Spooks: What Is Idiopathic Fear & Withdrawl Syndrome

There  is a (albeit) rare, distressing and somewhat perplexing phenomenon in  dogs called Idiopathic Fear and Withdrawal Syndrome (IFWS).  A condition  that, seemingly, has a higher incidence rate in greyhounds where  affected dogs are referred to as ‘spooks’.

Now,  Spooks aren’t to be mistaken for just being anxious dogs.  Yes, they  are anxious, but there is a difference between an anxious dog, and a  chronically fearful one.  

General  anxiety in dogs usually comes about through things like a lack of  socialisation, negative and traumatic experiences or poor training  practices that create negative associations…though the list is rather  endless on this one.  Anxiety can be overcome, if somewhat slowly,  through positive reinforcement, gradual exposure and desensitisation.

But  for a spook, their fear is genetic.  Their base predisposition is to be  nervous and fearful of anything and everyone that is unfamiliar to  them, and while negative experiences may come about later in life that  might compound this behaviour, it isn’t the root cause.

While  there will be some nonsense on the internet about how Spooks are the  ‘bottom of the pack’, that they’re submissive and that their  personalities are defined by their standing in the hierarchy…but it has  absolutely nothing to do with the long debunked dominance theory.

It  is well known that if the mother of the litter is of a nervous  disposition or is put through a great deal of stress while pregnant  where she has extended periods of elevated cortisol, that the  temperament of the litter will be greatly influenced before they are  even born.  This then leads to unavoidable behavioural issues in the  puppies as they grow.  In essence, fearful dogs will birth fearful dogs,  creating a hereditary issue.

In  greyhounds, because of their upbringing often starting in Ireland and  then coming to England, they will have changed environments several  times during their early development.  
That lack of  consistency, socialisation, changing environment and routine further  impacts upon any dogs that have IFWS.  They are in a constant and  vicious cycle of fear, anxiety and overstimulation where they associate  everything in a negative light regardless of whether something actually  negative has happened.  It is their default state.

Quite  amazingly, some Spooks do make it onto the track and race, but most  never make it.  They are too fearful to school and are sent straight for  rehoming.  This again is another change, and it can take them a very  long time to become comfortable with any new environment and the people  in it.

We've seen a lot of spooks  over the years, they vary massively in their severity, and some can  live somewhat normal lives after a great deal of time, effort and  support from their owners, as well as guidance from another hound in the  home.   However, others live very secluded, housebound lives because  they cannot mentally cope with leaving their safe space and routine.   They are, in essence, agoraphobic.

They  are able to build relationships with their owners, but it can upward of  a year, if not much longer, to fully settle into the home and for their  personality to develop beyond their fear.  Once they’ve built that bond  they can, in a lot of instances, act like perfectly normal dogs within  their safe environment and with their safe humans.  But any changes can  set them back.

We once worked to  rehome a severe Spook.  He never made it onto the track, he was  petrified of everyone and everything.  As evidence to this, while in our  care, he had a complete mental breakdown because we replaced a door,  which meant it was white instead of black.  He was completely unable to  walk near it or past it.  Even seeing it, his tail went right up to his  belly, he froze, and couldn’t move at all.  He had to be carried.  That  whole area surrounding that door was, from that point, completely  inaccessible to him.  He could not come to terms with it at all.

He  is three years into his forever home now, and still to this day he will  not leave the house.  He cannot cope with the outdoor world.  Indoors,  he’s brilliant (although it was a long road to get there) and has  accepted the humans in the home very well, but any change to his safe  little bubble…panic!

Even Spooks  like him, who are settled and secure in their environments, can still  have days where they panic for seemingly no reason.  It could be a new  sound like a dripping tap, or you put a new picture frame on the shelf.   

Their default setting, when  faced with something they fear, is to retreat.  Hide away into corners,  secluded areas of the home or garden, such as forcing themselves into  the tight inaccessible gaps between a garden shed and the fence!  They  seek to avoid any and all interactions with people, animals and their  environment.  

This is another  defined difference between a Spook and an ‘anxious’ dog.  Anxiety can  present in a number of different behaviours in dogs, and while they can  be avoidant, it can also come out in unwanted behaviours such as  reactivity, destructive behaviour and excessive barking.
While  others may have different experiences, we have never seen any such  behaviours in Spooks.  They hide, shake, pant, tremble, completely shut  down and often toilet on themselves…but we’ve never once seen one act  out defensively or aggressively!

Managing  IFWS is difficult, as it requires patience, understanding and a very  committed, supportive home environment.  The primary goal is to create a  safe and secure environment for the affected hound and minimise  exposure to any stressors.  Giving them a predictable and stable routine  that they can rely on free from any triggers.

While  gradual desensitisation and positive reinforcement will assist in  relieving anxious dogs of their worries, it is not quite as simple as  this with Spooks as it depends on the severity of their condition.

For  the dog we mentioned, it’s quite possible that he will never overcome  his fear of leaving the house.  But he is happy, healthy and fulfilled  in the home environment.  There is no need to force him out of that  comfort zone.

Some may want, and  possibly even enjoy, going for walks.  But in a very controlled, low  intensity, environment where any potential triggers are avoided such as  unfamiliar people, animals, objects and noises.

They  need an incredibly gradual behaviour modification plan, with lots of  positive reinforcement, which is often assisted through the use of  anti-anxiety medications.  But, these medications should only be  prescribed and monitored by a veterinarian, as they require careful  dosing and management to avoid potential side effects.

Natural  supplements, such as those containing L-theanine or tryptophan, may  also have calming effects and can be used as adjuncts to behavioural  therapy. However, the efficacy of these supplements can vary, and may be  unlikely to make any influential change to a Spooks behaviour.

Owners  should avoid forcing the dog into situations that trigger fear and  instead focus on creating positive associations through gentle, patient  handling. Positive reinforcement techniques, such as rewarding calm  behaviour with treats and praise (if they’re happy to accept these), can  also reinforce trust and confidence they have in you as their owner and  further increase their confidence in coping with triggers.

Having  a Spook can be quite isolating, and while in a lot of instances seeking  the assistance of a qualified behaviourist can be massively  beneficial…it can be counterproductive when the dog cannot cope with  having the behaviourist in the house or even close to them to be able to  help!

Least to say, having a Spook is not for the faint of heart.  They require a profound level of dedication.

The  owners of Spooks will speak of the huge reward that comes with helping  them overcome their fears and anxieties, but they will also tell you  that it takes years to achieve…if ever.  They are a labour of love, but  it is always worth it in the end, regardless of whether they live  indoors or normal lives.

The  long-term outlook for greyhounds with IFWS varies depending on the  severity of the condition and the effectiveness of the management  strategies employed.  While some greyhounds may show significant  improvement with appropriate intervention, others may continue to  experience episodes of fear and withdrawal throughout their lives.

Ultimately,  the goal of managing IFWS is to ensure that the hound in question has a  good quality of life, free from fear.  It is a long road, but you need  to celebrate the small victories, even if progress is very gradual!