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YOUR SHY OR FEARFUL DOG
Fearful and shy dogs
are often born that way. Genetics play a large part in each dog’s
temperament. Fear has a function for survival – without fear wild creatures
would meet an early death. Fear serves as a safeguard for people too – we
need to have some degree of fear of fire, falling off cliffs, etc. But no
human or canine can function happily in everyday activities if fear is the
dominant emotion. Fearful dogs often snap or bite if they feel threatened or
scared.
Sometimes fear presents itself after a traumatic event. Many people
assume that their shy or fearful dog was abused in an earlier life,
especially if the dog comes from a shelter. That may be true in some cases,
but I know of many dogs that have been with loving families since early
puppyhood, yet they exhibit fearful responses. This is just the temperament
they were born with.
Shy dogs can make great pets and are often devoted to their families.
With time and patience you can help your shy or fearful dog to be more
confident.
What happens or does not happen in the home can have a big effect on a
shy or fearful dog.
- Socialization -- Dogs that do not get out “in the world” never develop
confidence to deal with new situations. Dogs need to be constantly exposed
to new experiences in small pleasant doses. Ideally this socialization
process begins at 6 to 7 weeks of age, but late is better than not at all!
See my article on Puppy Socialization. You can socialize an adult dog too,
just go slow and keep experiences pleasant. Never force a dog to go toward
something he thinks is scary; you need to let the dog approach at his
pace. As your dog learns that he can deal with new experiences and people,
he will gain confidence.
- Punishment – Harsh physical punishment or even yelling will only make
matters worse, and may even push a dog to defense. See my article on
Management; prevention is much better. In my
opinion (and many experts agree), punishing a growling dog is dangerous. A
growl is a dog’s way of saying that something is worrying him – it is a
warning. By punishing a growl, you may suppress it, but you do not change
the dog’s feelings toward the scary thing (except to confirm that the
scary thing is really bad to be around). What you sometimes get is a dog
that will no longer give a warning – the dog just launches and bites.
Punishment also is very damaging to the relationship between dog and
owner. It is far better (and safer) to use counter-conditioning and
desensitization methods.
- Leadership – Dogs need to feel that someone is ‘in charge’ and will
make decisions for him or her and keep them safe. This is even more
important for a fearful dog. Coddling a fearful dog can do damage;
baby-talking a fearful dog can lead him to believe his behavior is okay.
Spoiling a dog is entirely different; my dogs are certainly spoiled. They
have all kinds of good stuff, but they know it comes from me. They trust
me to take care of them and make decisions. Read my article on
How to Be a Leader. You need to set clear
limits. If you take responsibility for being in charge, you can help your
dog to relax.
- Training – Obedience training using positive dog-friendly methods can
do a lot to improve your dog’s confidence and your relationship with your
dog. Avoid training that relies on leash corrections to teach the dog.
If you have a timid dog you might enjoy reading HELP FOR YOUR SHY DOG by
Deborah Wood.
Copyright © Pat Scott CPDT
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