Dear Miss Behavin’:
Our new family member, Bosco, is scared of my husband and will bark and run from him. He’s a young dog, so we’d like to help him learn to trust and be comfortable with my husband and men in general. Any tips?
Although it might be difficult to determine why Bosco is nervous around your husband, there are a handful of things you can do to strengthen their bond and help dissolve Bosco’s fears.
First off, encourage your husband to be gentle and soft spoken with Bosco as much as possible. He should avoid shouting, startling, or being too rough with Bosco.
Your husband should be the primary person to feed Bosco, making him a “provider” and the person who supplies one of the most important resources: food. Have your husband prepare and feed Bosco his meals, and offer high value treats during interactions and training.
Additionally, encourage your husband to play with Bosco using toys and games. It might be useful for you husband to sit on the floor with Bosco and make himself as approachable as possible. Games such as fetch, hide-and-seek, and a gentle game of tug or track-the-toy are great ways to form and build a relationship with a dog. If Bosco has a favorite game or toy, save those toys and activities for one-on-one time with your husband.
Since Bosco is a young dog, both your husband and Bosco will benefit from attending obedience training together. Bosco will build confidence and trust while your husband learns more about Bosco’s cues, body language, and personality. Group obedience classes are also a great environment to work on Bosco’s exposure and socialization with new people, including men.