Dear Critter Corner:
We just brought home our new pup and are realizing that he is extremely shy and seems to be afraid of most things. How can we help to build his confidence and let him know the world is not a scary place?
Congratulations on your new pup! There are several things you can do to help build your pups confidence with all the new items he is going to be encountering.
It is good to have a routine. Over time you will be able to loosen up once you see that he has settled in and knows what to expect in the new home.
You can teach a ‘Touch’ cue to help build his confidence and turn touching things into a fun game. This will help him overcome some of his fear with new objects. Teaching him to ‘Go To Place’ is another great exercise. This can give him a safe place to go and if you use a bathmat or towel, you can easily take it with you on outings. The use of a longline in large open space safe areas can allow him to sniff around and explore without the worry of him running off.
You can play games with him, such as ‘Find It’. You could use boxes to hide some of the treats and get him to stick his head into the box to get the treat. You can encourage him to step up on, go through or under items around the home or on walks. You can also teach some easy fun tricks to lighten up the training. Look into agility classes to further help boost his confidence.
Above all 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.
Lastly look at our website to see the resources we offer in the form of Classes, 1:1 Consultations, or you can call our Behavior Hotline.