Bulding a dog's confidence
You know the type. A nervous anxious dog who seems fearful of just about anything – humans, other dogs, bicycles. Needless to say, a shy dog can be a problem for you, the owner. The type of behavior he exhibits and his complete lack of confidence will make it impossible for you to give him even the most basic training. Not to mention that a fearful dog is much more likely to get into fights with other dogs. Confidence building itself can be a misunderstood term in the doggie context. The point here is not to build up your dog’s ego (yes, they have egos) to the point where they are cocky, and believe they, and not you are the leader of the pack. Training a dog always involves letting him know that you are the leader. For obvious reasons, training a fearful dog will involve slightly different methods. How to Recognize a Fearful Dog A shy dog will have his tail tucked firmly between his legs and his ears flattened against his head. His head will be lowered - a sure sign that he doesn’t consider himself to be the dominant leader of the pack and he trembles - and pants excessively. If you reach forward to pet him, he backs away. In extreme cases of fear, the dog might run to run away or urinate. Causes of the Fear A dog that hasn’t been properly socialized in the early stages can be expected to be nervous or shy around strangers. Socialization exposes him to other dogs and human beings and therefore he does not recognize these as anything to be afraid of. A dog that’s been locked up in a kennel for a major part of his life has difficulty relating to and accepting people and situations. You also have to consider that’s some dog breeds are naturally mild mannered. Dogs that might have been shunted between homes frequently or been 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 |