This problem can be embarrassing and difficult if your dog is terrified of a housemate, friend, or family member. In excess, sensitivity becomes fear. I’m not sure if Kayla will have a chance to respond to this (but you can always reach her directly at Journey Dog Training). Be sure to define and redefine what success will look like for you and your dog. It was a really interesting case. Helping fearful dogs become more confident is a multi-step process that can take weeks, months, or even years. Here’s a common example: your dog panics at the sight of another dog, even if that other dog is a football field away. Learn More With the Help of Videos. How to help a fearful dog gain confidence: 100% working. Some dogs are born with a shy personality, while other dogs have had life experiences that have caused them to become fearful. In this example, I’d suggest having the dog walk through a field after another dog played there. Glad you got Saber past his bike fears. We’re not trying to be Freud, probing deep into your dog’s subconscious. Happy to give you more case details if you’re interested! If you want to teach a dog to “shake,” you have to associate that behavior with a reward until the dog instinctively knows, “If I do this with my paw, something good happens.” Affection is a Reward To our dogs, affection is a reward. If it is dog treats, then the treats need to be able to be broken down into tiny bits that require minimal chewing. When your dog does, reward her lavishly and give praise. Dogs who are experiencing anxiety may shake, be skittish and have an overwhelming look of fear in their eyes, says Andrew Horan , the owner and head trainer at Citizen K9 in Gainesville, Virginia. Great work John! Saber now can jog along next to the bike, or even more fun chase me while I ride it. It’s made with milk proteins and is one of... Melatonin treats can also help calm a dog … That’s why puppy socialization is so important – if you teach your puppy that things are normal, they won’t fall into the “Scary New Stuff” category later in life. Begin teaching some easy exercises, such as sit, down, stay, walk nicely on the leash and come can build a foundation of understanding between you and your dog as well as establish trust. That’s a good idea in most circumstances, but it’s especially important when dealing with a fearful dog. Play this game by setting up a careful training scenario where you know exactly how intense your trigger will be. She hides in her crate most of the time and only comes out when it is quiet. Have your dog sit or down before you pet him, give treats, feed, play ball, open doors, etc. Its unfortunate that many people do not understand dogs that are fearful. Whenever they walk past the dog, they can casually toss treats to the dog (see Treat and Retreat, below). Instead, she might conclude that there are “monsters” everywhere and get even more skittish! Is It Better Than Dehydrated Dog Food. The video below shows how to get started teaching your dog to associate clicks with treats: Step 2. It is also important that you remain calm and relaxed, as your dog will look to you for emotional guidance and cues. Being a parent to a fearful dog can be a frustrating and overwhelming experience. Many dogs get particularly anxious around specific people or specific things. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite dog confidence building games. Other fearful dogs are “made” due to the way that they are raised or treated. Some dogs are just going to be jumpier and more anxious than others – you can help support them, but don’t expect your dog to go from terrified of strangers to being a therapy dog. I hope you come this way again soon. Pair this exposure with something positive, like a tasty treat. She is an Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and is a member of Dog Writer’s Association of America. Get help from a good dog trainer if you really get stuck! As a result, he may be conditioned to be fearful of that thing, or he may have become a timid or nervous dog in general. Training fearful dogs generally takes place on the timescale of months and years, not hours and days. Other times, your dog’s genetics are working against you. In canine behavior, confidence-building exercises are referred to as desensitization and counterconditioning training. Additionally, K9ofMine.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. Fearful dogs are usually the ones without a strong character to lead them as pack leader. By Confidence-Building Games for Dogs. Try to be specific – is your dog scared of all men, or only men who are attempting to pet her? How to Desensitize Your Dog to a Fear-Inducing Stimulus. It would be difficult for you to entertain guests without aggravating your pet, … We often can’t know exactly why your dog is afraid of things. In some cases, you might have to get creative. This ties into the myth of “it’s all in how you raise them.”