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 evolutionarily advantageous in wild animals – if mom was stressed out while pregnant, there’s a good chance that the pups should be on high alert. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite dog confidence building games. When your dog does, reward her lavishly and give praise. The click lets your dog know a treat is on its way. Instead, she might conclude that there are “monsters” everywhere and get even more skittish! This is your baseline and your list of mountains to climb. But in pet dogs, this can have devastating consequences. Have your dog sit or down before you pet him, give treats, feed, play ball, open doors, etc. Moving objects (like bags blowing in the wind), Situations (like being surrounded by people). This game is the bread and butter of helping fearful dogs gain confidence. We’re just trying to make her feel better. 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. 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. These dogs will really benefit most from a dog behavior consultant and/or veterinary help. Some dogs are afraid of all people, others seemingly inexplicably fall apart at the sight of just a few specific people. 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. When a dog is frightened they may respond in several ways. 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. How do fearful dogs gain confidence? When she’s not writing or training Barley, Kayla enjoys cross-country skiing, eating sushi, drinking cocktails, and going backpacking. © Copyright 2021 by K9 Of Mine / Marrsipan Media LLC |, your dog’s genetics are working against you, Canicross 101: Info, Gear, and Training Info. 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. Here’s a common example: your dog panics at the sight of another dog, even if that other dog is a football field away. “Find It” Like targeting, “Find it” is a behavior many dogs learn … Hey, Jane. Some extremely fearful dogs really blossom – but it generally takes years of hard work to get there. Not all dogs are naturally tail-wagging bundles of love. If your dog can’t focus on you, that’s ok. Just reset to make it easier, take a break, and try again. Eventually I started riding it in the yard and laying it down. That should help! 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). 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. In some cases, you might have to get creative. Fear can be a tough one to conquer. It’s really hard if your dog is scared of someone who lives in your home. Between the ages of 7 and 14 weeks, puppies undergo what is known as the critical socialization period. May 5, 2020 December 25, 2019 by Gagan Luthra. Fearful dogs, more often than not, are afraid of something because they perceive it as new. Of course, you’re probably already seeing improvements simply because your dog is less stressed. If your dog is getting stressed, you’re pushing too hard. Additionally, K9ofMine.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. In general, we always want to aim for your dog to look and feel confident in as many day-to-day situations as possible. 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. 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. For adult dogs, new = scary. This also allows your dog to move away and collect the treats, then choose whether or not to approach. The best way to help a shy or fearful dog gain confidence is to expose them to what frightens them at a low intensity. Now that your dog is feeling a lot better in her daily life, it’s time to start getting to work on building your dog’s confidence. 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?”. Provide Quiet Spaces. Share on twitter. Training Helps Build Confidence. It would be difficult for you to entertain guests without aggravating your pet, … My dog Saber had an unhealthy fear of bikes I never have figured out why. It’s almost impossible to teach your dog to be more confident if she’s scared all of the time. I don’t recommend that the “scary person” become the main walker or feeder at first. Keep it up, clicking and treating for any movement at all. It takes a lot of courage for dogs to work through their nervousness issues, and they will need your support. So what’s the deal? 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. They may be especially afraid of men, of children, or of strangers. Expose her to the scent first. Happy to give you more case details if you’re interested! In many cases, it’s never really “done.”. 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. 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. You have to take away the scary stuff to truly help your dog! One way to help a dog feel more confident is to use repeated exposure to the scary thing (the stimulus) so that it becomes less novel and more routine. I didn’t need Barley to go say hi – I just needed him to be able to pass politely. When I adopted Barley, he was a bit nervous about strangely-shaped people (wheelchairs, crutches, big backpacks, umbrellas, trekking poles, floppy hats, etc). Luckily, there are lots of confidence building exercises for dogs that are actually fun to train. Last update: Sep 27, 2020 1 answer. If you’re having a hard time finding a pattern, keep a diary of the times your dog gets spooked. This is incredibly important because learning is impaired when the brain is stressed. This game is far better than luring a dog towards a stranger for treats. 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. Dog training is excellent to help a fearful dog build confidence. 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. 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. Takes time and a bit of patience but it can all be done in time. By comforting a fearful dog, you are rewarding what it’s doing in that moment: being scared. Get tons of great dog training advice and tips about gear! Be prepared with some tasty treats, like shredded cooked chicken breast. Have you ever had to deal with a low confidence dog? This problem can be embarrassing and difficult if your dog is terrified of a housemate, friend, or family member. This video How to Build Confidence in Your Dog or Fearful Dog! The “scary person” can also join on walks or other fun activities. 