Is your dog afraid of ordinary objects? Does he freeze or try to run away when he sees a bag blowing in the wind? Does he bark or growl at cardboard boxes, ladders, or brooms? There are many reasons why dogs may be fearful of certain objects, including exposure to something scary during the developmental period, lack of early socialization, or even a negative experience with the object (perhaps the broom or ladder tipped over and startled the dog). Fortunately, you can help put your dog at ease by creating positive associations with objects that he may fear.