Why is my dog afraid of my cousin, how to fix it.?

Some dogs are just afraid of certain people, may be he does not like his smell, or his voice. Try to sit with your dog and let your cousin sit close , slowly let him get closer. Let your cousin give the dog some treats , and talk to the dog in an easy voice. this could take a while for the dog to know your cousin means no harm. Just don't force the dog to accept your cousin that will not work the dog has to accept him in his own time.

It almost certainly is because your cousin is autistic. His behaviors and emotional reactions (which include scent signals that humans cannot detect but dogs can) do not match the dog's understanding of how people act. Your cousin confuses the dog, and the dog will avoid contact because he cannot predict how your cousin will react.

Ask your cousin not to approach the dog so as not to frighten him, but to sit on the floor and offer the dog a treat. Perhaps, to start with, ask him to sit watching TV, putting the treat on the carpet at arm's length to the side, so he won't be looking at the dog when he comes for the treat. Eye contact can be threatening to dogs, especially when they're nervous.

After the dog has taken a few treats and is showing some relaxation, let your cousin set down the treat and call the dog's name, perhaps patting the carpet beside the treat. Gradually the dog will become accustomed to your cousin's individual mannerisms and come to accept him. This could take weeks, since the dog and your cousin don't live together, and that limits the time they can work together.

Some autistics do very well with dogs, so there is hope, here. It will depend a lot on how much your cousin wants to make friends with the dog than with any thing else.

Dogs can actually smell testosterone and that can be intimidating for some small dogs. When dogs are afraid of men people always assume that men used to beat the dog. That's typically not the case. They're just intimidated by the oozing testosterone. Your cousin may be even more intimidating if he can't understand how to act around a dog and be gentle. Have your cousin bribe him with his favorite treats. Have him sit next to him and play in the same room as him without him trying to pick him up or play with him constantly. It takes time for your dog to get use to him and comfortable with him. Don't rush the process.

Make sure you have a proper introduction. Tell your cousin to sit on the floor or something in a non-dominant position. Let the dog sniff him before he touches him at all. Then if that goes okay the dog should be more comfortable with him. Maybe try to get toys involved if he doesn't go to your cousin. Make sure he is super calm and relaxed, also not fearful. Dogs can sense a lot of feelings and will act on them.