Dear Critter Corner: We have a new rescue pup who was not well socialized before coming to our home and seems to be terrified of just about everything. While I’m seeing improvement in the few days he’s been with us, I would like to know the best way to move forward and build his confidence.
It’s great to hear that you are seeing improvements in the short time he’s been with you! Here are a few tips to help build his confidence.
One of the first things you want to remember is not to overdo it; allow him to set the pace. If he has the opportunity to explore an area or item and discover that it’s not scary or that it produces yummy treats, he will warm up to it much quicker.
An easy game to play with him is the game of ‘touch’ or teaching him to target your hand and then move on to other items. He has full control of the pace and whether he wants to move forward with an item or not. This is a fun game that many dogs enjoy and a great way to get your dog to come to you!
If he enjoys sniffing, you can play fun games of ‘find it’ and build his confidence in this way. He will learn to search for a yummy treat and be rewarded when he finds it. You can build the difficulty level with this by placing the treat in a box with multiple empty boxes around, so he needs to find the right one. You can also hide the item with him out of the room, making it even harder for him.
You can teach him to go to his ‘place’ and let that be a safe space for him, and then take him on little adventures to a quiet park and allow him to sit and observe everything while sitting on his safe space. If he will take treats, you can add to it by giving a few treats for noticing the environment.
Be his cheerleader when he is brave, and don’t force him to do something he doesn’t want to. Allow him the time and opportunity to build his confidence around the items or environments that make him uneasy. In the long run, you will have a dog that trusts you and looks to you for guidance.