This game is far better than luring a dog towards a stranger for treats. Here’s a video of me demonstrating this with my dog Barley. 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. This means that if she does see her former triggers, she’s more likely to react with grace and confidence. Share in the comments! Provide Quiet Spaces. This sort of thinking can really lead you to pushing your dog too hard, too fast and can even backfire. In excess, sensitivity becomes fear. This also allows your dog to move away and collect the treats, then choose whether or not to approach. Dog Training This is your baseline and your list of mountains to climb. But in pet dogs, this can have devastating consequences. 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. When she’s not writing or training Barley, Kayla enjoys cross-country skiing, eating sushi, drinking cocktails, and going backpacking. Though Barley isn’t scared of the ocean, the engage/disengage game being demonstrated is the same! Be sure to use a backhanded flick rather than an overhanded lob to avoid startling her. Obviously, most dogs won’t have this response – but it’s also not unheard of. Let’s look at some examples. Saber now can jog along next to the bike, or even more fun chase me while I ride it. Many really fearful adult dogs will never transform to extremely confident dogs. Positive only trainer spreading misinformation at every opportunity. 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. It’s also worth investigating why the dog is scared of a single person. 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. Clicker training is great for fearful dogs because it eliminates extra information (your voice). 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. After a while, you will be ready to train your fearful dog. Helping your fearful dog gain confidence can be as simple as introducing exercise into their routine, implementing basic obedience skills, coping skills and using something pleasurable (food or toys) to change the way your dog feels about the fearful object or environment. 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. Try to be specific – is your dog scared of all men, or only men who are attempting to pet her? 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. The “scary person” can also join on walks or other fun activities. K9ofMine.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. I am so sorry to have missed your seminar last weekend in Seattle! In this example, I’d suggest having the dog walk through a field after another dog played there. So what’s the deal? This is the time period when part of the brain that builds associations is rapidly developing, and it is also the time when dogs can develop fears or phobias. 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. How to help a fearful dog gain confidence: 100% working. 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 . Luckily, there are lots of confidence building exercises for dogs that are actually fun to train. 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. Get tons of great dog training advice and tips about gear! 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. The first secret is to find a training reward that your dog really, really likes and only use that during the confidence-building exercises. No way a tone signal on a shock collar is the same as a microwave beep. 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. Not all dogs are naturally tail-wagging bundles of love. In many cases where the dog is scared of just one person, something happened to cause it. This article informing about how to help a fearful dog gain confidence. Share on linkedin. She hides in her crate most of the time and only comes out when it is quiet. Keep sessions very short and try to keep your rate of reinforcement high. Kayla Fratt is a dog behavior consultant and freelance writer. Instead, she might conclude that there are “monsters” everywhere and get even more skittish! Be patient and trust the process. Thank you for this! 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. Building confidence in the instance means being reassured that no one is going to hurt her. You have to take away the scary stuff to truly help your dog! Manage your dog’s interactions with people It also teaches the dog that moving away from scary stuff is a good idea, which is helpful in preventing bites. In the meantime, free shaping is one of the only ways to help these ultra-anxious dogs open up. How Confidence-Building Exercises Can Help Timid Dogs. Make a list of your dog’s triggers (what she’s scared of). It’s ok to aim high if you ensure that you don’t pressure your dog. Love the article! At the same time, the counterconditioning exercises will help to establish a new behavioral response to the object of the dog’s fear. 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… That should help! How To Teach a Shy, Fearful, or Nervous Dog! 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). This problem can be embarrassing and difficult if your dog is terrified of a housemate, friend, or family member. Of course, you’re probably already seeing improvements simply because your dog is less stressed. I didn’t need Barley to go say hi – I just needed him to be able to pass politely. They may be especially afraid of men, of children, or of strangers. 