Helping a Fearful Dog: The General Dos and Don'ts (Series 2 of 2)

Olive is our model here. She is enjoying some outdoor time at a distance from me. She was very fearful of humans when she came here.

People pick out their dogs or puppies based on various criteria.   Some people see that the puppy or dog is fearful and want to help them out.  Others may not have realized they picked out a fearful puppy or dog right away.   Once a dog or puppy home and has serious fear or anxiety (interferes with their enjoyment of life not simple timidity), how do you progress forward with and for your new dog or puppy?

It is a good idea not to wait, and to start to educate yourself and prepare right away.  That being said, expect the progress to be slow and to celebrate the small victories along the way.  Overall, be patient.  This is a long term relationship that you are working on.

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NOTE: FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT DOGS OR PUPPIES WITH FEAR THAT MAY COME WITH OR COPE BY DISPLAYING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS.  THAT IS A FAR MORE COMPLEX TOPIC.

ALSO NOTE, THAT THIS GOES OVER WHAT TO DO IN THE VERY BEGINNING WEEKS OR MONTHS WITH A DOG AND NOT THE LATER ADVANCEMENT.

What are the DOS, generally, in working with a very fearful dog:

1. Let them decompress and if they want to investigate (although also remember this should be while you are in sight to be sure they are safe).  
2. A long line and/or collar is a good thing to get them used to so they can be supervised but not free to potty or do other things in the house (or outside like run away) that you do not want.
3. Let them walk on the floor or ground as much as they are able to (some fearful dogs freeze and will not walk on a leash or up/down the stairs at first).
4. Do have a puppy pen or crate as a safe space they can be in when not supervised.
5. Be neutral and uninterested looking so the fearful puppy or dog seeks you out and then low key reward that (however you can, food, low key affection, hanging out, taking a walk if they are up to it).  **unless you have a puppy or dog that is not so fearful of humans, and then feel free to be as affectionate as long as that works to make your puppy feel better.
6. The easier calming exercises (the ones that don't involve a training command at first), will really help your dog decompress while not able to "escape" the situation.  Mainly those are "Sit on The Dog", "Behavioral Down", and "Puppy Exam", which is also a handling exercise.
7. If they will take food from you, work on ​www.mainedogtrainer.com/blog/treat-training-and-luring-insightsluring exercises at the beginning of training (slowly, you may have to break this down into very small parts).  *** Also if they will play with a toy, this is another option to start training with.
8. If your dog does not take food (which is very common in fearful dogs and puppies in the beginning), remember that there are other ways to start training and exposing to experiences (molding, handling, starting very small, free shaping, capturing,).
9. Pay attention to anything that motivates your fearful dog or puppy.  It can just motivate them for a short period of time, but you can use that and grow that with creativity.
10. Pay attention to those things that scare or negatively effect your fearful dog or puppy.  If these are things that crop up in the normal events of domestic canine life, you will want to make a plan to change their perception of those triggers.
11. Do have your dog's back.  This is a balancing act as you  also don't want to coddle or be overly protective.
12. Do be sure that your fearful dog or puppy has quality equipment that they can not slip out of or chew through easily.  The flight response can be fun, and if your fearful dog or puppy gets away from you early on, it is very possible they will keep on running and you won't be able to catch them, which opens them up to all sorts of trauma and dangers.

What are the Don'ts in working with a very fearful dog:

1. After a few days (give or take) don't let them hide away all day.  
2. On the very first days, don't insist on them interacting with you every minute.  Let them decompress and if they want to investigate (although also remember this should be while you are in sight to be sure they are safe).
3. Don't pick them up all the time.    (SEE NUMBER 3 IN THE DOS)
4. Don't put off training more than a short time.   (SEE NUMBERS 6, 7, AND 8 IN THE DOS).
5. Don't prevent your fearful dog or puppy from experiencing different things, even if they may be fearful of them at first.   (LIKE NUMBER 11 IN THE DOS, THIS IS ALSO A BALANCING ACT AND ALWAYS KEEP THEM SAFE, EMERGENCIES ARE DIFFERENT)
6. Don't start exposing or training in overwhelming areas or environments (flooding).  

For other fearful dog and puppy related articles, click on this category link for fearful dogs.  In the meantime, enjoy your dog or puppy AND the progression your team makes with our relationship and living your best lives.