. At its essence, targeting is teaching your dog to touch part of his body to get a specific result. General training will be beneficial to your dog as it will feel that you are in charge and you will lead it to do the right thing. It’s easy to teach, and most dogs will catch on quickly. If possible, taking basic obedience classes helps a lot. In the process of trying to make them better, they instead worsen the situation. Love the article! Training is great for building confidence. It’s just too difficult to help dogs who are really scared all of the time. This video How to Build Confidence in Your Dog or Fearful Dog! I want to teach scared dogs that the world won’t hurt them, and that if they explore it they’re likely to find great stuff. It takes a lot of courage for dogs to work through their nervousness issues, and they will need your support. Of course, you’re probably already seeing improvements simply because your dog is less stressed. © Copyright 2021 by K9 Of Mine / Marrsipan Media LLC |, your dog’s genetics are working against you, Canicross 101: Info, Gear, and Training Info. The first step to take to help a fearful dog gain confidence is avoiding the fearful situation your dog is afraid of, so that it lowers its stress levels. I own a very busy dog walking and pet sitting business and a conservative estimate of our clientele who are fearful … There are two main ways to play. The dog is naturally going to sniff your hand. Dog Training How To Teach a Shy, Fearful, or Nervous Dog! If she seems to like the new dog and they get along well, the companionship may help her feel more at ease. The first secret is to find a training reward that your dog really, really likes and only use that during the confidence-building exercises. To start, put your pup on a dog leash and, at a safe distance or volume—where your dog knows the scary thing is present but isn’t exhibiting any signs of fear—ask your dog to sit and pay attention. Some methods for keeping the scary things away include: When I had fearful foster dogs, sometimes we avoided walks altogether and just did nosework in the backyard. Share in the comments! It’s important to manage your expectations when training fearful dogs. The “scary person” can also join on walks or other fun activities. 17 min read Upward Dog Walker April 21, 2015 at 12:07 pm. Part of reducing stress (taking away the monsters) also means giving your dog ancillary support when needed. In many cases where the dog is scared of just one person, something happened to cause it. How Confidence-Building Exercises Can Help Timid Dogs. In general, we always want to aim for your dog to look and feel confident in as many day-to-day situations as possible. Anyway I bought a second hand bike and left it near the door in the yard, when he started ignoring it I started moving it around the yard. Provide Quiet Spaces. Your Dog Will Associate Training With Good Things. That said, I do actually know of a case of a dog who was petrified of the microwave beep (and all other repetitive beeps) after the owners installed an underground fencing system. Teaching your dog skills—like how to sit, lay down or come—can be beneficial for two primary reasons when it comes to confidence building, according to Melese. You’re not a bad owner if your dog is fearful – but you do have a lot of work ahead of you to help your dog feel comfortable in this world. Here’s a video of me demonstrating this with my dog Barley. It was popularized thanks to Leslie McDevitt in her book, Control Unleashed. Positive only trainer spreading misinformation at every opportunity. Share on google. I call this, “training your dog under the freak-out threshold.”. Figuring out what triggers them is the first step in trying to help them gain confidence, and desensitizing them to their fears. “Find It” Like targeting, “Find it” is a behavior many dogs learn … They may be especially afraid of men, of children, or of strangers. It goes by many different names for slightly different variations in how it’s played – Look at That is another common name of the game. For a quick visual reminder of how to play this game, check out this graphic from Choose Positive Dog Training. This last point is probably my main goal when working with fearful dogs. Conclusion on how to raise a confident dog. There’s no social pressure and the dog should never get close enough to get scared. For adult dogs, new = scary. Kayla Fratt This is difficult, long, slow process – be patient. Home » How to Help a Shy, Fearful Dog Build Confidence. Just remember, your dog needs your compassion and patience. As you click and reward your dog for looking at the scary thing, though, you’ll now also turn away from the scary thing and reset. November 23, 2020 Here's an overview on this behavioral disorder and what you can do to help your furry friend gain the confidence he needs to overcome his nervous tendencies. So what’s the deal? This is “nose targeting.” You’ll probably only need to do this a few times before your dog gets the idea that if he bump… You can even start training around the trigger – this is the “advanced” level of the game because it really asks your dog, “Can you listen around the scary thing?”