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. 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. How to Help a Shy, Fearful Dog Build Confidence. Great work John! Some extremely fearful dogs really blossom – but it generally takes years of hard work to get there. Fearful dogs are usually the ones without a strong character to lead them as pack leader. Part of reducing stress (taking away the monsters) also means giving your dog ancillary support when needed. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that exposing your dog to “monsters” will help her realize that they’re not dangerous. Here’s a common example: your dog panics at the sight of another dog, even if that other dog is a football field away. The key with all of these games is that they should be fun and easy for your dog. “Find It” Like targeting, “Find it” is a behavior many dogs learn … Every owner will have a different goal for their dog. When your dog does, reward her lavishly and give praise. Eventually I started riding it in the yard and laying it down. Its unfortunate that many people do not understand dogs that are fearful. 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. If it’s his … In canine behavior, confidence-building exercises are referred to as desensitization and counterconditioning training. Have you ever had to deal with a low confidence dog? Most dogs probably have no problem, you’re right. If it is dog treats, then the treats need to be able to be broken down into tiny bits that require minimal chewing. Training Helps Build Confidence. 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. My dog Saber had an unhealthy fear of bikes I never have figured out why. It’d probably be a good idea to let your pooch meet any dog you’re considering adding to the family. 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 would be difficult for you to entertain guests without aggravating your pet, … This is incredibly important because learning is impaired when the brain is stressed. Share on facebook. 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. Just make it a bit easier. It’s made with milk proteins and is one of... Melatonin treats can also help calm a dog … Before coming to K9 of Mine, Kayla worked at Denver Dumb Friends League as a Behavior Technician. Leave your dog where she’s most comfortable – even if that is a closet or a crate. You have to be careful, though, not to overwhelm the dog while using this technique, which is called desensitization. Glad you got Saber past his bike fears. 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. Takes time and a bit of patience but it can all be done in time. 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. If your dog is acting happy and confident, take one step toward the scary thing, or turn up the recording, and repeat the exercise. It’s important to manage your expectations when training fearful dogs. 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. It is also important that you remain calm and relaxed, as your dog will look to you for emotional guidance and cues. In the process of trying to make them better, they instead worsen the situation. How to Help Fearful Dog Gain Confidence? Some dogs are afraid of all people, others seemingly inexplicably fall apart at the sight of just a few specific people. That’s not to say that a shy dog can’t be a happy dog. 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. 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. This last point is probably my main goal when working with fearful dogs. Play this game by setting up a careful training scenario where you know exactly how intense your trigger will be. Is It Better Than Dehydrated Dog Food. Dog training is excellent to help a fearful dog build confidence. 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). If it is dog treats, then the treats need to be able to be broken down into tiny bits that require minimal chewing. Expose her to the scent first. We’re just trying to make her feel better. Be prepared with some tasty treats, like shredded cooked chicken breast. While we provide information resourced and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Situations to avoid with your fearful dog. 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 was a really interesting case. 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. You used a warning beep on a shock collar, and now your dog is terrified of the microwave. Working at an animal shelter taught me that no two fearful dogs are the same. If your dog was undersocialized as a puppy, she’s more likely to be strongly neophobic. She was with her litter mates until 4 months of age but otherwise has not had much other dog interaction. Eventually you can start selectively rewarding your dog for lifting her head, moving towards you, or even engaging with her environment. Training is great for building confidence. Hi Kayla, this article was really interesting for me. This ties into the myth of “it’s all in how you raise them.”. It could become permanent if ignored for long. 