Ideas to Boost Confidence

[Flaro1522]

My DS, Murphy, has always had low confidence and has been kind of skiddish. His nerves are not the best. I have made it a point to introduce him to as many different types of environments as possible while out in public, but it hasn't really changed a whole lot. He's definitely cautious around people and will be fearful until he warms up to them. Around other dogs is really where he is skiddish. He is not as bad around big dogs and will poke is chest out a little with them...but for some reason he is definitely scared of little dogs. He tucks tail and almost flies off the leash around them. Sometimes just passing people while walking on the street will get him looking back all the time to see where they are. Other times, a big noise will get him almost flying off the leash.

He has kind of always been like this. Although he has never shown any aggression out of fear, I can tell he's uncomfortable in some situations.

He is really a great dog except for this. He loves to play. He will play fetch and tug all day long...even in the presence of other dogs. It's almost like this is the only way to get him to stop being so nervous around them. He's great with my sons and loves going for runs. He listens very well and can do a bunch of different things when it comes to tricks....He is great training in higher stress environments too, actually. It seems like the distraction of training and executing commands takes his mind off the stressors.

Anyways, I wanted to know if anyone had any ideas on how to make him less nervous and boost his confidence? I feel bad when his on walks with his ears back and his tail low. I was thinking about bitework but wasn't sure if he was too old or not. He is pretty intense with his bite pillow right now. I read that tug-like activities boost their confidence a bit.

I'd welcome any feedback.

Thanks

[Tim91118]

Judging from your profile, your dog is 2 1/2 yrs old ? I always take baby steps . There’s no need to get him around dogs that stress him for no reason. Do it in baby steps. Stay as far away from the other dog as you can without causing your dog stress. Keep doing this for as long as it takes inching closer little by little week by week. There is no rush. Eventually your dog may learn how to tolerate another dog but maybe not. It’s all in the breeding. Use his toys a lot during this process to take his mind off the stressors which as you say which seems to work.

[Dutchringgirl]

I would not force him to like what he doesn't like. Respect him for who he is. my sadie is like that and she is 9. I never made her like what she didn't like. We would walk in town and I would never " work on " getting her to feel comfortable where she didnt want to be. He may always be nervous. These are not social creatures, they want to be with one human and that's it, they are not for group activities.

Bite work wont change him and if he is nervous, I would not do bite work because you don't know how his brain is wired, he may bite out of anxiety.

Tug toys are the best, use that and form his behavior.

[Laplaiefier]

Yep I've had good luck with tug a war around the scary stuff until its not so scary. But it always seems to come down to a dog needs to be in a higher pack order to get over the scary thing. Higher order dogs or wolves in their pack are hunters and soldiers rather than helpers of the hunt. Probably not the first thing people would try but I have had good luck with timid dogs in getting that hunting experience out of them like chasing birds and cats and tracking. They never catch them nor know what to do if they do but chasing is a lot of fun and it's a hunting thing.
I'm thinkin' kinda sounds like, echoing what most are probably thinking, the dog has been abused for playing rough especially with the little dog that whatever it wants, it gets.

Tracking? Yep thats a good one for timid dogs. Spooked by something? "Stop, take a notice" then right back at that tug a war game that was going on. It's like the dog is thinking, "I'll show that scary thing" and you have that rope or whatever to get over it by.

I don't know. Just something that worked for me.

[Dutchringgirl]

I would not encourage hunting/ chasing, these are protection dogs not hunters. Do training with fun rewards and play. Tugs are great for them as a reward.