When adopting a dog, especially one from a shelter, you don’t always know what his true personality is until he’s had a chance to get to know you better. Even an outgoing puppy can become timid or shy if he’s unsure about his environment. I’ve been fostering a shy, timid dog and it has been a challenge to deal with him, but he’s a loving dog who just needs understanding, calmness, and patience.
A timid or shy dog may have been removed from his mom and siblings before he was eight weeks old. Some dogs have a timid personality and some dog breeds are naturally more standoffish. There’s nothing wrong with a timid dog, but it will make a difference during training sessions and living with him. Dogs are as individual as we are, and react in much the same way we do in certain situations. A timid dog doesn’t want us invading his space anymore than we like having someone get in our face. It makes us comfortable. So the first step in dealing with a shy or timid dog is to stop and think about how you would want to be treated in uncomfortable situations. If you’re scared and someone tries to force you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable and anxious, you’re likely to lash out if your fear overpowers you. That’s what happens in the mind of a shy, timid dog. Fear will cause people and dogs to react in an aggressive way. A timid dog needs us to be quiet, calm, consistent, gentle, and always positive.
Training is one of the best ways to boost a dog’s self esteem and build a bond. Make sure he has plenty of successes and reward him with praise along with his favorite treats. Keep things simple and don’t push him to learn too fast. Let him go at his own speed. Learning comes with repetition and patience. If he appears stressful or anxious, back off and go back to the command when he’s calm. Ignore him when he’s acting timid or fearful to avoid teaching him his behavior is acceptable to you.
Never punish a timid dog for acting in a natural way. If your dog came from a shelter, his behavior could be due to a previous owner who punished him unfairly or abused him. One reason a dog won’t come when called is because he’s been punished when he does come. That’s the best way to teach a dog not to come and can cause a shy dog to fear you. Don’t force a timid dog to do anything he’s not comfortable with. If he’s afraid of people, let him approach someone new on his own, but if he refuses, leave him alone. Some timid dogs were never properly socialized. You should encourage him to check out new people or situations, but if it’s causing him to stress out, let him stay in his comfort zone. If you try and push a timid dog too quickly, he may shut down or could become aggressive if he feels cornered. Make sure he always has an escape route and let him go to a safe zone if he needs to be alone. People are bitten by dogs when they don’t pay attention to red flags a dog gives us with his body language. If he’s growling or looks stressed, back off and give him his space. That’s all he’s asking from you. Signs of stress can include pacing, submissive body language (especially submissive urination), avoiding eye contact, hiding in a corner or under furniture, whining, panting or drooling. You can read his discomfort in his entire body.
Dogs are just like us and they can’t help who they are as individuals anymore than we can help who we are. We have to earn our dog’s trust and a bond will never be built if trust isn’t there. Some dog breeds, like the Border Collie and Poodle, are more intelligent than other breeds, but all dogs are smart. We expect certain behaviors from canines, but they also expect us to be fair when dealing with them. It’s important to understand your dog’s needs and be his leader whether he’s shy or outgoing. Positive training helps him find his confidence and builds up his self esteem. A shy or timid dog might not be the life of the party or the most popular dog on the block, but he doesn’t care as long as his owner understands his needs, helps him learn to be more confident, and lets him be the dog he was born to be.
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