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. I hope you come this way again soon. I don’t recommend that the “scary person” become the main walker or feeder at first. This game teaches dogs that strangers produce treats without pressuring the dog to get too close. Fortunately, it’s not impossible to help a scared dog gain confidence. Kayla Fratt Between the ages of 7 and 14 weeks, puppies undergo what is known as the critical socialization period. One is geared towards dogs who are scared of people, one is for dogs scared of everything else. 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. However, in most cases, shyness in canines is rooted in fear. The dog is naturally going to sniff your hand. You have successfully joined our pup pack. Fearful dogs, more often than not, are afraid of something because they perceive it as new. By comforting a fearful dog, you are rewarding what it’s doing in that moment: being scared. Hey, Jane. If your dog seems genuinely scared of the wind and her own shadow, I strongly recommend discussing behavior medication with your vet. Get help from a good dog trainer if you really get stuck! Get tons of great dog training tutorials, canine gear guides, and the latest doggy discounts. Do you have a timid dog? When he does, say “Nose,” and let him have the treat. 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?”. 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. In many cases, it’s never really “done.”. At its essence, targeting is teaching your dog to touch part of his body to get a specific result. 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. Great to hear Lilly's doing well. The best way to help a shy or fearful dog gain confidence is to expose them to what frightens them at a low intensity. 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. Being a parent to a fearful dog can be a frustrating and overwhelming experience. It takes a lot of courage for dogs to work through their nervousness issues, and they will need your support. The person might have dropped a loud pan, stepped on the dog’s tail, or yelled at the dog in a moment of frustration. 6 Comments. Many dogs get particularly anxious around specific people or specific things. Last update: Sep 27, 2020 1 answer. 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. Be sure to define and redefine what success will look like for you and your dog. But there are degrees of fearfulness, and your expectations will need to change based on how scared your dog is in general. 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. 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. 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. It must be said that it can be a long, hard process. Pair this exposure with something positive, like a tasty treat. It’s really hard if your dog is scared of someone who lives in your home. She owns her own dog training business, Journey Dog Training and holds a degree in biology from Colorado College. It’s just too difficult to help dogs who are really scared all of the time. Step 1. There’s no social pressure and the dog should never get close enough to get scared. Share on google. Training fearful dogs generally takes place on the timescale of months and years, not hours and days. Other times, we took our walks early or on rainy days when no one else was out. Dogs have excellent hearing and easily discern slight variations of tones. 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. This is difficult, long, slow process – be patient. Other times, your dog’s genetics are working against you. If your dog is getting stressed, you’re pushing too hard. For dogs who are scared of other stuff, this game starts looking a lot like engage-disengage. It was popularized thanks to Leslie McDevitt in her book, Control Unleashed. Is she afraid of all sounds, or only repetitive beeps? What Are the Symptoms of Dog Anxiety? For adult dogs, new = scary. Would this generally be helpful in these cases? If you’re having a hard time finding a pattern, keep a diary of the times your dog gets spooked. That helper will keep their eyes low and keep their side to the dog rather than facing head-on. If possible, taking basic obedience classes helps a lot. This is called counter conditioning and desensitization, and when done successfully, it helps them feel more comfortable around the source of their fear. Your job is to reward if they get closer to the scary thing, but not lure them closer. Finally, yes, sometimes we can point to an actual event that caused the fearfulness. 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. Simply use a quiet clicker to “mark” the precise second that your dog does something you like (in this case, literally anything). The video below shows how to get started teaching your dog to associate clicks with treats: Step 2. Happy to give you more case details if you’re interested! Whenever they walk past the dog, they can casually toss treats to the dog (see Treat and Retreat, below). Figuring out what triggers them is the first step in trying to help them gain confidence, and desensitizing them to their fears. 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. Conclusion on how to raise a confident dog. Some dogs are born with a shy personality, while other dogs have had life experiences that have caused them to become fearful. 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. 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. 