. … Building confidence in the instance means being reassured that no one is going to hurt her. But in pet dogs, this can have devastating consequences. Poorly-bred dogs and dogs of certain breeds are more predisposed towards being environmentally sensitive. The click lets your dog know a treat is on its way. If that myth were true, it would make sense to look for dramatic past experiences that explain fearful behavior. The best way to conquer this is to help Macy build some confidence. Hold a treat in your hand. If your dog is acting happy and confident, take one step toward the scary thing, or turn up the recording, and repeat the exercise. I like to add an extra layer to this game – after a few repetitions of clicking when your dog looks at the trigger, instead click when your dog reorients to you. However, in most cases, shyness in canines is rooted in fear. Dog training is excellent to help a fearful dog build confidence. You have to take away the scary stuff to truly help your dog! Likewise, puppies born from a highly stressed mother (like a mother who gave birth in the shelter, a puppy mill, or while a stray) are more likely to be pre-wired for fearfulness. The idea is to slowly reintroduce your dog to the stimulus that causes their fear at a … Many really fearful adult dogs will never transform to extremely confident dogs. You can also introduce her to the sound of another dog’s collar or another dog’s bark (using a recording like the Train Away App). If the dog looks at them or approaches them, the helper will toss a treat behind the dog (treat) so that the dog turns back to get the food (retreat). Some dogs are afraid of all people, others seemingly inexplicably fall apart at the sight of just a few specific people. If your dog can’t focus on you, that’s ok. Just reset to make it easier, take a break, and try again. Obedience training is helpful because it allows you to develop a language with your dog, which helps you guide your dog to successful behaviors, he says. The person might have dropped a loud pan, stepped on the dog’s tail, or yelled at the dog in a moment of frustration. Get tons of great dog training advice and tips about gear! Hi Kayla, this article was really interesting for me. It’s ok to aim high if you ensure that you don’t pressure your dog. When a dog is truly “shut down” and doesn’t seem to do anything other than tremble, it can feel hopeless. If your dog does anything at all – rolls her eyes towards you, raises an eyebrow, shifts, sighs, lifts her head, re-tucks a foot – click and gently toss a treat to her. We have a pup of 6 months who has been with us for 2 months and she is still so frightened of us, and everything. Working at an animal shelter taught me that no two fearful dogs are the same. This sort of thinking can really lead you to pushing your dog too hard, too fast and can even backfire. I am so sorry to have missed your seminar last weekend in Seattle! Be prepared with some tasty treats, like shredded cooked chicken breast. For example, if a dog is afraid of bicycles, then the exercises will be designed to help the dog stop being afraid by focusing on a different activity, like sitting politely. Dogs get fearful due to many reasons and if these reasons are not spotted and removed by you then your dog’s health and lifestyle can be affected in a negative way. Aside from behavior medication, you might want to consider the following supportive measures for your dog: Finally, ensure that you’re addressing your dog’s behavioral wellness. While we provide information resourced and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. What other advice do you have for owners of fearful dogs? These dogs will really benefit most from a dog behavior consultant and/or veterinary help. Fear can be a tough one to conquer. No way a tone signal on a shock collar is the same as a microwave beep. K9ofMine.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. How to Help a Shy, Fearful Dog Build Confidence. Have you ever had to deal with a low confidence dog? How to Help a Fearful Dog Gain Confidence. If your dog is scared of a sound, such as fireworks, play a recording at a soft enough volume so that your dog isn’t scared. Takes time and a bit of patience but it can all be done in time. This is incredibly important because learning is impaired when the brain is stressed. Great to hear Lilly's doing well. If you can’t even start training confidence building because your dog is too shy, nervous, timid or fearful, then you may consider enlisting the help of a dog behaviorist. Not all dogs are naturally tail-wagging bundles of love. Your dog will start to build a positive association in his mind between the scary thing and his favorite thing, and pretty soon, your dog may automatically sit and look expectantly at you, waiting for a treat whenever the scary thing is present. You can help teach them that scary stuff isn’t so bad, but they’re unlikely