Sarah’s rescue dog, Maysie, is a joy. But when around people she doesn’t know, she cowers behind one of her humans. She’s even growled at a family friend once or twice. Sarah wonders what could have happened in the dog’s past to make an otherwise delightful dog so afraid. There are many reasons why a dog may fear strangers. If you want to help your dog overcome their fear, it helps to know your dog’s reasons so you can address them directly. However, you can still improve the uncomfortable situation without those details. Let’s take a closer look at why dogs fear strangers and what you can do about it.