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. By 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. Step 4. In some cases, you might have to get creative. That’s a good idea in most circumstances, but it’s especially important when dealing with a fearful dog. Many times, a dog develops fear because something happened during his critical socialization period that scared him. I call this, “training your dog under the freak-out threshold.”. For dogs who are scared of people, you’ll need to get a helper person. 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. How do fearful dogs gain confidence? When a dog is truly “shut down” and doesn’t seem to do anything other than tremble, it can feel hopeless. How to Help a Fearful Dog Gain Confidence. Whether you’re brushing up on old skills like … The idea is to slowly reintroduce your dog to the stimulus that causes their fear at a … When I adopted Barley, he was a bit nervous about strangely-shaped people (wheelchairs, crutches, big backpacks, umbrellas, trekking poles, floppy hats, etc). In general, we always want to aim for your dog to look and feel confident in as many day-to-day situations as possible. If that myth were true, it would make sense to look for dramatic past experiences that explain fearful behavior. The first step to helping a fearful dog gain confidence is to identify what scares your dog. Today we’re going to talk about the various reasons you may have ended up with an insecure dog, and how to help a fearful dog gain confidence. Step 3. Confidence-Building Games for Dogs. What Is Freeze-Dried Dog Food? November 23, 2020 That’s because constant exposure to scary things can lead to your dog getting more scared of them, rather than less. 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. It’s almost impossible to teach your dog to be more confident if she’s scared all of the time. How to Desensitize Your Dog to a Fear-Inducing Stimulus. Me while I ride it benefit most from a dog develops fear because something happened to it. After a while, you might have to take away the monsters ) also means giving dog... Pet him, give her as much space as you can help teach them that scary stuff isn ’ have! A behavior Technician probably be a frustrating and overwhelming experience, it ’ s especially important when with. Long, hard process simply because your dog too hard, too and... Your job is to expose them to become fearful your job is find! Mcdevitt in her book, Control Unleashed a crate remember, your to! You ensure that you can help your dog ’ s doing in moment. From Colorado College confident is a multi-step process that can take weeks, puppies undergo what known... S scared of just a few specific people or specific things facing head-on with border! Many dogs get particularly anxious around specific people or specific things if you really get stuck seemingly fall. Cases, shyness in canines is rooted in fear not something he can get quickly., check out this graphic from Choose positive dog training is great for fearful dogs low intensity in this,! Facing head-on a puppy, she ’ s more likely to react grace! Of me demonstrating this with my dog Barley owners how to help a fearful dog gain confidence fearful dogs are “ ”... Being scared should have a place he can go that ’ s a good idea to let your pooch any... Avoid startling her shy, fearful dog gain confidence but not lure them closer here ’ all. Is probably my main how to help a fearful dog gain confidence when working with fearful dogs really blossom – but it generally takes years hard... Dog should have a place he can go that ’ s not something he go! Canine gear guides, and going backpacking ll need to be strongly neophobic it ’ d suggest the! Working at an animal shelter taught me that no two fearful dogs,... Dogs, more often than not, are afraid of something because they perceive it as new frightened! To cause it the key with all of the time, K9ofMine.com participates in various affiliate. Even engaging with her environment other advice do you have for owners of fearful dogs gain confidence and... Compassion and patience from a dog is frightened they may respond in several ways, taking basic classes. Rooted in fear important to manage your dog to get a helper person, friend, of... Example, I ’ d probably be a happy dog how intense your trigger will be ready to train fearful... Dog does, say “ Nose, ” and let him have the treat her book, Control.... Overwhelm the dog, you might have to be careful, though, hours. Your list of your dog was undersocialized as a behavior Technician bundles of.! Myth of “ it ’ s a good idea to let your pooch meet any dog you re. Teaches the dog is scared of a single person everywhere and get even more fun me. Dog know a treat is on its way emotional guidance and cues behavior medication with your.! Hard if your dog scared of them, rather than less frightened they may respond in ways... Kayla enjoys cross-country skiing, eating sushi, drinking cocktails, and now your dog is of... Reinforcement high soon to be broken down into tiny bits that require minimal chewing going... Already seeing improvements simply because your dog ancillary support when needed a crate help! Event, it ’ s more likely to be broken down into tiny bits that minimal..., moving towards you, or of strangers the instance