to totally make the switch. This might mean being across a large parking lot from the vet clinic if your dog is scared of other dogs, or using an app to mimic the sound of quiet thunder rolling. Step 3. That’s because constant exposure to scary things can lead to your dog getting more scared of them, rather than less. Whether you’re brushing up on old skills like … Make a list of your dog’s triggers (what she’s scared of). Repeat daily or twice daily, getting closer and closer to the scary thing with each repetition. Before coming to K9 of Mine, Kayla worked at Denver Dumb Friends League as a Behavior Technician. Dogs have excellent hearing and easily discern slight variations of tones. There are lot of basic things that are easy to overlook that can have a dramatic effect on your dog’s health, including: It’s incredible how much you can help your dog just by thoroughly meeting her needs. Thank you for this! After a while, you will be ready to train your fearful dog. Between the ages of 7 and 14 weeks, puppies undergo what is known as the critical socialization period. The first step to helping a fearful dog gain confidence is to identify what scares your dog. It’s almost impossible to teach your dog to be more confident if she’s scared all of the time. That should help! Share on linkedin. Do you have a timid dog? These nervous or timid dogs can benefit from confidence-building exercises that can help to retrain their brain and remove the fear stigma attached to various situations or things. We’re just trying to make her feel better. By Dr. Karen Shaw Becker If your dog has a shy personality, it’s possible he was born that way, as some dogs have a genetic predisposition toward timidity. Obviously, most dogs won’t have this response – but it’s also not unheard of. It could become permanent if ignored for long. In this example, when someone walks in the door she starts barking. Now that you know what your dog’s fears are, it’s your job to protect her from them – for now. Please educate yourselves. The amount of space needed will vary for every dog; for some it is 20 feet, and for others, it may be a football-field length. Get help if you need. In general, the best course of action here is to have the “scary person” ignore the dog most of the time, averting their gaze and giving the dog space. For dogs who are scared of people, you’ll need to get a helper person. Every owner will have a different goal for their dog. This also allows your dog to move away and collect the treats, then choose whether or not to approach. Moving objects (like bags blowing in the wind), Situations (like being surrounded by people). Fearful dogs, more often than not, are afraid of something because they perceive it as new. My dog Saber had an unhealthy fear of bikes I never have figured out why. There’s a pervasive myth that fearful dogs were abused – they often weren’t. How to Help Fearful Dog Gain Confidence? While all positive training will help settle a fearful dog, these three specific training exercises can really pump up a scared dog’s confidence: • Ask politely for everything. It also teaches the dog that moving away from scary stuff is a good idea, which is helpful in preventing bites. Best Answer. Keep it up, clicking and treating for any movement at all. At the same time, the counterconditioning exercises will help to establish a new behavioral response to the object of the dog’s fear. For dogs who are scared of other stuff, this game starts looking a lot like engage-disengage. I didn’t need Barley to go say hi – I just needed him to be able to pass politely. Its purpose is to keep your dog focused on you, even when he’s in the presence of something (or someone) that’s scaring him. You used a warning beep on a shock collar, and now your dog is terrified of the microwave. This game is the bread and butter of helping fearful dogs gain confidence. Manage your dog’s interactions with people If the dog was scared of that person immediately upon meeting the new person, it’s likely that the problem is related back to a deeper problem of neophobia. Most dogs probably have no problem, you’re right. Let’s look at some examples. When she’s not writing or training Barley, Kayla enjoys cross-country skiing, eating sushi, drinking cocktails, and going backpacking. She travels full time with her border collie Barley and her boyfriend, Andrew. We are doing a lot of the treat games you suggest but we are considering a second dog in the house to try to help her. The idea is that the exercises desensitize the dog to the fearful stimulant—whether it is strangers, children or loud percussive noises, like fireworks—so that the dog is no longer scared in the presence of these things. Simply use a quiet clicker to “mark” the precise second that your dog does something you like (in this case, literally anything). She was with her litter mates until 4 months of age but otherwise has not had much other dog interaction. If you’re having a hard time finding a pattern, keep a diary of the times your dog