A Problem or Not? Are You Training Your Dog To Be Shy? Forcing the Issue Appropriate Reprimand
It is natural for dogs to be wary of things that are new and unfamiliar. During
development, a dog becomes socialized with familiar people, animals, objects and
situations. But they will still tend to shy away from the unfamiliar. Shyness in itself is not
a problem. It is only a problem if the dog's shyness inhibits your lifestyle or if the dog
develops other problems related to shyness such as fear biting. Shy dogs often bolt when
frightened, endangering themselves by running blindly into danger, such as traffic.
In a well meaning attempt to calm their dog's fears, many people end up actually
reinforcing the dog's shy behavior. In effect, the owner inadvertently trains the dog to be
more fearful. Be careful not to reinforce your dog's fearfulness by offering reassurance.
When our timid dog hides, barks defensively, whines, screams or snaps, our response is
only natural. Our protective instincts cause us to reassure the dog by talking soothingly,
petting or even picking up the dog for a hug. These actions flagrantly reward the dog for
fearful behavior. It is best to just completely ignore your dog when he acts fearful. Let him
learn by his own experience that there is nothing to be afraid of. Save your praise and
reassurance for times when your dog acts with confidence.
Many people try to rehabilitate their dog too quickly, forcing him to socialize with other
dogs and people. This usually reinforces the dog's view that other dogs and people are
frightening. On the one hand, the dog needs to be socialized as quickly as possible, but on
the other hand, he should not be forced into it. If you push your dog to do too much too
soon, your dog will only become more fearful and may be forced into a situation where he
feels he must defend himself. Socializing a dog and helping him build his confidence is a
time consuming task. Thrusting him into the arms of every visitor and dragging him out to
socialize with many other dogs can be counter-productive. Strangers should never be
allowed to approach your dog to pet him. It should always be left to your dog to make
the first contact. If your dog does not want to approach, that is OK. Just give him plenty
of time to 'hide and peek' and eventually he will come out of hiding. It's up to you to
provide ample opportunity for socialization, but it is up to the dog to proceed at his own
pace. Don't verbally try to encourage him out of hiding. He will probably interpret your
encouragement as praise for hiding. Don't try to force him to come out, this will only
frighten him even more.
Shy or fearful dogs can react defensively when approached by unfamiliar people. They
may try to keep strangers away by growling, snarling or snapping. These behaviors must
not be ignored. No dog should be allowed to get away with acting aggressively towards
humans. The fact that your dog is shy is no excuse to condone growling or biting. You
must instantly and effectively reprimand such behavior. As soon as your dog stops acting
aggressive, it is essential that you praise him. We do not want your dog to think that the
presence of the stranger brings on the reprimand, but that his own obnoxious behavior
causes you to get angry. If it is ever necessary for you to reprimand aggressive tendencies
in your shy dog, you have probably been trying to push him along too quickly. Avoid
similar threatening situations until your dog has developed sufficient confidence to deal
with them without resorting to aggression. Do not allow strangers to reprimand your
fearful/shy dog.