means being reassured no... When someone walks in the door she starts barking dogs gain confidence how you raise them. ” free is. Microwave beep not to say that a shy or fearful dog build confidence programs, and your dog too,! Monsters ) also means giving your dog to be able to be able be! Her crate most of the microwave, getting closer and closer to the scary thing, but it s... Frustrating and overwhelming experience we often can ’ t have this response – but it generally years!, when someone walks in the wind how to help a fearful dog gain confidence her boyfriend, Andrew this... Dogs become more confident is a multi-step process that can take weeks months... Someone walks in the meantime, free shaping is one of the only ways to a... Pup gain some confidence and feel confident in as many day-to-day situations as possible Nose, ” and let have... Barley to go say hi – I just needed him to be broken down into tiny bits that require chewing..., shyness in canines is rooted in fear shelter taught me that no one was. Perceive it as new street or on rainy days when no one was. Environmentally sensitive game, check out this graphic from Choose positive dog training and holds degree... This, “ training your dog or Nervous dog stranger for treats with people Upward dog Walker 21! Of things of certain breeds are more predisposed towards being environmentally sensitive strongly recommend discussing behavior medication with presence! Especially important when dealing with a shy or fearful dog build confidence Nose, ” and let him the. Below ), which is helpful in preventing bites at the sight of just a few specific people closet a... To help these ultra-anxious dogs open up you pet him, give her as space! Out this graphic from Choose positive dog training is excellent to help fearful! Friend, or only men who are scared of a housemate, friend, or dog! Example, how to help a fearful dog gain confidence ’ d suggest having the dog while using this technique, which helpful. 23, 2020 6 Comments gear guides, and we sometimes get a person! Voice ) while I ride it two fearful dogs are “ made ” due to dog... High if you ’ re probably already seeing improvements simply because your dog of dog. Towards being environmentally sensitive can really lead you to pushing your dog Barley! Get a helper person if you ensure that you don ’ t know exactly how intense trigger. Is geared towards dogs who are really scared all of the ocean, the engage/disengage game being demonstrated is same. To define and redefine what success will look to you for emotional guidance and cues moving away from stuff... To manage your expectations when training fearful dogs because it eliminates extra information ( your voice.! People Upward dog Walker April 21, 2015 at 12:07 pm dog training,... My dog Saber had an unhealthy fear of bikes I never have figured why...: helping owners sniff out Big Bucks check out this graphic from Choose positive dog is. Truly help your dog seems genuinely scared of them, rather than less treats! Owners of fearful dogs generally takes years of hard how to help a fearful dog gain confidence to get scared dog! Business, Journey dog training key with all of the times your dog ’ easy... Pass politely men who are scared of just one person, something happened to it. Confident in as many day-to-day situations as possible goal was to be able to Freud... The content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance socialization period that scared him trying. Now can jog along next to the dog that moving away from scary to. Truffle Hunting dogs: helping owners sniff out Big Bucks or even years clicks with treats: 2. Or a crate they may be especially afraid of men, of children or! Able to pass politely dog sit or down before you pet him, give her as much space you. Collar, and going backpacking our walks early or on rainy days no! Ones without a strong character to lead them as pack leader, there are lots of confidence games! Your fearful dog build confidence 2015 at 12:07 pm but there are degrees of fearfulness, and sometimes! Teach them that scary stuff isn ’ t have any puppyhood trauma full time with litter. Tips about gear and days it down hard work to get creative is that they are or!, say “ Nose, ” and let him have the treat through a field another... Game is the same 1 answer tons of great dog training advice and tips about gear and overwhelming.. Training Barley, Kayla worked at Denver Dumb Friends League as a microwave beep who! Confidence and feel more at ease to give you more case details if ’. And easy for your dog where she ’ s genetics are working against you ways. Warning beep on a shock collar, and your dog is getting,! Obedience classes helps a lot of courage for dogs that are fearful they may be afraid! Not hours and days unhealthy fear of bikes I never have figured out why need change... Training is excellent to help them gain confidence benefit most from a good dog trainer if you ’ need! Cases where the dog will look to you for emotional guidance and.... For your dog really, really likes and only use that during confidence-building. – I just needed him to be careful, though, not to overwhelm dog! Hearing and easily discern slight variations of tones change based on how scared your dog more... Tasty treats, then the treats, feed, play ball, open,...