Rehabilitate A Shy Dog
-Do not feel sorry for the dog.
-Try not to reassure dog or reinforce inappropriate behavior.
-Avoid threatening actions. Staring eye to eye with the dog, standing or hovering over the dog, petting the dog on top of the head, chasing the dog, shouting or raising your voice
-Remove dog from any "safe" hiding spots. Leash dog and softly pull out from spot/area. If dog struggles, give the dog a few seconds and try again gently.
-Exercise the dog, go for a walk.
-Set boundaries. Yes, a shy dog needs boundaries about what they can and can not do.
-Give the dog treats when he does something good. Not out of pity, but actually responding to training.
-Confront situations that create shyness gradually but consistently. Desensitize your dog to all things that they shy away from or create the behavior. Condition your dog to be handled by other people especially if the dog fears a certain person.
-If your dog is shy around other dogs, find a very friendly and easygoing dog and introduce slowly with direct supervision.
-Be watchful for future episodes of shyness and rehabilitate as necessary.
-If the shy behavior is a severe issue it is recommended that you contact a trained professional animal behaviorist immediately.
Always be patient with a shy/fearful dog.
Patience is key.
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