spread over 35 days, with over 4 hours of video content. This will give you the time to work through the exercises and make a real difference to your dog’s well-being.

There is also the possibility to ask questions via email.

Will you join us?

Are you ready to start helping your dog feel more relaxed and improve your relationship? Improve your knowledge and skills so that you’re able to help your dog to feel great!

Fearless course

Reduce your dog's stress levels for a better relationship.
€127
€ 87
  • Evidence-based online DIY course
  • Experienced and qualified teacher
  • Theory and practical exercises
  • Over 4 hours of video lectures
  • Worksheets
  • Unlimited access to course materials
  • Money back guarantee*
Buy now
*If you're not happy after the first 4 lessons, you'll get a full refund.