Shy or Nervous Dogs: Can you train them?

Shy or nervous dogs can be cowardly or aggressive. Because it makes the dog's behaviour unpredictable, it is important that you overcome his shyness, both for your sake and for the sake of the dog. It is equally important that you understand how to adapt your training techniques to allow for your dog's shyness. In this article, Kay King discusses the most obvious symptoms of shyness, and training methods that can be used to help your dog overcome it.

Remember that understanding your dog is more important than ever when your dog is already unsure of its place. Ray Coleiro's Dog Training Mastery - An Owners Manual teaches you to understand and work with your dog, whatever his temperament. Make sure you sign up for the free email course!

Shy Dogs - Meeting the Special Training and Home Requirements of the Shy Dog By Kay King
Some dogs from birth are excessively shy and cowering, and in some cases that shyness may lead to aggression as a result of fear. An owner may label this as bad behavior - yet the dog is just being what he is. Such a dog is certainly not trainable as a guard dog but can be a wonderful and gentle family pet when provided with gentle handling and safe havens in the home.

Most bad behaviors can be handled by careful and consistent training...but you can no more change the personality of a dog than you can that of a human. Training must have the aim of creating new habits rather than eliminating instinctive and inherited behaviors.

A shy dog is a prime candidate for crate training. A good size crate located in a low traffic area of the home can provide a safe haven when the dog becomes threatened or nervous. From the den of his crate he can observe activity around him without having to be part of it.

Once a shy dog accepts that the crate is comfortable (clean and with a pad or bed to lay on) and that it belongs to him....most owners can simply leave the door to the crate open and the dog will voluntarily go to the crate when the need arises.

Training a shy dog can be very rewarding but must be done with the utmost respect for the animal. Harsh corrections and raised voices are not effective and actually can cancel out prior training. The shy dog requires training that uses gentle corrections and a calm demeanor on the part of the training.

Training should cease at the first sign of nervousness in the animal. Above all, the training should focus on creating a feeling of safety and control for the animal. This might mean that on a leash the dog will always walk close enough to touch his person once trust has been established.

Such a dog, when faced with strange people, may hide behind his owner once trust has been established. Under no circumstances should the owner allow anyone to violate the dog’s hiding space. Although exhibiting shy behavior by retreating behind his person, the dog is also stressed by his wish to protect his person. Thus, allowing a stranger to reach toward a dog exhibiting such behavior is asking for at least a growl, and perhaps a bite.

Shy dogs may also exhibit extreme anxiety during weather events such as heavy rain or thunderstorms. This is a good time to guide them to their crate and to close them in it for a bit. The alternative is for you to sit in place while your dog friend seeks reassurance by staying as close to you as possible.

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