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. Figuring out what triggers them is the first step in trying to help them gain confidence, and desensitizing them to their fears. Repeat daily or twice daily, getting closer and closer to the scary thing with each repetition. Every owner will have a different goal for their dog. I call this, “training your dog under the freak-out threshold.”. This sort of thinking can really lead you to pushing your dog too hard, too fast and can even backfire. At its essence, targeting is teaching your dog to touch part of his body to get a specific result. It was a really interesting case. Kayla Fratt 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. In excess, sensitivity becomes fear. Whether you’re brushing up on old skills like … How to Desensitize Your Dog to a Fear-Inducing Stimulus. Share on facebook. Try to be specific – is your dog scared of all men, or only men who are attempting to pet her? 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. How to help a fearful dog gain confidence: 100% working. Step 4. We often can’t know exactly why your dog is afraid of things. In many cases where the dog is scared of just one person, something happened to cause it. Your Dog Will Associate Training With Good Things. By As part of the family, the dog should have a place he can go that’s entirely his. This is called counter conditioning and desensitization, and when done successfully, it helps them feel more comfortable around the source of their fear. 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. Get help from a good dog trainer if you really get stuck! While we provide information resourced and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Great to hear Lilly's doing well. If your dog has experienced a traumatic event, it’s not something he can get over quickly. 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. Many really fearful adult dogs will never transform to extremely confident dogs. 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. Glad you got Saber past his bike fears. This article informing about how to help a fearful dog gain confidence. Many dogs get particularly anxious around specific people or specific things. 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. Situations to avoid with your fearful dog. Pair this exposure with something positive, like a tasty treat. 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. Is she afraid of all sounds, or only repetitive beeps? It’s ok to aim high if you ensure that you don’t pressure 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. Training Builds Confidence. She was with her litter mates until 4 months of age but otherwise has not had much other dog interaction. What other advice do you have for owners of fearful dogs? What Are the Symptoms of Dog Anxiety? 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). 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). 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. Confidence-Building Games for Dogs. Its unfortunate that many people do not understand dogs that are fearful. This means that if she does see her former triggers, she’s more likely to react with grace and confidence. In canine behavior, confidence-building exercises are referred to as desensitization and counterconditioning training. Some puppies are born shy. 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. She travels full time with her border collie Barley and her boyfriend, Andrew. November 23, 2020 In all honesty, it’s not always helpful to spend a lot of time trying to find the root of your dog’s fear. After a while, you will be ready to train your fearful dog. Working at an animal shelter taught me that no two fearful dogs are the same. That’s a good idea in most circumstances, but it’s especially important when dealing with a fearful dog. Share on google. Kayla Fratt is a dog behavior consultant and freelance writer. Get tons of great dog training tutorials, canine gear guides, and the latest doggy discounts. K9ofMine.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Whenever they walk past the dog, they can casually toss treats to the dog (see Treat and Retreat, below). Though Barley isn’t scared of the ocean, the engage/disengage game being demonstrated is the same! Use a pen to click (put it in your pocket if that sound makes her flinch). How To Teach a Shy, Fearful, or Nervous Dog! Best Answer. Here’s a video of me demonstrating this with my dog Barley. We’re not trying to be Freud, probing deep into your dog’s subconscious. Would this generally be helpful in these cases? Hi Kayla, this article was really interesting for me. Training is great for building confidence. It’d probably be a good idea to let your pooch meet any dog you’re considering adding to the family. Step 1. 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. 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. This is difficult, long, slow process – be patient. In the process of trying to make them better, they instead worsen the situation. If it is dog treats, then the treats need to be able to be broken down into tiny bits that require minimal chewing. Other times, we took our walks early or on rainy days when no one else was out. You can help teach them that scary stuff isn’t so bad, but they’re unlikely to totally make the switch. 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. Truffle Hunting Dogs: Helping Owners Sniff Out Big Bucks! There’s a pervasive myth that fearful dogs were abused – they often weren’t. If she seems to like the new dog and they get along well, the companionship may help her feel more at ease. 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. Just remember, your dog needs your compassion and patience. It’s important to manage your expectations when training fearful dogs. Do you have a timid dog? 6 Comments. How do you make it easier? This ties into the myth of “it’s all in how you raise them.”. Thank you for this! 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