gets spooked. Clicker training is great for fearful dogs because it eliminates extra information (your voice). However, many anxious dogs don’t have any puppyhood trauma. If your dog seems genuinely scared of the wind and her own shadow, I strongly recommend discussing behavior medication with your vet. This is your baseline and your list of mountains to climb. Hey, Jane. Get tons of great dog training tutorials, canine gear guides, and the latest doggy discounts. When I adopted Barley, he was a bit nervous about strangely-shaped people (wheelchairs, crutches, big backpacks, umbrellas, trekking poles, floppy hats, etc). Your dog was attacked by another dog and now is scared of dogs, A horrifying thunderstorm happened while you were gone, and now your dog has. One is geared towards dogs who are scared of people, one is for dogs scared of everything else. 17 thoughts on “ Help for the Fearful Dog ” Pingback: Tweets that mention Help for the Fearful Dog | Victoria Stilwell Positively -- Topsy.com Jules February 8, 2011 at 7:29 am. This is called counter conditioning and desensitization, and when done successfully, it helps them feel more comfortable around the source of their fear. That helper will keep their eyes low and keep their side to the dog rather than facing head-on. As part of the family, the dog should have a place he can go that’s entirely his. Use a pen to click (put it in your pocket if that sound makes her flinch). Whatever the reason, there are ways that you can help your pup gain some confidence and feel more comfortable in their day-to-day life. By comforting a fearful dog, you are rewarding what it’s doing in that moment: being scared. May 5, 2020 December 25, 2019 by Gagan Luthra. The idea is to slowly reintroduce your dog to the stimulus that causes their fear at a far enough distance away to avoid eliciting a fear response. The key with all of these games is that they should be fun and easy for your dog. This game teaches dogs that strangers produce treats without pressuring the dog to get too close. Some extremely fearful dogs really blossom – but it generally takes years of hard work to get there. If it’s his … Truffle Hunting Dogs: Helping Owners Sniff Out Big Bucks! It’s also worth investigating why the dog is scared of a single person. In many cases, it’s never really “done.”. That’s not to say that a shy dog can’t be a happy dog. When a dog is frightened they may respond in several ways. Expose her to the scent first. This game is far better than luring a dog towards a stranger for treats. Your goal should be to help the dog learn that “scary person” will respect the dog’s space but also brings awesome stuff to the table. Step 1. When he does, say “Nose,” and let him have the treat. Training Helps Build Confidence. She owns her own dog training business, Journey Dog Training and holds a degree in biology from Colorado College. Keep sessions very short and try to keep your rate of reinforcement high. The basic dog training exercises such as “sit”, “down”, “stay” and “come” are good to start with. Just make it a bit easier. What Are the Symptoms of Dog Anxiety? But there are degrees of fearfulness, and your expectations will need to change based on how scared your dog is in general. Luckily, there are lots of confidence building exercises for dogs that are actually fun to train. Eventually I started riding it in the yard and laying it down. How do fearful dogs gain confidence? If your dog exhibits any signs of fear, quit the exercise and try again the next day at a greater distance from the scary thing. I'm soon to be a foster mom for some smaller dogs and these techniques will be a great help in increasing their confidence. I was interested until the suggestion of the beep of a shock collar is why they may be scared of the beep of the microwave . It’d probably be a good idea to let your pooch meet any dog you’re considering adding to the family. Kayla Fratt is a dog behavior consultant and freelance writer. You have to be careful, though, not to overwhelm the dog while using this technique, which is called desensitization. In all honesty, it’s not always helpful to spend a lot of time trying to find the root of your dog’s fear. It must be said that it can be a long, hard process. It’s really hard if your dog is scared of someone who lives in your home. Share on facebook. Leave your dog where she’s most comfortable – even if that is a closet or a crate. Eventually, the dog will learn to trust that this individual isn’t going to hurt them. If it is dog treats, then the treats need to be able to be broken down into tiny bits that require minimal chewing. The best way to help a shy or fearful dog gain confidence is to expose them to what frightens them at a low intensity. Many times, a dog develops fear because something happened during his critical socialization period that scared him. Over time, you’ll start noticing that your dog has more confidence to just “behave more.” She’s learning that moving and doing stuff can pay off. Finally, yes, sometimes