Fearful Dogs

I’m writing up how-tos on troubleshooting walking, and I thought I’d share some information with you.

This assumes that you’re out on a walk with your dog, and your dog is afraid of something. There’s two methods to use, depending on whether the thing is an inanimate object or a living person. Let’s start with inanimate object.

First, let your dog go to the very end of their leash, as far from the object as they can get. YOU walk up to the object. Touch it, rattle it, pat it, get it to do all the things it might do so that nothing will startle your dog again. Pretend like you’re having a grand time so that your dog sees you aren’t scared of the object. This is key: you’re modeling confidence for your dog. After a few seconds of this, stop and tell your dog enthusiastically how proud of them you are for being so brave. (It doesn’t matter if they were brave or not.) Reward them with pets and praise. Go back to the object and start again. After a few more seconds, reward your dog. Repeat this as many times as necessary/as you can. When they start coming forward, throw them a happy party and be super duper excited for them.

It’s amazing how well this works with most dogs, in most situations. Don’t force your dog to come closer than they’re comfortable with, and I rarely use food. Food tends to make a dog do more than they’re comfortable with, and I don’t want them scaring themselves.

Now, if it’s a living creature that your dog is afraid of–like a human or another dog–start by asking your dog to come behind you and to sit. Do not let the person or dog come up to them; stand in the way and keep standing in the way. While your dog is in a sit behind you, you shake hands/pet the other dog/etc; again, touch them to show that you aren’t afraid of them. Model brave behavior for your dog. What you aren’t going to do is to ask your dog to come closer. In fact, insist they do not come any closer until they’re feeling braver (which may be a month away).

The reason for the difference is that if your dog, at the last minute, panics and bites a trash can, no one cares. But if they panic and bite a person or another dog, people care a lot.

Your dog’s confidence will build as they realize that you’re listening to their cues and backing them up. They will start thinking “I can try hard things, because if something goes wrong my humans are paying attention and will step in.” That’s where bravery and confidence comes from.

Now go forth, and be brave!

Jenna