Shy, Fearful or Abused Dog – Tips To Train Your Dog and Help Him Enjoy Life

First Build Your  Dog’s Confidence

My childhood dog was a shelty-husky mix named Max. Badly abused and beaten, he was fearful of just about everything and anyone. He used to shake if someone new tried to go near him, never mind pet him. When we first adopted him, we worked with a dog therapist to gain his trust and help make Max’s world a bit more bearable for him.

One of the key components in his therapy was building his confidence.

Yep, building his confidence. Not in the egotistical sense of the word where the dog suddenly believes that he’s the leader of the pack. But in a way that makes him comfortable and less frightened of the world around him.

What Fearful Dog’s Look Like

A fearful or shy dog usually has his tail down and tucked between his legs, his ear flat, and his head lowered. He will also back or run away if someone tries to pet or go near him and he might even display a behavior called submissive urination.

There are many reasons that dogs begin to fear people or situations or are shy. A dog that hasn’t been properly socialized in the early stages of his life will tend to be nervous or anxious around strangers. Proper socialization exposes him to other dogs and human beings so he will recognize that he won’t need to fear in situations involving other people or animals.

A dog locked in a cage or in a kennel for a major part of his life will have difficulty relating to and accepting people and situations. You also have to consider that some dog breeds are naturally mild mannered.

Dogs that might have been shuttled between homes frequently or abused are likely to suffer from nervous disorders. Not all shy dogs are the product of abuse however. Illnesses often force a dog to lose self esteem. A dog in pain or discomfort will not be outgoing. You might try having him checked by a vet to ascertain there is nothing physically wrong with him. Puppies that have had terrifying experiences are very likely to retain memories of the unpleasant incident leading to fearful behavior as an adult.

Training a Shy Dog

The process of building confidence in a dog involves a lengthy course of desensitization. Be patient. Results won’t be immediate.

First determine the objects that he is fearful of and slowly begin exposing him to it.

• If he is afraid of people, enlist the help of a friend. Let this person be in the same room with the dog but without approaching him or acknowledging him in any manner (no eye contact, no touching, don’t allow the person to even face in the direction of the dog). Once the dog has gotten used to your friend’s presence, tell him to offer the dog some treats (make sure they are extra tasty treats) with his hands held behind him and his back to the dog. This is a non threatening position for the dog. Once he is comfortable receiving treats from a stranger, ask your friend to begin speaking to him. The next steps would be to face and pet him. If at any point in this process, the dog moves backward or runs away, go back to the previous step and start all over again.

• If your dog is afraid of other dogs then don’t just introduce him to a pack of dogs and expect him to get used to it. Take him for a walk on a leash to a park where there are other dogs with their owners. The leash shouldn’t be too tight because then he feels restricted and vulnerable. This might then turn into fear – a prime cause for a dog fight. Act nonchalant among the other dogs. Dogs can pick up behavior patterns from others around them. If he notices you’re completely relaxed, he might decide there’s nothing to be afraid of. See if you can find a mild manner dog to go for walks together and later may be a second one. Take things step by step. Never push or rush your dog into a situation

• Take your dog with you as much as possible while running errands, going to friends, into stores etc… and exposed him to various situations. Remain calm and relax. Talk to him gently and in a reassuring voice. There is no need for baby talk. Just stay low key so there is nothing for your dog to be alarmed about.

Then be patient and keep doing it.

A dog can take months of such therapy before he gains some confidence. Don’t berate him or poke fun at him. Encourage him and be generous with praise. Treat him to the things he enjoys – a run in the park, his favorite treats.
Always setting up to win. Watching is body language will give you great clues of where he is at.  He might never evolve into an outgoing enthusiastic animal but eventually, he will learn to be more comfortable in his own skin.

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