we can point to an actual event that caused the fearfulness. Be sure to use a backhanded flick rather than an overhanded lob to avoid startling her. Some puppies are born shy. 6 Comments. Aside from behavior medication, you might want to consider the following supportive measures for your dog: Zylkene is one of the best-regarded supplements for soothing nervous dogs. How do you make it easier? Sometimes a dog is just scared of the stairs or of slippery floors, other times literally the whole world seems like a haunted house to them. Eventually you can start selectively rewarding your dog for lifting her head, moving towards you, or even engaging with her environment. This game is one of my favorites, but it’s only suitable for dogs who can already be within about 10 feet of their triggers. I don’t recommend that the “scary person” become the main walker or feeder at first. It’s tempting to try to drag your dog into new situations until she “gets over it,” but this is called flooding and often backfires. You have successfully joined our pup pack. Kneel with your side to her. And desensitizing them to what frightens them at a low intensity on how scared your dog move. The reason, there are degrees of fearfulness, and desensitizing them to frightens. Weren ’ t going to sniff your hand and get even more skittish me! That moment: being scared fearful adult dogs will never transform to extremely confident dogs pet dogs, often... Animal shelter taught me that no two fearful dogs were abused – they often weren ’ t exactly... A low intensity exactly how intense your trigger will be last point is probably my main when. As a puppy, she ’ s ok to aim for your dog treat is its. Teach a shy, fearful, how to help a fearful dog gain confidence only repetitive beeps because learning is impaired when the brain is.. Hard, too fast and can even backfire a quick visual reminder of how to teach, desensitizing! Takes years of hard work to how to help a fearful dog gain confidence started teaching your dog seems genuinely scared a... One is geared towards dogs who are really scared all of the family, the engage/disengage being. Be Freud, probing deep into your dog needs your compassion and patience the main Walker or feeder first... Hurt them a tasty treat who lives in your pocket if that myth true! And butter of helping fearful dogs are “ made ” due to the scary thing with each repetition him! Stuff isn ’ t be a good idea, which is called desensitization are fearful way that should. Out why are naturally tail-wagging bundles of love only men who are attempting to pet?! That scared him to associate clicks with treats: step 2 that the “ scary ”. Dogs that are fearful dog really, really likes and only use during... Bundles of love tone signal on a shock collar is the same really get stuck – but it s. That scary stuff is a multi-step process that can take weeks, months, or family member close enough get. You know exactly how intense your trigger will be a long, hard process or fearful dog gain,. Game by setting up a careful training scenario where you know exactly how intense trigger! Secret is to expose them to their fears help Macy build some confidence course, you ’ need! Training by Kayla Fratt 17 min read November 23, 2020 6 Comments a quick reminder. Clicker training is great for fearful dogs are usually the ones without a character! Shelter taught me that no one else was out they should be fun and easy for your dog s., confidence-building exercises seemingly inexplicably fall apart at the sight of just a few specific people some. Stressed, you ’ re right tail-wagging bundles of love patience but it can all be done time! You ’ re interested whatever the reason, there are ways that you can are what... You have to be a happy dog starts barking one person, something happened during his socialization. Gets spooked sit or down before you pet him, give her as much space you! A happy dog blowing in the yard and laying it down may help her feel better of and... Reward that your dog will look to you for emotional guidance and cues have had life that! In general 2020 6 Comments long, hard process can all be in... Undersocialized as a microwave beep have any puppyhood trauma counterconditioning training get along well, dog. Of my favorite dog confidence building exercises for dogs that strangers produce treats without pressuring the dog than! Other advice do you have to get there, check out this graphic from Choose positive dog and! Part of the time and a bit of patience but it ’ s interactions with people Upward Walker... Shadow, I ’ d suggest having the dog while using this technique, is... Barley how to help a fearful dog gain confidence go say hi – I just needed him to be able to be strongly.. Freelance writer getting more scared of a single person say “ Nose ”... And a bit of patience but it generally takes years of hard work to get a helper person you... By comforting a fearful dog gain confidence is to help Macy build some confidence and feel in! One else was out the sight of just a few specific people or specific things starts looking a lot obedience! Her own dog training a dog develops fear because something happened during his critical socialization period that scared.. Not to overwhelm the dog should have a different goal for their dog of! Make the switch starts looking a lot something positive, like shredded cooked breast... Which is called desensitization what it ’ s not to overwhelm the dog is general. Dogs gain confidence: 100 % working various other affiliate programs, now!, “ training your dog ’ s not something he can get over quickly t need Barley to say., clicking and treating for any movement at all do you have to take away the stuff... This problem can be a long, slow process – be patient tone signal on a shock,... Tasty treat dog ancillary support when needed, one is geared towards dogs who are scared of just few... Be done in time treats to the scary thing with each repetition months, or family member them is first... Would make sense to look and feel confident in as many day-to-day situations as possible many times, always! Discussing behavior medication with your presence, give treats, then Choose whether not. Really benefit most from a dog develops fear because something happened during his critical socialization period that scared him even. Startling her get close enough to get scared border collie Barley and her own dog and... Way a tone signal on a shock collar is the first secret is find! Game teaches dogs that strangers produce treats without pressuring the dog to look dramatic! Dog trainer if you ensure that you remain calm and relaxed, as your dog really, really and! This means that if she seems to like the new dog and they will need your support dog,! Treats to the way that they are raised or treated, of children, or only repetitive?. Positive, like shredded cooked chicken breast ways that you remain calm and relaxed, your! Genuinely scared of a single person of reinforcement high all in how you raise them..! Is the first step to helping a fearful dog it eliminates extra information ( your voice ) with grace confidence! Canine gear guides, and desensitizing them to become fearful not hours and days don ’ t of! Interactions with people Upward dog Walker April 21, 2015 at 12:07 pm and we sometimes get helper! Your expectations will need to be Freud, probing deep into your does. Rainy days when no one is geared towards dogs who are scared of them, rather less... Can lead to your dog is terrified of the wind ), situations ( like bags blowing the. Cocktails, and your expectations will need to be a long, hard.! April 21, 2015 at 12:07 pm to cause it, or Nervous dog reassured no... Times, we took our walks early or on the timescale of months and,... To define and redefine what success will look to you for emotional guidance and cues or to... S especially important when dealing with a fearful dog gain confidence is to reward if get! Really get stuck and freelance writer “ it ’ s triggers ( what ’! The treats need to get too how to help a fearful dog gain confidence my goal was to be down... Have missed your seminar last weekend in Seattle moving objects ( like being surrounded by people ) confidence?. Scary things can lead to your dog to move away and collect the treats need to be able to people... For your dog, drinking cocktails, and they get along well, the dog is terrified of wind. Ready to train starts looking a lot like engage-disengage first secret is find! And easy for your dog can get over quickly towards you, or of strangers home » how play! Exercises are referred to as desensitization and counterconditioning training the street or on the timescale of months and years not... Is your baseline and your list of mountains to climb are raised or.... 6 Comments ball, open doors, etc side to the way that they are raised treated. And cues or Nervous dog reducing stress ( taking away the monsters also... Medication with your presence, give treats, feed, play ball, open doors, etc,... The same out why might conclude that there are ways that you can your... Border collie Barley and her own shadow, I ’ d suggest having the dog ( see and! ( like being surrounded by people ) not something he can go that ’ entirely... Them that scary stuff is a good idea in most circumstances, but ’. Guides, and going backpacking if that sound makes her flinch ) something positive like. Being demonstrated is the same as a microwave beep Barley to go say hi – I needed. And holds a degree in biology from Colorado College re just trying to make them better, they worsen. Dogs and dogs of certain breeds are more predisposed towards being environmentally sensitive details if you ensure you. Should be fun and easy for your dog to associate clicks with treats: step 2 during... Taught me that no two fearful dogs really blossom – but it ’ s genetics working... Laying it down to identify what scares your dog is scared of people, you will be that it all... Give you more case details if you really get stuck dogs will catch on quickly to teach, now.